Advice on starting a motor please

[Fishing Junky]

I was wondering if anyone can give me some advice on starting a motor that has been sitting for 5 years? It is a Merc 25hp 4 stroke Bigfoot. Not sure if it was winterized for storage or not. My guess is no. It has been sitting on a pontoon for the last 5 years and MAYBE has 50 hours total on it. It looks brand new. It was outside all these years, with a cavas cover over it and the pontoon. What should I do to it before starting? Thank you for any help. Junky......

[Valv]

I would pull the plugs and spray some fogging oil inside the cylinders, then spin it slowly manually, if you can. Unplug the fuel connector and try to empty the fuel line as much as you can, the refill the tank with fresh new fuel and some SeaFoam.

Hook up the water muffs, open the water and fire the "beast" up. Look for pee of water from side, and warm up the motor. Change the oil and filter after it warmed up.

I would replace the water pump impeller if I was you, just in case.

[reinhard1]

my son-inlaw has a 30hp. evinrude. it was my dads, then mine , now his. never had it in the shop for anything. i store the boat for him and yesterday when he came to drop it off he turned the key and all you hear is a wirring noise. i'm no mechanic and i told him it sounds like the starter is shot. i dont even know if it has one similiar to a car but what could it be? thank you.good luck.

[marine_man]

reinhard... in the future, please start a new thread / topic for a different question...

I would take the cover off the motor and look at the starter when it's actuated... it sounds to me like either the battery is a little low on voltage, or the bendix gear isn't engaging the flywheel fully because the path that it travels vertically has enough crud in it to prevent it from moving up the shaft.

If it's not the battery, take some WD-40 and a screw driver and clean the grooves the gear slides up to engage the flyweheel.

If that doesn't do it, and all your battery connections are tight it sounds to me like it's time for a starter rebuild.

marine_man

[reinhard1]

sorry about me going on this thread. like i said i'm not a mecanic and the thread topic was advice on starting a motor please. thank you for your help. good luck.

[Fishing Junky]

I would pull the plugs and spray some fogging oil inside the cylinders, then spin it slowly manually, if you can. Unplug the fuel connector and try to empty the fuel line as much as you can, the refill the tank with fresh new fuel and some SeaFoam.

Hook up the water muffs, open the water and fire the "beast" up. Look for pee of water from side, and warm up the motor. Change the oil and filter after it warmed up.

I would replace the water pump impeller if I was you, just in case.

Thanks for the advice Val. I was thinking on the same lines. Will give it a whirl, and cross my fingers. Thanks again. Junky....

[Fishing Junky]

I would pull the plugs and spray some fogging oil inside the cylinders, then spin it slowly manually, if you can. Unplug the fuel connector and try to empty the fuel line as much as you can, the refill the tank with fresh new fuel and some SeaFoam.

Hook up the water muffs, open the water and fire the "beast" up. Look for pee of water from side, and warm up the motor. Change the oil and filter after it warmed up.

I would replace the water pump impeller if I was you, just in case.

Did what you suggested Val, and the motor fired right up. Runs a little rough at low idle, but doesn't stall. Hopefully the Seafoam will do the trick after awhile. Thank you for the advice. Junky.............

[Kahuner]

The actual size of the orifice in 4 cycle O/B motor jets are incredibly small compared to the jets in a 2 cycle engine and are more prone to clogging if ethanol fuel was used.

If the rough idle condition persists, I think cleaning the idle circuit jets will be required. Run non-ethanol fuel afterwards. Usually the 91 octane grade and of course use Stabil in the fall to prevent reoccurance.