65 HP Mercury outboard

[de novo]

I just bought a Jon boat with an older 65 Hp mercruiser outboard ( from the 1970's). The story is that the motor was running two years ago when the boat was covered and placed in a shed.

Tomorrow I plan on trying to get this thing to run. Other than new fuel, spark plugs, and cleaning the carbs, what else do I need to be prepared to do?

 

[chunkandwind]

Fuel filters and make sure the lines are good. Lower unit oil
too.

 

[Mtn Hunter]

Also the water pump ( impeller). They will begin to dry rot and crack even if not used for a period of time.

 

[Mudbone]

Corroded wires. Some are real hard to replace without buying new parts, liquid electrical tape works for a while. Mercruiser outboard?? Only motors Ive seen that say mercruiser are inboards.

 

[AndyW]

Also the water pump ( impeller). They will begin to dry rot and crack even if not used for a period of time.

Whatever you do, do this. I see people get towed in off Dale Hollow nearly every weekend of the summer from bad impellers. Been burnt twice on it myself. Never again! :blush:

 

[mossyhorns300]

Fuel filters and make sure the lines are good. Lower unit oil
too.

Add fuel line and primer bulb to that as well as impeller which was mentioned also. That's one of the biggest things we see in our shop.