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Talking about pistons reminds me of something that happened when I ordered new pistons and rings on ebay. I looked up part numbers on marineengine.com for the 1960 model 15032 (18hp) and found #385338 (piston std). The part numbers for rings on marineengine.com was not recognized as valid part numbers, so for some reason I ordered ring set #378415 (rings std).
It turned out that the rings I received (3378415) had 3 rings in each set, and they did not fit the pistons I had received, which only had 2 grooves. In addition the two grooves were different. The upper was slanted. The rings I received did not fit the pistons. So I had to find out what pistons I had become from the seller. After some searching on marineengine.com I found out that some later models 18hp around the year 1970 had only 2 rings. I found out what the part number those two rings were, and ordered them. They did fit my pistons, so now I have installed pistons #385338 and two rings on each piston (It might be #383473, but I haven’t made a note of the part number, so I’m not sure).
Long story short: I now have pistons in my 1960 18 hp with two rings on each piston, and they fit in the cylinders. Now I wonder if this could cause any problem like the engine does not start?
OK, let’s talk more about this. You bought the pistons/rings on ebay. You didn’t get them from marineengine.com using the original part numbers? Ebay sellers oftentime mismark parts, or make false assumptions about “what will work”. Another big mistake made my many is “reverse superceeding”. In other words, marking older parts with newer part numbers, this is a mistake that can bite you in the butt big time.
It sounds like someone has sold you newer style pistons that used the two ring “pressure backed” piston rings for your engine. I’m not saying this won’t work, just saying you can get in trouble making switches/assumptions like this. If OMC wanted these new style pistons to be used as replacement parts for older three ring piston units, the piston part numbers would have changed/superceeded to a “kit” part number. This kit would have come with directions, along with the two pressure backed rings that are to be used on the newer pistons.
I’m thinking the no start situation is due to something much simpler though. That choke detent is a poor design and a constant issue for hard cold start situations. You mention there is good spark on both cylinders but are you sure the leads are connected to the correct plug? It is easy to get this mixed up when reworking the mag plate with new wires, etc. The engine won’t run at all with timing off 180 degrees, although it might backfire loudly while trying to start it.
I guess I would take the advice about priming the cylinders with fresh fuel/oil, then trying to start it. If the engine still makes no attempt to fire, then I would swap plug leads and retest.