1972 mercury 50hp

[blake_roberts88]

i just purchased a 1972 thunderbird ski and bass boat, it has been sitting for about 5 years now and was wondering if anyone had any pointers on what i should do and check before i try to run my motor. this is my first boat project i dont know much about them at all could use some help. i also was wanting to buy a new steering linkage because the one on the boat is all rusted up. any little thing will help thanks guys.

[turtles11756]

the motor must be in water high enough at lower unit for water to be pumped up top for cooling while running ,FRESH gas mixed with outboard oil at 50-1, prime the fuel by pumping bulb in fuel line till it stays firm, choke the motor turn the key. if it starts to run it must be pumping water. water will stream out the side of motor at tell tale hose. if not it will overheat

[Faztbullet]

First..check the wiring condition under cowlings as these are know to rot away. If wiring is intact remove plugs and squirt a little oil into each cylinder and rotate flywheel by hand to lube cylinder walls. Perform a compression check on all cylinders, they should be 100psi or higher and within 10psi of each other. Check lower unit oil for water and lage metallic particles. If all check out then find you a manual on that engine. Read,read,read and then remove carbs and rebuild with new gaskets,needles and floats if needed. Replace fuel pump diaphram,replace impeller and then you will be ready to take it out for a spin. Engines when in a long storage(setting /non-use) the impeller vanes will take a "set" to them and either destroy themselfs on startup & running or wont pump or have a weak flow. The old fuel in carbs will evaporate and leave behind the oil forming a gum & varnish. Running engine with jets and passages stopped up/restricted hurts the engine as if it cant get fuel it cant get lubrication..