pleasant surprise after long storage.

[steelespike]

About 5 years ago bought a 56 Crestliner Voyager 18 W a 1965 Merc 500 tiller.After 8 to 10 years of proper storage.
Had always been very carefully cared for and I'm now the 2nd owner. She fired right up and ran perfectly.Ran it a little that season put her away with minimal prep. Started it in a barrel today on the 5 yr old tank of gas.Expecting the worse.Fired right up ran perfectly.
Of course haven't run it on the water yet but hopeful.It does have an inline glass filter that appears spotless.I think the little bit of stabil that remained in the tank when I topped it up 5 years ago and its' excellent care through the years may have saved me some headaches.
Tried to start my 88 Evinrude after the same 5 years it has all the classic
poor storage problems though I haven't attempted any diagnostics yet it may just be a weak fuelpump or something.
I think the Merc is a testimonly to careful maintenace and storage procedures.So when you put them away do it like it will be years before they come out again the results may surprise.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: pleasant surprise after long storage.

remember awakening a sleeping outboard.

 

[mobyjaws]

Re: pleasant surprise after long storage.

5 year old fuel? Why? MJ

 

[Jimmy Jam]

Re: pleasant surprise after long storage.

5 year old fuel??? Heck, I wouldn't even attempt to start my 20 year old lawn tractor with that stuff in the tank!

 

[steelespike]

Re: pleasant surprise after long storage.

5 year old fuel??? Heck, I wouldn't even attempt to start my 20 year old lawn tractor with that stuff in the tank!

I figured after a total of 13 years idle time 5 year old gas would be the least of my problems.Boat was stored in the boat house (north east)2 stories so no super heating from the sun.Gas looked good going through the glass inline filter and smelled normal.I figured with the filter no gunk was going to get through.Only had what ever was in the system to worry about.Impeller was new 5 years ago no doudt needs replacing though telltale was normal.Motor started instantly and idled normally with no fiddling.

 

[rdgordon1@cox.net]

Re: pleasant surprise after long storage.

I have posted this vid a couple of times but this '69 Merc 650 was in the water last in the late eighties.I think I fired it up once here in the yard back in '92 as I was thinking about getting it seaworthy again and removed the seats etc to get them recovered.I am sorry the boat is so dirty but I have since cleaned it up.All I did to it was rewire the engine side of the power connector and got a new tank of gas.I had to jump it because the starter solenoid would click but not pull it in.I pulled the choke up and it spun maybe twice and fired.I ran it for a minute then ran for the camera to record the event.You will see it starting for the second time in just a space of three minutes maybe.The loud noise at the beginning of the vid is local traffic.Enjoy)Ron G
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyDh5B_1k3E

 

[Jimmy Jam]

Re: pleasant surprise after long storage.

Ron,

That was a beautiful thing. Kinda got teary eyed. Nice seeing something come back from the dead. I especially like the luscious green growth within the boat!

 

[rdgordon1@cox.net]

Re: pleasant surprise after long storage.

LOL.Somebody once suggested that the first thing the boat needed was to be mowed when I mentioned that I might get it seaworthy again.The boat cleaned up well,I have the engine off the transom and will soon start work on replacing the transom,stringers and floor in it.Ron G