rebuild it?

i found a 175 horse johnson outboard that has been sitting for over 15 years outside in CA. what can I expect to find when I try to start it?

Re: rebuild it?

If you intend on useing it, there is alot you need to do first before you let the smoke out of it. I have resurected a few old outboards that have sat for that period of time. I guess alot of it depends on how much you know about it. Asuming you know nothing about it, give it a good visule inspection look for bad wires, conections etc. Check compression....it may be wiped and not worthy of going further, or steer you in the direction of a rebuild.....if compression looks good and all cylinders are with in 10% of each other...replace the water pump (impeller at the least) dissaseble clean and rebuild the carbs, rebuild the fuel pump. Look at the paint color on the head does it look as if it was ever overheated? new plugs. See where you are at then maybe try to fire it off??? Lots of variables to think about.....Keep us updated on how you make out.

Re: rebuild it?

the first thing i would do is tilt the engine all the way up, and put marvel mystery oil in each cylinder, and let it sit atleast over night. thrying to turn it over with out doing this can break a ring. then lower the engine and clean up the oil, turn the engine over ny hand so the rest of the oil comes out. after 15 years theres no lubircation in there. then if it will turn it over with the starter up the plugs out, and be ready for a spray of oil. now do your compression, and spark test. you never know it might be alright. do the steps in Awakening a Sleeping Outboard, found in the engine faq forum. good luck, keep us posted. just because it sat doesn't mean it needs a rebuild.

Re: rebuild it?

First thing that you would want to do is find the model and serial numbers. They should be on the transom bracket on the port side, or on a welch plug on the engine block. The 175HP starts around 1977, so any advice should be tempered by which 175 you have.

The second thing to do is to read the Engine FAQ thread here: http://forums.iboats.com/bbBoard.cgi?a=viewthread;fid=36;gtid=1035575