Re-Service Needed?

Doryman · Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 7:37 pm Post subject: Re-Service Needed?

As some of you may know, last year was not a good year for me and boating. Due to health issues I did not take the boat out once. Angry

I did have the motors serviced about a year ago, though. I am hoping someone knowledgeable like Larry H will see this and advise me whether it is necessary for me to have the motors re-serviced before this boating season begins in earnest.

TIA for your thoughts.
Warren

Matt Gurnsey · Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 8:19 pm Post subject:

Glad you're feeling better and are ready to get back on the water!

What kind of engine and what was done at the service? I'm assuming oil change, lower unit change, maybe spark plugs. Was the water pump serviced at that time?

You may be just fine to fire the engine off, but a little more information will help make informed guesses.

thataway · Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 8:21 pm Post subject:

I am not a Larry H, but have left boats for several years with out being run in the past. We serviced them with oil both upper and gear case change, fogged if we knew that we were going way, and were ready to go when we returned.

The only issue might be if the water pump impeller took a "set" and water pressure is low--but you will notice that right away.

Doryman · Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 8:22 pm Post subject:

Doryman · Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 8:27 pm Post subject:

Sunbeam · Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 8:51 pm Post subject:

Do your engines have carburetors? (Seems like they are around the time of changeover, so I can't guess.) Mine does and since i knew I would not be using the boat right away after the service, I had them drain the carburetors. I don't believe they would have done it otherwise (like you say, it was not lay-up season). That said, I don't know if it would have caused a problem if they weren't drained, but when I got the boat it had gunked up carbs (from sitting) that I had to have completely rebuilt Cry

so I figured I'd try to be on the safe side.

Sunbeam
(not an engine pro)

Doryman · Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 9:10 pm Post subject:

Good point. My Yamaha 150s are fuel injected. I do drain the carbs of the Honda 40s (on the 22) whenever I put that boat away.

Warren

Larry H · Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 10:19 pm Post subject:

Warren,

The previous posters have given good advice.

I would test start the motor on a flusher. If all is normal, I would use it as is.

PaulNBriannaLynn · Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 11:37 pm Post subject:

Personally, I would charge the batteries fully and launch to test the boat at the dock. If it runs good, and seems to piss strongly out of the water ports, you're good! I use muffs to flush out the salt, but don't really trust them to test an outboard due pressure differences and limited flow

You'll know right away if you have crud in your FI system. The biggest thing to worry about was previously stated, the cooling impellers. They've been replaced before you stored the boat. If they are bad, you'll know either first by a weak stream or moments later by the alarm going off. Test it out, you cant harm anything that I know of.

Matt Gurnsey · Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 11:50 am Post subject:

Was the fuel in the tank treated with stabilizer? Does the fuel have ethonal in it?

That would probably be my only concern; that the old fuel has lost octane and gotten stale or has absorbed moisture. If the fuel is bad you could cause issues with the fuel system and gum up injectors or VST pump.

If the fuel has been treated you shouldn't have any issues.

In all probability you'll start the engines and have no problem.

Doryman · Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 12:00 pm Post subject: