Pulling the Reserve Out of the Trees

[Merickson1]

Last weekend my big boat went down with a yet to be determined problem.

In my ill prepared mad scramble, I brought my little tiller out of the trees. I brought her home and cleaned it up a bit- my concern is that I haven't run the motor in 5+ years.

It's a 1984 25hp Johnson Sea Horse. What would any of you mechanically inclined peoples suggest I do to prevent any problems when I try to turn it over? I would like to get a third party opinion in case I am overlooking anything.

Thanks for the help!

 

[fj40]

Marvel mystery oil is your friend. Clean up the carb and give her a whirl.

 

[Fly Carpin]

Gaskets and diaphragm in carbs. Fuel lines. Plug wires. Plugs. Did you fog and change out lower unit lube prior to hibernation?

 

[Meelosh]

Have a fire extinguisher ready when you try starting it.

 

[NDSportsman]

I'm sure the water pump impeller is shot so that's the first thing to replace. Drop the lower unit lube and replace that. Check the plugs, clean or replace. Get some fresh gas and a little sea foam and fire it up.

 

[Velva_zv21]

Just fire it up and then see what problems you have. Maybe you won't have any

 

[BrokenBackJack]

If your gas tank was/is metal look into it to see if there is rust. If rusty throw it away and get a new plastic one.

 

[guywhofishes]

clean fuel tank

clean new fuel lines

clean new fuel filter

fuel pump diaphragm is likely disintegrated (if you don’t check you’ll risk 1000 bits/pieces getting into carb

ie.... fuel fuel fuel

most other stuff is pretty bulletproof

check for nesting of LRB (little red bastard)

- - - Updated - - -

Just fire it up and then see what problems you have. Maybe you won't have any

I eff myself 50% of the time doing this

and still rely on the technique - lol

 

[Captain Ahab]

I’d just put in a super effort to fix the main rig. Likely less of a hassle than scrambling on the old one.

- - - Updated - - -

P.S. My 3 honey Verado had an intermittent top end miss/power loss. I read every Internet forum I could find. Ordered a couple pencil coils for about 65 bucks and she screams like a banshee again. The internet is your friend.

 

[guywhofishes]

five years in the trees means that it could have been stored with Devil's Piss (ethanol)

that motor will never run normal again

that's right Scott Hennen... I called ethanol Devil's Piss :;:duel

 

[SDMF]

I haven't looked for your outboard, but I know for lawn mowers and other small engines, sometimes a whole new carb isn't much more than a carb tune-up kit.