Is letting an old outboard sit for 6-8 months anything to be concerned about?

[62Scout]

My boat, a '64 Silverline with a '73 Johnson 85 OB, has been sitting for 6-8 months, without having been winterized. I live in Phoenix, Arizona, so freezing over the winter wasn't any concern (though I realize it's less of an issue with outboards than inboards/IO motors). I hadn't planned on letting it sit for any length of time, and normally would be on the water through the "winter" here, but life happened.

I'm now ready to get it back on the water, and will be replacing the impeller before firing it up. Aside from fresh fuel and battery, is there anything else to be concerned about in getting it going again? The dewinterizing articles I've been reading all seem to center on motors that have been winterized properly, or reviving the motor that's been sitting dormant for years.

 

[GA_Boater]

The problem isn't freezing with an outboard. The same as any gas motor, it's stale, gungy, varnished gas that cause most storage problems. If the motor was run out of gas, chances are your gonna be fine. 6-8 months isn't a long time, but gas can go wonky.

Squirt a bit of pre-mix in each spark plug hole and turn the motor over by hand a few times to lube the rings and wall.

Your impeller change is a good idea. Might as well start with a fresh one.

 

[jimmbo]

While fogging an engine that is not expected to be laid up for a while is a good idea, many engines are just shut down and not looked at again for several years and they seem to survive.
You can change the gear oil, remove the drains on the carbs and flush the fuel system with fresh gas. As for the carbs circuits... well you could pull the carbs and clean them, or just run them and see. I would get a spray can of carb cleaner and shove the straw into the main jet and spray to ensure the main circuit was clear.

 

[444]

Fresh fuel and battery and see what happens. I started one recently that was sitting for 3 years in a shed, before that it spent a year sitting outside in a scrap pile.

 

[boobie]

Biggest probs you'll probably have are with the fuel system.

 

[MRS]

I think you are good to go fresh fuel and go fishing...:joyous: