So first a little back story before my questions. I have been fishing on and off for the past 15 years but never had a boat. I almost exclusively fly fish so that is a little limiting. Anyway I recently picked up 12 foot aluminum for 80 bucks needed transom corner braces and some paint. Braces have been done and the old paint stripped. I'm going to leave it all aluminum because I am cheap. The boat is rated for 500 lbs and 7.5hp max. So I proceed to Craigslist a 2 HP Johnson for 100 bucks. Only problem is it has been sitting for 5 years. Took me a couple.hours last Sunday to clean the carb and now it runs like a champ. Only problem is there is no water flowing out of it. Then today my boss brings me in a 1970 mercury thunderbolt 7.5hp. Says its mine if I can get it running otherwise he is taking it in for scrap metal. This thing has been sitting for 12 years so I figure getting it running in a couple hours is going to be a challenge. First thing I do is throw a little oil in the cylinders. Then I check for spark. Pulls pretty stiff but its loosening up. Cleaned the pull start as it wasn't retracting properly. I grabbed the fuel tank and drained the 12 year old fuel out. Thank god it was a plastic tank. Throw some new fuel in it and chuck the old girl in my 45 gal from. Pump the primer a few times and it leaks. Uh oh. So I pop the cover and a fuel line to the carb is also leaking. That's not good either. Anyway the bloody thing starts second pull. I could not believe it. Ran great too. Smokey from the oil but runs great. Lots of water flowing out from the water pump. Shifts gears smoothly. What a score!! Anyway. The water slowed right down and now it mostly steams or dribbles water. When full throttle it will have a steady stream but not like before. So now for my questions. Keep in mind this is a free motor and I'm not willing to put.in more.than its worth. Which I figure is a couple hundred bucks. Secondly I and very comfortable working on engines and carbs but I have zero experience working on the leg of a outboard motor.
1. How do I change the engine and leg oil. What type of oil do I need and how much
2. How do I check and clean my water pump and passages.
3. What else should I do to this motor aside from replacing the fuel lines. Keeping in mind it runs like a champ
4. Same question as above but for my 2hp Johnson.
5. I also got a free electric motor keeping a few things in kind which gas motor would you keep. I weigh 300 lbs plus gear and electric I am at almost 400 with no gas motor. I would like to fish with another person in the boat who weighs about 150.
How important is it to keep.under the 500 lb limit in my boat. Will the 7.5 get my boat up and planing with a full load.
Finally what are these motors worth in running condition.
1. How do I change the engine and leg oil. What type of oil do I need and how much
2. How do I check and clean my water pump and passages.
3. What else should I do to this motor aside from replacing the fuel lines. Keeping in mind it runs like a champ
4. Same question as above but for my 2hp Johnson.
5. I also got a free electric motor keeping a few things in kind which gas motor would you keep. I weigh 300 lbs plus gear and electric I am at almost 400 with no gas motor. I would like to fish with another person in the boat who weighs about 150.
How important is it to keep.under the 500 lb limit in my boat. Will the 7.5 get my boat up and planing with a full load.
Finally what are these motors worth in running condition.
