1977 Mercruiser 188hp/888 drive, has been in storage about 8 years.

[Ted K]

I have acquired a 1977 Apollo 22' Cuddy with a Mercruiser 188hp and 888 out-drive. This unit has been in storage for about 8 years. I have records showing that is was professionally maintained yearly and winterized prior to storage.
Question: What are the most likely things that will need attention after being stored for so long? What should I do before attempting to start it? I assume some of the rubber parts and lower unit water pump may need to be replaced, yes? Any help would be appreciated.
BTW, this is a fresh water boat and was stored indoors although not climate controlled. It looks new interior wise.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: 1977 Mercruiser 188hp/888 drive, has been in storage.

Re: 1977 Mercruiser 188hp/888 drive, has been in storage.

I would pull all of the spark plugs and spray a decent amount of wd-40 on the cylinder walls, then put new plugs back in. Oil/filter change before you even start it as the old oil has been sitting for too long. I would go and rent a tool from your local auto parts store that will enable you to use a drill to spin the oil pump (after removing distributor) and get some oil pressure going. Finally, I would probably drain the fuel tank and fill with fresh gas before starting.

there are probably some other items, but those would be of paramount importance to me.

 

[Kainon]

Re: 1977 Mercruiser 188hp/888 drive, has been in storage.

Re: 1977 Mercruiser 188hp/888 drive, has been in storage.

have the carb rebuilt/cleaned. Remove and drain the lower unit, have it pressure & Vaccuum Tested, replace the Impeller and Impeller Housing Gaskets. Check condition of u-joint & lower shift cable bellows for cracks or small animal chewing. Clean all Battery connections, coil connections, check/replace points.

 

[SeanMcl]

Re: 1977 Mercruiser 188hp/888 drive, has been in storage.

Re: 1977 Mercruiser 188hp/888 drive, has been in storage.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=339249

This is a "repair log" type post about my experience with a '74 OMC that had been in storage for 5 or 6 years.

Be patient, trouble shoot instead of shotgunning the repairs, and search the internet and iBoats like a mad man. And post pics when she's back up and running!

 

[Ted K]

Re: 1977 Mercruiser 188hp/888 drive, has been in storage.

Re: 1977 Mercruiser 188hp/888 drive, has been in storage.

Thanks everyone. Although this is my third boat, it has been a while and I feel like a newbie! I do have considerable mechanical apptitude, just not on the marine end of things so your comments are really going to help. I look forward to as much insight as I can get from those of you with much more experiance than I.

 

[mercruiserzebrowski]

Re: 1977 Mercruiser 188hp/888 drive, has been in storage about 8 years.

hey just bought a 302 to put into my boat, one thing that you need to do is get all that old fuel out of there, second clean carb, carb cleaning kits and gasket ones are very cheap. Second take out spark plugs, PUT FOGGING OIL, or wd-40 inside the cylinder, do a dry crank( no gas or spark plugs hooked up), spray fogging oil down the intake manifold(better when running though to do this with carb on obviously. Buy mercruiser engine 15w 40 im pretty sure. Drain old anti freeze out of block. Put spark plugs in and make sure not to do them tight just hand tighten, that just do alittle turn with ratchet!!!!! Now change lower unit oil(quicksilver), empeller. That what i would do in a nut shell, hey im 17 and i do all this i think you can NO PROBLEMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!