Pulling boat out of long term storage

[spike_michael]

I tried looking in the FAQ's but there are no topics listed and the search feature finds nothing ... and I cannot start a topic in FAQ's...
I posted in Merc O/B (my boo boo closed topic there)
so here goes...


Saturday I am going about 150 miles to a friend's lake camp in New Hampshire and getting a boat that has been in storage for 3-4 years out and getting it running again, is there anything special I should do?
The gas was "stabilized" when put up and smells sweet, not sure how much is in the tank, the oil is golden but feels tacky.
The boat is a nice craft, was "professionally" winterized after the 2002 season and, due to family circumstances, never put back in the water.

It is a Merc I/O 140 HP (3.0 liter) <1981 i think>

can change the oil I am sure...

Not sure how I am going to get rid of the gas or how much is in the tank... siphon adequate? pull a fuel line? no wait that would require me to crank the engine as it has a mechanical fuel pump.

tashasdaddy suggests I will have to replace the impeller and I should replace stern drive lubricants. There is also the question of cleaning out the carb. I have rebuilt a goodly number of those in my life so that does not distress me.

I definately want to see this kick over even if for no more than 3 seconds to confirm it will, but I have no intention of attempting to run it on the lake Saturday! I just need to know we are "on the right track" in breathing life back into her. But want to "do no harm."

I will be bringing a new battery with me, any suggestions on what I should do before turning the key would be most appreciated!

Michael

 

[marunr]

Re: Pulling boat out of long term storage

http://www.iboats.com/bbboard/bbBoard.cgi?a=viewthread;fid=24;gtid=502186

 

[thunderroad]

Re: Pulling boat out of long term storage

I did the same thing to a 160 that hadn't been run for 4 years. I took out the plugs, squirted some oil in each cyl and screwed the plugs back in finger tight. Then I let it sit till the next day, took the plugs back out and turned it over by hand (actually a socket and breaker bar). After I turned it over a couple of revs, I drained the oil, changed the filter, replaced the oil, removed the coil wire, shut off the fuel, hooked up the battery and cranked it a while. I suppose the ideal next step would be to take out the distributor and turn the oil pump till the pressure built up but I didn't do that. I then rigged up a temporary fuel supply, hooked up the coil wire, cranked it again and it fired up.
The fuel tank was metal and full of rust so I tossed it and replaced with a new poly, then started in on the basic tune up issues.
Mine was pretty easy to get going. Maybe yours will be too. The main reason I waited until the next day after squirting the oil in the cylinders was because it was about 9pm when I got home with it. I don't know if it would be necessary to wait that long.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Pulling boat out of long term storage

priming the oil pump would be a good idea. and lubing the cylinders. if you have or can borrow a 6 gallon remote can and hose you can go directly to the fuel pump with fresh gas. will take a little plumbing on the only i/o i did and it beat me, i put marvel mystery oil in a spray bottle to get to the cylinders

 

[spike_michael]

Re: Pulling boat out of long term storage

just a thought...
how about bringing a tank of 50:1 and running that to the pump when I start her instead of "fresh gas?"

It is 3:30 Am, why am I even up?

Michael

 

[thunderroad]

Re: Pulling boat out of long term storage

It probably wouldn't hurt anything but if you have the cylinders pre-lubed sufficiently you should be good to go with just fresh gas.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Pulling boat out of long term storage

i've put it in the truck in a pinch several times, at the lake, when the kids would siphon gas out of the truck, and leave me empty. just smokes a little.

 

[spike_michael]

Re: Pulling boat out of long term storage

I was just thinking that I have a 6 gallon can with mix in it... would be easy to hook it up and it has about 3 gallons of pre-mixed 50:1.

 

[thunderroad]

Re: Pulling boat out of long term storage

go for it...
Don't forget to post back with the results of your efforts. Always interested in seeing what worked and learning new tricks.

 

[spike_michael]

Re: Pulling boat out of long term storage

Ok here goes
So I get up there, the boat is gorgeous. I do not think they have more than 200 hours on it since it was purchased. There wasn't even wear on the vinyl, no cracks nothing, the engine... drool... the thing looks like it was bought yesterday.

I went and pulled the covers and was about hoist the battery into her when a guy pulls up in a pickup. Name of Mark, says he was the mechanic for this family since they bought i in 1981. Says he winterized it in 2002. Replaced the impeller before putting it up. We talked for a few minutes, he insists the thing is ready for the water right then and there unless it needs points.
We hook up the battery, and flip the key on, with the distributor cap off. points smoking like a cheap cigar. i took a drive to the marina a few miles away and come back with a new set of points slap them in, set the gap to .016 and squirt the accellerator pump a couple times, Mark has hooked up the muffs, turn the key and POP it starts up and purrs like ... well like a Vega it IS a Merc 120 after all... but hey she is nice.

Long story, short version... They offered it to me if I wanted it... I I towed her home for $1500 they just wanted her out of the garage and wanted to make sure they were selling a working boat.

Now if you want to know what happened next.... search my other posting... " struck underwater object..." alas...
As soon as I get an other digital camera I will try to post pics.

I am giddy over this deal... I cannot believe the good fortune, and we had been looking for a replacement boat for weeks... reading the "Once and future king" in the car as we went from boat for sale to boat for sale in 4 states... Picked up this Galaxy and have named her "Galaxy Quest"

ok my mood is good... I didn't have to do anything else but fill her up and change the oil. Except now I need a skeg repair and I will likely get a new prop, can't get this over 3800 RPM WOT