Who has starting doing all their own maintenance?

[lrdchaos]

I appreciate the feed back guys!! I’m making a list of required items at this time.

 

[JimS123]

I am 45 and do most of my own maintenance on my 60yr old small outboards, and also my 2009 Suzuki 90hp. With 12 years of use under its belt, I took the Suzuki in last fall and paid $725 for them to do a full winterization, impeller, plugs, etc. This spring I noticed that they didn't tighten the bottom screw in the lower unit so it leaked all over my neighbor's garage floor throughout the winter. It could be coincidence, but the motor died on it's third trip out this season. It ended up being a dead IAC valve.

I take it to the pros when I can't do it, but learned an expensive lesson about letting the "pros" handle routine maintenance. Oil, filters, impeller, and plugs would have cost me about $150 and I would have done it all correctly.

In the past when I had a large dealer do work, it always came back with some issues. I learned that I needed to check everything when it came back, like tightening bolts and checking fluid levels, etc.

If you own a boat, you need to be somewhat mechanically inclined.

 

[Commander_47]

Just a few of the things I've aquired over the years.
Old school I/O engines are very simple especially if you understand carburators....not many left with points and condenser ignition though!

I really like your out drive stand. Looks like a modified motor stand. I might have to make one of those.

I currently use two saw horses staggered to set my out drive on. The saw horses allow me to lift the drive up kind of high.

I stand corrected, upon closer examination it looks like you used a heavy duty trailer jack to build your out drive stand!!!!!! Now......I REALLY like it. You can crank it up high.

 

[Lou C]

Well I can’t take credit for it, I bought this one from Stumpys Fab Works. Bought it about 8 years ago; works great!