Re: '98 Yamaha 115 - New Owner - What should I do first?
The older Yamaha 2 stroke motors are really reliable, however the modern 90/10 gasoline has a tendency to gum up carbs and affect anything rubber in the fuel system. Regular maintenance items are:
Clean and re-grease the trailer bearings--step #1.
Put the boat into the water, get the engine warm and put the boat back on the trailer.
Drain the lower unit into a clean drain pan--looking for water intrusion.
Drop the lower unit and change the water pump impeller.
Replace the lower unit grease.
Change spark plugs.
Change the fuel filter element beneath the carbs.
Replace the rubber membrane in the fuel pump (also under the carbs.)
Check out all the fuel lines, the bulb and the siphon tube into the fuel tank.
When your engine starts for the first time, is it putting out blue smoke? That'll tell you if the engine's getting oil.
If your engine does any stumbling at all, pull the carbs. and clean them. If you're careful with the gaskets, no carb kit is required. Just keep track on how many turns of any adjustment screws were required to seat them, and reset the screws to where they were before.
Don't hesitate to have a marine mechanic do a pressure and vacuum test on your lower unit to test the seals. It's a $300 repair if bad.
Fortunately, these repairs are not very expensive if you provide the labor. And few tasks require much mechanical skills, either.