Re: Should service outboard

David Kautz (david_kautz@hp.com)
Mon, 22 Feb 1999 13:29:03 -0800


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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I'd like to suggest a couple things that may help bring it quickly back
to life - no guarantees, though:

1) Drain and discard the 3 year old fuel. Many of the volatiles will
have found their way into the atmosphere by now and it likely won't burn
real well. Also, the lubricating oil mixed in with the gas has probably
settled and/or degraded which isn't a good thing either.

2) Take out the spark plug and spray in a ltttle WD-40 or other light
penetrating oil before cranking the engine over. This will ensure that
there is a lubricating film on the cylinder walls when the engine is
first started after it's long hibernation.

3) Someone else has already suggested changing the lower end lubricant
and I second their opinion.

Good Luck!

Dave Kautz
P-15 #1632 Tilly Lucy
Palo Alto, CA

Let me preface this by saying that I know very little about outboard
engines, but I take direction well (when I'm not talking in class)....  
:^)   We bought an almost-new Mercury 5hp longshaft about 3 years ago,
had it checked out, and ran it once.  It has been stored in a warm room
ever since, and has not been cranked for 3 years.  Now we are getting
ready to use it, and I am wondering if I should take it in for another
checkup (at least $45, probably more), or just try to crank it myself. 
It looks brand new, but I am afraid of dry rot (in the water pump?),
seizing something up, or worse.  Does anyone have any good advice? 
Thank you!   - Scott Charleston, SC