1985 Merc 90hp in-line 6 - Past Maintenance Questions

[Mscanon99]

Hi All,

I posted in another section about this motor and got good reviews. I am thinking of buying a boat with this setup and just learned from the owner the maintenance procedures he did. This is why I am re-posting in this section.

He has agreed to let me take it to a marine service center I know and trust, so I am going to get everything checked out.

However....the seller told me that over the past 12 years all he did to winterize it is set it up on muff with RV antifreeze, start the motor and pull the gas line. No fogging oil, just run it dry and let it suck up antifreeze so it pees it out.

I forgot to ask about gear oil/impeller....wondering how often he changed if at all. The hourmeter reads 127, he purchased it with 8 on the meter. Overall, the outside appearance of the setup is very clean, it does not look like it was used much.

My question to all the experts is; will my mechanic be able to tell if any harm has been done from the sellers maintenance by checking all the basics...compression/lower unit/spark, etc.?

The way the seller maintained the motor concerns me, I know there is never a sure thing, however I am thinking this was not very good on the motor.

Thanks for any thoughts on the subject.

MS

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: 1985 Merc 90hp in-line 6 - Past Maintenance Questions

I certianly have resurected, and owned enough old motors to know that they have survived just fine without the annual $200+ trip to the shop each fall.

I don't think I've ever had one (2stroke outboard) with an hour meter.

You might be fortunate in the fact that you can even find a shop willing to take in equipment nearing 25 years old.

Did you check the compression numbers yet? How's the wire insulation under the hood looking? What's the gear oil look like?

Change the impeller, and gear oil. Feed if fresh clean gasoline mixed 50:1 out of as clean tank and lines, and run it often.