Starting an old motor

[macutty]

Hey guys....been a while since I posted cause my OB has been in storage for 12 years.

I pulled it out this weekend and looking for any advice on what should be done before trying to start it? Motor is an '84 2.0 150 Black Max.

I ran the carbs dry when it was put away and it's been in indoor (but unheated) storage since 2011. Parked in Vancouver, BC so no real extreme temps over the years. It has a steel tank with a small amount of fuel left in it so I was going to drain the tank and add a water separator and additional filter to catch any condensation or debris.

For the motor, what should be done before turning it over?

Thanks.

[Jim Speros]

I suggest throwing steel tank away and buy a plastic one. Rust will find its way by any filter.

Mercury makes a fogging fluid called storage seal. The engine will run on it. It would be a good idea to spray in some lube in plug holes and as you crank it in carb bores. Nothing excessive just some lube. Oil mixed fuel would be better then nothing. Do not use ether. Dangerous and no lube properties.

With a little good fortune it will start right up. Make certain to replace water pump before you let it run for any length of time or you ramp it.

[macutty]

I suggest throwing steel tank away and buy a plastic one. Rust will find its way by any filter.

Mercury makes a fogging fluid called storage seal. The engine will run on it. It would be a good idea to spray in some lube in plug holes and as you crank it in carb bores. Nothing excessive just some lube. Oil mixed fuel would be better then nothing. Do not use ether. Dangerous and no lube properties.

With a little good fortune it will start right up. Make certain to replace water pump before you let it run for any length of time or you ramp it.

Thanks Jim. Will order a new WP and give that a try.

Cheers

[lbhsbz]

It's a 2 stroke...prime it and turn the key. I just woke up a 2L after a 10 year slumber...fired right up and runs great.

[SCT]

I have a similar situation with starting my old inline 6 1350s soon. Should i spray some oil in the cylinders before I start cranking with the starter?

[Jim Speros]

I would not spray just oil at start up. What I find nice about storage seal is the engine will run on it. It will also run on WD 40 in a pinch when troubleshooting on the fly.

As mentioned above just prime with oil mixed fuel: If it was put away properly it will likely fire right up. A little lube is always good.

[tnelsmn]

I woke up an old 2.0 175 after almost 20 years. I sprayed some fogging oil down the plug holes and cranked on it. It fired right up!

[FMP]

I have a similar situation with starting my old inline 6 1350s soon. Should i spray some oil in the cylinders before I start cranking with the starter?

Your motor has the advantage of being able to check rings through the transfer ports.
Depending on how long it's been and what was used to fogg it years ago , that oil may be dried and sticking the rings.
Also the hrs on it and old carbon build up with that fogger oil.

How fussy are you, I'd consider removing all the bypass transfer covers and tension check the rings, bounce them with slight pressure pushing them into the grove and watching the rebound. If stuck work them using some Merc decarb or just gas and soaking. If a ring doesn't have tension and rebound after working it's likely broken.

[Tomanytoys]

As said, fogging oil is great cuz the motor will actually run on it.
The other thing I like to do is prelube the top bearing. Pull the oil bleed line that feeds the top crank bearing and give it a few shots of 2 stroke oil.
JMO

[skialot2]

I start long term stored motors all the time. I usually just check all the carb linkages to make sure they are free. Sometimes I will pull the spark plugs and spray wd-40. But I usually just prime with fresh gas oil mix. If the carbs fill up and don't dump gas, they usually start right up. If they don't idle good, then I clean the carbs.