Help a beginner get on the water

BillJ

Ok so at home is my brothers boat, 15(ish)ft fletcher with an Evinrude 70hp four stroke EFI engine. Looks the same as the one in the pic here:
http://www.nettivene.com/moottori/evinrude/508580

It hasn't been started in a long time, at least a year, maybe 18 months. Last time it was tried it wouldn't start. I'm pretty sure there is old petrol in the fuel system.

I want to get it back out in the water for this summer, so my question to you knowledgeable people is what do I do next. I regularly service my own car as well as a few other more complex jobs but I have no experience with outboards.

This is what I reckon I need to do:
Please add in/remove/rearrange/edit steps

1. I'm miles from water so need muffs to start engine, so must get them
2. Get basic service parts: oil filter, spark plugs, engine oil
3. I'm clueless about what other things need to be serviced? Grease the shafts and gears? impeller?
4. Empty the carbs of old petrol, no idea how to do this

Any help at all much appreciated!

fergal.b

Hi Billj welcome, you may not want to hear this but as it hasn't been used in a while it would be worth your while spending a few quid and putting it in for a full service including a new impeller that way you will get a good safe summer out of it and a bit of time to get to know the engine.




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BillJ

Thanks for your reply Fergal!

You're right, that's not what I wanted to hear!

I wanted to keep costs to a minimum, plus I like doing this sort of thing so thought it would be a win win situation! But of course I see that taking it a pro is the best option if possible.

Do you have an idea of the rough cost of bringing it in and getting it ready (serviced and impeller)?

Is a new impeller a big job?

fergal.b

It's not that expensive if there is nothing wrong The impellers are cheep to buy but you have to drop the gearbox to get at the water pump so there is a bit of work involved, most of the work you could do yourself next year but a pro might spot something that you could overlook and will be able to fine-tune it once she is up and running right you can look after it from then.



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BillJ

Right i'll try get some quotes and go from there.

I see you're in Dublin but do you know of anyone in cork or even kilalloe that would come recommended by any chance?

fergal.b

BillJ wrote: »

Right i'll try get some quotes and go from there.

I see you're in Dublin but do you know of anyone in cork or even kilalloe that would come recommended by any chance?

I'm sure one of the other guys will be able to recommend a guy they use or you could try one of these.

http://corkmarine.com/home.htm

http://www.marinemotorscork.com/

http://www.dtmarine.net/boatyard/?page_id=8




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BillJ

Got a quote for 250-280 for a service, they would check impeller then and would be extra if it needed changing. Was very helpful in fairness.

But I'm finding it hard to justify 250-280 on a service that I know I would be able to do my self.

It would also involve driving the boat over an hour each way, whereas at home I can work in a shed in my own time.

Confused about what too do

This engine has only been on fresh water, and before it was laid up it had only done a few hours after being serviced professionally.

vicwatson

It's a lot of cash but if any way unsure I'd wait until I had the money in order to have it done by the pros, could end up costing you more in the long run if you miss something or do something incorrectly.

BillJ

what would be the consensus on doing the basic service myself (oil, filter, plugs) and then bringing it in for a health check?

I don't think I could mess up that and would save the cost of it? I'm not trying to be stubborn by doing it myself, it just seems a basic service is very doable so might as well do it myself.

I definitely see the sense in going to a pro for the other much more specialised work.

thanks for replies:)

fergal.b

If I was to do your engine I would prefer to see the old oil,filter and plugs as they can all tell a story about the engine how it's been running and what needs to be checked.
I would bite the bullet on this one and pay for a full service it's not a bad price to pay to be sure of getting back to dry land






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breghall

the guys have given you good advice as you are a newbie...you seem pretty determined to do it yourself i think.... if so get the correct service manual for the engine, it'll show you a lot but it will not tell you if it's running properly once everything is serviced...we all start somewhere but a lot of stuff is learned over time.

personally if you don't know what impeller is, then my advice is to fork out the 250 or so. A worn impeller can cost you your engine in a few minutes sometimes seconds of running it. Would the loss of the engine not be worse for you ??

Are you sure you know what your at even? as that engine if it is efi, then doesn't even have carbs for you to drain down, i believe it uses the fuel injector system, and these injectors have to be checked using a computer diagnostic if there is trouble with them (if it is the motor I'm thinking of).. would you know if the impeller was ok to run if you did inspect it... all these things come with time just like leaning about cars....