Starting this engine after years of sitting...

[WillandShay]

Hello all!

To get this boat running and only running the items need are listed below:

5 quarts of oil, probably going to use Valvoline 10w-30. 15.76 at Walmart
oil filter 5.00-7.00 dollars at Walmart
battery 60.00 at Walmart
muffs 7.46 at Walmart
gallon of gas 4.00 any gas station

So after sales tax we are looking at 101.00.

Can anyone think of anything else we need to get this boat started?

I was thinking of making a video after the oil is changed to show everyone before we even crank this thing for the first time. To show if it cranks or if it is dead. That should be exciting even for those watching on the internet, it would be for me! So be watching for that video, of course it may be a week or two.

Talk again soon and of course, any and all advice is appreciated!

Will

 

[WillandShay]

Re: Starting this engine after years of sitting...

Lubrication of the cyl. walls BEFORE cranking is more than a good idea. (WD40 works well. A 10 second blast in the spark plug hole is about right, and then let it sit for a couple hours before turning it over.) I would also HIGHLY suggest pulling the distributor and with the correct tool (local auto parts store) and an electric drill spinning the oil pump to lube all the bone dry bearing surfaces and getting some oil to the lifters. Finally, I'd rotate the engine by hand several times with the spark plugs out before trying to start it.

I would also suggest cleaning all the battery cable connections, especialy the ground connection to the block.

Bubba -

Great advice! Have you guys ever used Marvel Mystery oil in these engines? Put a couple of squirts on the top of the cylniders? Good or no?

Will

 

[WillandShay]

Re: Starting this engine after years of sitting...

Bubba -

How about spinning the engine with the plugs out, with the starter? Would that not be the same as spinning the oil pump up with a drill?

Will

 

[WillandShay]

Re: Starting this engine after years of sitting...

OK everyone...the old oil is out...and it was smelly and nasty. Used the drain plug on the bottom of the oil pan. Pictures posted on Shay's blog. Click the link in the signature to see them.

Thank you!!!

Will

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Starting this engine after years of sitting...

Bubba -

How about spinning the engine with the plugs out, with the starter? Would that not be the same as spinning the oil pump up with a drill?

Will

Not the same thing! Spinning the oil pump insures oil is completely throughout the oil passages/lubrication system BEFORE internal parts start moving on what are most probably unlubricated bearing surfaces. Follow Bubba's advice and do it right to avoid creating more problems. Good luck!

 

[SWTobias]

Re: Starting this engine after years of sitting...

I just took my boat out of storage after sitting for 5 years. It's a 1998 Volvo-Penta 5.0 L GL. I did the following:

New battery
sprayed lubricant (fogging oil) in every cylinder individually
replaced all plugs and wires
Removed and cleaned the distributer
turned the engine over by hand
drained and replaced the oil (and will do again now that it's run a bit)
replaced the oil filter
drained all old gas and replaced with fresh (stabilizer added)
replaced the gas filter
opened the fuel tank and syphoned off all remaining fuel/debri
cleaned the carburator
replaced the raw-water impeller
replaced the engine coolant pump
replaced the thermostat (you would not have believed the condition of the old one, it would have disentegrated and fouled the cooling system.
replaced the starter motor (had to, old one was dead),
replaced all coolant hoses
flushed clean water through cooling system
replaced freeze-plugs (they were leaking)
replaced the gas filter
unfastened, cleaned and applied di-electric grease to every major electrical connection to engine, out-drive pump and dash-board connections

I may not have had to do all of this just to get it running but almost all of these parts were so deteriorated after sitting for five years that I doubt the engine would have started or run without doing it, or they would have failed soon after starting it up.

And that was just to start it, haven't mentioned all the boat and trailer items I've replaced/repaired.

Maybe I should have just bought a new boat BUT, the old girl is running like a champ now!

 

[WillandShay]

Re: Starting this engine after years of sitting...

I just took my boat out of storage after sitting for 5 years. It's a 1998 Volvo-Penta 5.0 L GL. I did the following:

New battery
sprayed lubricant (fogging oil) in every cylinder individually
replaced all plugs and wires
Removed and cleaned the distributer
turned the engine over by hand
drained and replaced the oil (and will do again now that it's run a bit)
replaced the oil filter
drained all old gas and replaced with fresh (stabilizer added)
replaced the gas filter
opened the fuel tank and syphoned off all remaining fuel/debri
cleaned the carburator
replaced the raw-water impeller
replaced the engine coolant pump
replaced the thermostat (you would not have believed the condition of the old one, it would have disentegrated and fouled the cooling system.
replaced the starter motor (had to, old one was dead),
replaced all coolant hoses
flushed clean water through cooling system
replaced freeze-plugs (they were leaking)
replaced the gas filter
unfastened, cleaned and applied di-electric grease to every major electrical connection to engine, out-drive pump and dash-board connections

I may not have had to do all of this just to get it running but almost all of these parts were so deteriorated after sitting for five years that I doubt the engine would have started or run without doing it, or they would have failed soon after starting it up.

And that was just to start it, haven't mentioned all the boat and trailer items I've replaced/repaired.

Maybe I should have just bought a new boat BUT, the old girl is running like a champ now!

Wow, very awesome list for sure!

I am going to have to replace all wires from the console all the way back I am sure. I need to pull the console completely out and start rebuilding it in the house and verify that all gauges work. Or maybe just replace everything. Not sure yet though. We will just have to see the prices on all those items and see what can be found.

Thanks for the list!

Will