Never started old 40hp lark V what to do?

I was just given a 40hp Evinrude Lark V. Do not know what year it is, but looks 1960-70ish? Anyway I know absolutley nothing about boat motors. What should I do if anything in order to start this old baby? Should I shoot some WD-40 into the cylinders? Prime and start? This motor is pretty clean for its age though. I do not see any oil or grease sepage anywhere. the only thing that has me worried is that it seems tough to shift. Can anyone give me any tips?

Re: Never started old 40hp lark V what to do?

If it has not been started in a long time, follow the steps here:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=158086

The prop and lower end has to be submerged in water. I use a big metal trash can.

Re: Never started old 40hp lark V what to do?

As above post. Wake your sleeping outboard.

Re: Never started old 40hp lark V what to do?

Or let it sleep and give it to me!

Re: Never started old 40hp lark V what to do?

I have the same motor. Is it electric shift? Mine is a 1963. Two ways to determine the year. There is a horizontal plate at the front of the motor just beneath the shroud and there is a metal "welch plug" or expansion plug at the rear of the engine (remove shroud) on the starboard side just behind the thermostat housing with the model and serial number stamped in both locations. They should match. Report back with what you find. Also, did the original controls (throttle and shift) come with it? Might be helpful to know this stuff. I have a nice manual and got mine running good until this year when I suddenly have water in the lower unit. Still working on that. If you have a decent boat and the motor is clean with good compression, you can still get many years of fun boating out of it. Post your model number. Later,
Grain Boat

Re: Never started old 40hp lark V what to do?

Thanks for the information, I would like to know what year this is. I do not believe it is electric shift because it does have the shifter on the side. Controls did not come with this motor but i have it hooked up now to some Johnson controls. I did have it running for about three seconds and it sounded fine with very little smoke. My problem now is that I have to pull start it because there are three wires inside the motor that are not hooked up. I'm having a hard time finding where they go but I believe if I get the Electric start going it will fire right up. Would you have a close up picture of the right side of the motor? I'm not sure if i'm missing something here or what?

Re: Never started old 40hp lark V what to do?

You need a wiring harness or you need to make one to properly use the electric start. Post model number and someone can tell you the year of the motor. Then get a service manual - that will have a wiring diagram and will be invaluable for working on the motor.

Re: Never started old 40hp lark V what to do?

Ok, I have some numbers here but not sure witch oes are needed to id the year. It is a evinrude Lark V. on the starboard side of the motor i have a number on the starter mount;G305084, might be a part number?.....above the spark plugs on top I have a M with a square around it and a number 40372DA & E01609 directly under. this number is at the top starboard side of motor above spark plugs. I also saw a number on the starboard side K30706. All of these numbers are on the starboard side of the motor. I hope these are not just part numbers and you can identify the year for me. I did see another number on the Fuel Pump but thought that number would be a part number for sure. Please let me know if any of these numbers will work. I will then go buy a book. Any book work or is there one book better for green horns?

Thanks,
Rex Gallion

Re: Never started old 40hp lark V what to do?

any pictures