Project boat sitting 13 years

[Howard_ST]

Hi folks,

I'm a new member who had 45 years on Long Island Sound until 1995. Got out of boating at that time.

Have owned boats up to 44', and always did most of my own maintenance/repairs. But I'm obviously rusty, having been away from it so long.

I have a 1992 or 93 Mercruiser 260 (raw water cooled) with 1987 Alpha drive in a 1987 19' bow rider which was put up for the winter of 1995-96, and for various reasons is still sitting on the trailer where I parked it. I repowered the boat in, I believe, 1993 (documentation, and the boat, is in CT and I'm in NC), and it has less than 100 hours on the engine. .

Now I want to resurrect this boat over the winter.

I have some ideas of what to start with, but figured the collective wisdom of this forum might be a good place to get ideas and put the job in perspective.

Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to try to get the info that might be needed for your input.

Thanks,

Howard

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Project boat sitting 13 years

I bet that boat if it had wings would have flown.

Ok did you fog it?

If it were me i would pull the spark plugs and shoot some pb blaster in every hole.

I would give it a oil change right off.

I would shoot some more in the spark plug holes.

I would hook up i forget what you call the tool to the dizzy and spin the oil pump before i tried to crank it.

I would than try to crank it without plugs.

Does it crank?

If no pull the drive.

Than try to crank it.

If it cranks than your ahead of the game.

You know you need a new impeller no use going futher till you replace it and the bellows.

Cause you have to run water to the drive before you start it.

Grease the gimbal if you have that zerk in side the boat.

Hoses look good in the engine bay? Belt good? T-stat changed?

Battery good? Cables clean? Grounds cleaned?

Carb clean?

Fuel filters all clean?

Clean the points, sandpaper them if you have them.

Put in the plugs clean.

Start it on a external tank of clean gas.

This way we know it's not crap in the tank messing with you.

Hook up the water.

Let us know what happens.

Welcome aboard!

 

[Don S]

Re: Project boat sitting 13 years

After that many years, I would pull the engine, drop the pan and clean all the sludge and moisture laden oil out. Without ever turning the engine over.
Put the pan back on, fill with oil and new filter, pull the distributor and with a pump priming tool run the oil pump for a while to lube the bearings. Then pull the spark plugs and spray some lube in each cylinder, then crank the engine over (if it will). Start it on blocks before you ever think of putting in back in the boat.
That is just a start. Then you have to head for the drive and bellows.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Project boat sitting 13 years

Give it a oil change spin the dizzy, give it another oil change. And see what comes out. Still dirty the oil give it another change. New oil filter when ya done.

latter for pulling that monster motor out unless you have a leak in the oil pan and there oil all over the bilge.

I started cars, boats, airplanes sat longer than that.

How did you park it?

 

[Howard_ST]

Re: Project boat sitting 13 years

Thanks for the quick replies.

The engine was properly fogged and winterized when put away.

The ideas are in line with my thinking, and very complete. Not sure if I'm up to pulling the engine, but will sure give it serious thought. I replaced a pair of 454's in my Viking 40 many years ago, doing every bit of the job myself with the exception of hiring a heavy equipment operator to actually yank the old ones and place the new ones. That was a fun job!

I took the tires, wheels, hubs and brake drums off the trailer when I was in CT last week. Was pleasantly surprised at the condition of that equipment. The bearing buddies worked well over the years we actually used the boat. Will be putting new tires on the galvanized wheels, and installing new bearings and seals, and of course the Bearing Buddies. The brakes on the front axle are shot, so will have to address them as well as the brake lines and the surge brake coupler before I tow her to NC.

Will keep you posted.

Howard

 

[Uraijit]

Re: Project boat sitting 13 years

I wouldn't go pulling the engine, unless there's a mechanical problem discovered later. At the very most, you could do an engine oil system flush.

You need to drop the lower unit for sure, and change the impeller. Naturally, doing this, you'll also be changing the oil in the drive.

Probably want to go ahead and clean out/rebuild the carb as well.

Priming the oil system is also a must.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Project boat sitting 13 years

Good luck with your endeavor,sir.

Good people here with online manuals that, they can give you the link to.

 

[Howard_ST]

Re: Project boat sitting 13 years

Thanks for the additional replies.

I have the service manual for the engine and drive, but will sure holler if I need to.

Where does one get a tool to spin the oil pump? What's it called? Maybe I should RTM? <G>

Thanks,

Howard

 

[Uraijit]

Re: Project boat sitting 13 years

It's just called an oil pump priming tool. You should be able to "rent" one from Autozone for free.

 

[sea wolf]

Re: Project boat sitting 13 years

After 13 years the fact that you fogged the engine, in my opinion won't really matter. I would pull the engine.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Project boat sitting 13 years

jeez everyone has a crane or backhoe or cherry picker in there back yard. Easy to pull it.

I know every one on my cul-de-sac has one.

Young guys strong backs.

Yep if he did a good job of fogging i bet after shooting the cylinders with pb blaster, And the drive off the crank will turn.

Howard go for it. Drain it,fill it,spin it, Take off the valve covers shoot the pushrods shoot everything. Can't hurt.

I don't know if you have the zerk inside the transom to grease the gimbal, grease that to. If you don't pull the drive first.

Clean the cables grounds also. Very important the grounds.

Try and crank it with the starter. Just touch it see if it cranks. No plugs in.

Shoot some more in the cylinders.

Spin the dizzy again.

Keep shooting keep spinning keep cranking.

Drain the oil and fill it up again.

Spin it put everything back together plugs in and try to start her for real on a external tank of gas.

I'm real interested if she starts.

 

[sea wolf]

Re: Project boat sitting 13 years

And how is he supposed to get the sludge out of the pan if he doesn't pull the engine, or will it just magically dissapear? If the engine blows are you gonna pay for it 'cuz your telling the guy not to worry about it? The boat's been sitting for 13 years, not 13 months.

 

[Uraijit]

Re: Project boat sitting 13 years

Engine flush...

 

[sea wolf]

Re: Project boat sitting 13 years

He has to start it first to flush it. The sludge will still be sitting there are on the initial start up.

 

[Don S]

Re: Project boat sitting 13 years

This just really seems to fit this thread.

Why is there never enough time to do it right the first time,
But always enough time to do it again? ​