Tune-Up Steps

[DBLD]

Hi All,<br /><br />1994, Johnson 88 hp, SPL. I was wondering if someone could tell me what a tune-up on my motor consists of? I want to get it going for this coming season, and if I can do it myself and save marina $$, I'd like to. Am I just changing plugs and starting it up or is there more to it?<br /><br />The water pump and impellar are 1 year old, the zincs are 1 year old and look like they have plenty of meat left on them.<br /><br />Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: Tune-Up Steps

If the motor was properly stored, or I should say serviced for the winter, you could very well have to just add fresh fuel, and go.

 

[JB]

Re: Tune-Up Steps

Hi, DBLD.<br /><br />If your engine needs tuning up, you can save yourself a bundle by getting a Repair Manual.<br /><br />Explaining every step here would take several pages and several pictures.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[DBLD]

Re: Tune-Up Steps

Hi,<br /><br />Thanks for the replies. I have a manual - you are right JB, they go on for pages about a tune up. Can you tell me - Does a mechanic really do ALL that stuff in a tune up? Also, you wrote that if my engine "needs tuning" - I typically just have it done once a year to start the season just to make sure everything is OK. Is that overkill? How do I know if it needs tuning - do I wait for it to start running poorly?<br /><br />I laid it up for winter myself, so I think that it is OK from that standpoint. I stablized the fuel, let that run through it for while, then I fogged it, changed the lower unit oil - that's it I guess.<br /><br />Thanks!

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Tune-Up Steps

Well, for what it's worth, I have a 1990 88 SPCL that's never had a "tune-up" other than changing plugs every year and the usual water pump stuff. Grease it every year of course. As long as the motor dosn't have a fall-off in WOT RPM's or start running poorly, I don't see the need for paying someone every year to do this or even to do it myself. Compare it to your baseline perfomance and act accordingly. Oh yeah, I keep stabilized gas in it in the winter and run it once a month on muffs to keep the gas in the carbs fresh and decarb it every 50 hrs or once a year. Have never had any kind of problem with it. Just my 2c.

 

[JB]

Re: Tune-Up Steps

Hi, DBLD.<br /><br />Yes. Responsible Wrenches do all of it, and more. There are a few "wanna be" wrenches who will charge you for all of it and do less.<br /><br />I think it is a good idea to do a compression check, go through the adjustments, replace the impeller and lower end grease, clean and regap the plugs and, in salt water, replace the thermostats annually. Also do a decarb every 100 hours or so.<br /><br />I know of many engines that have been run for several years without any routine maintenance at all, but when you see a catastrophic failure it is as likely as not one that lacked routine preventive maintenance.