1989 Merc 260 18mo out of water

[Rock Hall]

I recently aquired a 1989 Sea Ray with a 350 Mercruiser Alpha I. The previous owners claim the boat was mechanically perfect when hauled out Oct 2004. The boat was professionally winterized at that time. I plan to fire it up on the muffs around the end of March after the threat of below freezing temps is past. The hour meter shows 475hr.<br /><br />What precautions do I need to take? Are there any problems that can result from the motor being dry for all this time. What things should I check before launch?<br /><br />Thanks in advance.<br /><br />Mark

 

[SteveNix]

Re: 1989 Merc 260 18mo out of water

If the engine was dry...NO.<br /><br />But, before i'd start it, pour some oil in the cylinders and let it soak for at least 24 hours. THen, fire er up.<br /><br />Do a compression test, you'll know more after that.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: 1989 Merc 260 18mo out of water

the cylinders are the least of your worries.<br />the worry is the cam and lifters, after 18months there is no oil left on them, its all long since fell off. the best method would be to remove the distributor and reprime the oil system, second to that if its a carbed motor rebuild the carb and manually fill the fuel bowl before starting it. when the lifters are dry it can wipe a cam if you have to grind on the starter much.<br /> another methopd is to remove the rocker covers and liberally run oil down the pushrods and as much of the lifter vally as possible.<br /> but the big key is to have fresh fuel in the pump,carb lines and tank. you should also plan on replacing the water pump. may as well do it before cranking it up. hopefully it was filled with antifreeze and not allowed to sit with nothing but air in the cooling system. thats why I use a product called crankcase stor n start in the oil for winterizing 4 strokes. helps a bit on keeping an oil film on the shiny parts.<br /> thats why about the only oil I reccomend on the cyl is maybe a bit of two stroke oil mixid in the fuel at the initial start up. your biggest concern is the valvetrain.<br /> also turn the engine over by hand with the plugs out looking for tight spots that may indicate a stuck valve or a rust spot on a cyl.<br /> <br /> but after a year the carb is most likly full of fuel nasties and excessive cranking with the cam dry is a sure way to wipe a lobe.<br />at a minimum fill the fuel bowl with fresh gas , you can use a mustard bottle and fill the carb through the bowl vent.<br /> if its an EFI model dump the fuel from the filter, hook up a portable tank with a mix of 25-1 oil with some fuel injector cleaner replace the filter and use a outboard fuel line to prime the system. then cylcle the key switch on wit ten seconds and off wait 20 seconds about 5 times, you will hear the fuel pump building pressure.<br />here again we want the engine to start with a minimum of cranking. when it starts try to keep the RPM about 1100-1500 for a few minutes.<br /> make sure the flush muffs are attached and the water fully on. use a known good battery as the 18 month old on may be bad, odds are good it is if it has not been maintained for 18 months.<br /> if ya have any other questions post away.<br /> I wont reccomend a compression test until after a 10-15 min run time as the cam/lifters are now dry but the spring pressure is still applied.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1989 Merc 260 18mo out of water

if gas is 18 months old you mat want to drain the gas tank and add fresh gas. i opend the fuel gauge sender ran a small hose out the stearn drain hole and siphoned into fuel cans. remove battery cable first.

 

[tonka_shores]

Re: 1989 Merc 260 18mo out of water

Wow, I guess I'm lucky. I purchased a 1972 Winner last year. (Ford 302, carb, Merc drive) Cherry condition! I was told that it needed an impeller, and knowing nothing about boats, I took it to a pro to start it. They pulled the plugs, squirted oil into the cylinders and turned motor by hand, pumped the old gas out, installed new plugs, points, condenser, changed oil, replaced the impeller & lube. Turned the key and she started up. Compression was a little low in a couple of cylinders, but hey . . . We put her in the water and had several weeks of fun before the snow started to fly.<br /><br />The list of to-dos this spring is a long one, but after reading the posts above, I feel like I got away with murder.

 

[Rock Hall]

Re: 1989 Merc 260 18mo out of water

Thanks for all the info. Sounds like you must be in the business Rodbolt. I work in the automotive engine business, but marine can be a different world. I learned alot from your posts and will continue to follow this group. I'm trying to avoid taking it to the shop, unless something is wrong. The gas was stabilized for Winterization. I put another bottle in this Fall. Hope I dont have to pump it all out, there is about 60 gal in it.<br /><br />Mark

 

[rodbolt]

Re: 1989 Merc 260 18mo out of water

rock hall<br /> toss the gas<br /> use it in your car. you will never hear the detonation in your boat and it can eat a hole in a piston rapidly.<br /> yes you could say I am in the bidness. and yes I was an auto tech for some years before this current gig, this gig is tougher but pays better.<br />think of it this way, my repairs will run at full throttle full load for 3 hours to the gulf stream then idle for 4-6 hours and 3 hours back, all the while I have saltwater within inches of the exhaust valves and the fuel tank is constantly stirred. next time you repair a car think its going to pull its max rated load at its rated horsepower uphill for 3 hours.<br />gives ya an idea of what we face.<br /> means evertything from the radiator(heat exchanger) to the whell bearings(propshaft bearings) has to be in good shape or folks may die.<br /> which is why you see folks like me and DonS get a bit jiggy sometimes.<br />this gig has pressures but over the years if you constanly strive to do it better than yesterday and do it exactly like it was designed it works and works well. but its expensive.<br />do I ever cut corners? yes but not with any customers rigs or any rigs that I know will be for sale. its mostly with the shallow water crabbers that dont have any money and cannot afford to fix it but have kids to feed.<br /> some are relatives, a lot are.<br />however most of us have base stations and monitor VHF 82 and the policy is no one gets to spend the night in the sound. someone will come get ya.<br />I have been out a time or two when I was so seasick I was barfing at the helm and the bilge pump was running from water over the bow yet my 120 jonnyrude never faltered.<br /> if someone is not back by 3 or so we start asking, by 5 we are boating.

 

[Rock Hall]

Re: 1989 Merc 260 18mo out of water

Rodbolt<br /><br /><br />Thanks for the info. I'm not an auto-tech, I work in automotive industry sales. But I'm around it all the time. I realize that there is a big difference between Automotiuve and marine. Thats why I inquired for your help. I dont mess with anything I dont know when it comes to boats. I have a small crabbing boat also with a 25hp Mariner (Yamaha). I've been fooling with that for almost a yr trying to get it right. Had a bad stator, which was the last piece I replaced after every other ignition component. Hasnt been right since. Gonna dive back into it as soon as the weather warms a little. I'll drain as much of the gas out of the Sea Ray as I can. Will probably fill all 3 0f my cars. Sounds like an all day project.<br /><br />Thanks again for your help and I'll be checking back in when I'm ready to start.<br /><br />Mark