Bonehead move, what do I do next ??

[eterry]

Hi all, I took my 1977 Johnson 85 hp out last fall several times and planned on duck hunting with a friend so I didnt winterise it. Turned out we didnt go hunting so it sat all winter with fuel in the lines and carbs. I didnt put sta-bil in it and feel like a fool. I am charging the battery now and this is the plan:
I am gonna pull the plugs, hook up the muffs and get as much old gas out of it as possible. Then use fresh gas as usual and see if it starts. I bought some Seafoam and am thinking about using it, but should I wait til it starts??

Am I remotely close on what to do? Thanks in advance for the advise.

Eterry

 

[Ranger 330V]

Re: Bonehead move, what do I do next ??

I think your on the right track. Seafoam is a great product...I think you'll be okay...if you've never rebuilt carbs it might not be a bad idea anyways...give you a good excuse to do it. I would say try it and see how she does....have a set of plugs ready...if all seems okay and she idles smooth I'd just say do better next year. Look up the thread "awakening a sleeping outboard" and it'll tell you everything to do if your still worried about it...Good luck... oh yeah let us know how it goes...I'd also spray some sea foam deep creep in the cylinders the night before and let it set...or some TCW-3 oil if you'd rather...just to have some good lube in there when you turn her over for the first time this year.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Bonehead move, what do I do next ??

I would not do anything until you verify that something needs to be done. It has not been sitting that long, sounds like about 6 months. Is stabilizer preferable? Yes, but I know boats that have sat for 18 months and run without issue with no additives. Put a little SeaFoam in and see how she does. Just my 2 cents.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Bonehead move, what do I do next ??

Not really an apples to apples comparison but I have a 1969 Johnson 6hp that sat for ten years w/o being run. When I decided to pull it out of my storage locker and put it on something, it took me all of about ten pulls on the recoil starter to get it going. I have no idea what was done to it when it was put away originally because I didn't own it then, but I don't believe that thre was any preparation other than running the carb dry the last time it was operated.

You never know until you try the motor. Give it a whirl and see what happens - the worst is pretty much that you would end up having to do what you are probably contemplating now anyway.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Bonehead move, what do I do next ??

to be honest, in my 50 years of boating, i have never winterized a motor. of course i live in the south, but my boats sometimes go 6 months without being used. i do periodically start them though.

 

[ezeke]

Re: Bonehead move, what do I do next ??

It would be a good idea to drain the carburetors and use the primer bulb to flush new fuel through the system before you crank the engine.

Take the drain plugs out of the float bowls on both sides of the carburetors, put some rags down to catch the fuel and pump until you are confident that your fresh fuel is flowing out. Then button it up, remove the rags and give it a try.

That will flush the float bowls before any junk or water that may have accumulated gets sucked into the carburetors.

 

[rndn]

Re: Bonehead move, what do I do next ??

The boat in my signature was bought after sitting in a garage for 10 years. It did have stabil put into it 10 years ago but nothing since then. After a few turns and a replacement fuel pump, it fired right up. I used the 25 gallons of gas in the tank and never looked back. Some people on this forum state if the fuel sits for a month to throw away the gas, which I just don't agree. Go ahead and try to start it up and you'll be suprised everything is okay.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Bonehead move, what do I do next ??

Charge the battery and run it before you waste time or money doing things that don't need to be done. Fishmen and rndn are right.

 

[ezeke]

Re: Bonehead move, what do I do next ??

If gasoline is kept in a tight tank and is not pre-mix, it can hold up relatively well for a long time. The newer part alcohol fuels are not quite as stable.

The gasoline that has reached your float bowls has already mixed with oil, no matter what oiling system you have. That mix can form a gel as the gasoline evaporates. You do not want to pull that gel into your carborators if you can avoid it.

Here is a good link with a lot of reliable information about fuels and fuel storage:

http://northamerica.mercurymarine.com/serviceandwarranty/outboardfaqs/ethanol.php#19

 

[Ranger 330V]

Re: Bonehead move, what do I do next ??

Something else I didn't think of that I read on this thread that many don't think about...don't run the carbs dry...I see people at the ramp sometimes running there carbs dry so there isn't gas in the carbs setting...thats fine on a four stroke lawnmower...it has oil in the crankcase...your two stroke doesn't. Oil in the gas...some setups also go from carb to carb, instead of spliting after the pump...my old merc is like that...so it will keep running when the last carb in the series runs out of fuel...really hard on those cylinders running dry while the others run out of fuel. Just a thought, I'd use the additive.

 

[eterry]

Re: Bonehead move, what do I do next ??

Thanks all for the advise. I will try to find the drain plug on the carbs and pump the old fuel out, then use some fresh and give her a whirl.

thanks,
Eterry