In regards to my "new" project - '74 Caravelle w/ '74 Merc 850:<br /> <br /> I gave in and took the LU into a shop for dissassembly/diagnosis. That left just one other thing to do - check the engine. (the former owner/my best friend had been through most of the rest of the boat) I read the "awakening.." in the FAQ, & everything else that I could find.<br /> <br />I checked the steel gas tank. ~8 gallons of murky orange kerosene & ~1" of rusty goo ( the engine last fired in '04.) The tank seemed hopeless - a new plastic tank is on the way. <br /> <br />I drained the fuel line & carbs. 'Rigged a hose connection to the water tube & established a good pee stream. Rigged my little 2 1/2 portable (outboard pre-mix)gas can to the fuel line ( with new primer bulb). Fresh gas & Merc oil. <br /> <br />Borrowed the battery out of the John Deer lawn tractor 
. <br /> <br />Re-check for good pee stream. Pump the primer bulb, pulled the choke. Began hitting the starter - in ~5 second shots: 5 seconds - nothing. 10 seconds - a sputter . 5 more seconds - a rumble . 5 more seconds - KAWHooomm, blub-blub-blub .<br /> <br />Idled it for a bit, backed off choke, ensuring that the pee stream remained constant. Idled a bit more. Then Rev'd it just a bit - blub-blub-blu-rrrmmmMM. Turned it off, waited a bit, did it again ( & again). <br /> <br />I'm JAZZED! It's ALIVE! After two years, it started up just like it was only last weekend! <br /><br /> Well, except for the sludge tank & the (no) battery...
. <br /> <br />Re-check for good pee stream. Pump the primer bulb, pulled the choke. Began hitting the starter - in ~5 second shots: 5 seconds - nothing. 10 seconds - a sputter . 5 more seconds - a rumble . 5 more seconds - KAWHooomm, blub-blub-blub .<br /> <br />Idled it for a bit, backed off choke, ensuring that the pee stream remained constant. Idled a bit more. Then Rev'd it just a bit - blub-blub-blu-rrrmmmMM. Turned it off, waited a bit, did it again ( & again). <br /> <br />I'm JAZZED! It's ALIVE! After two years, it started up just like it was only last weekend! <br /><br /> Well, except for the sludge tank & the (no) battery... 
