stlhddave
06-17-2009, 07:38 PM
I just picked up a 20hp Keikhafer Mercury at a garage sale for 80 bucks. I bought it from an older lady who had owned it for a year without using it. I believe the model year is between 1960-65. As this is my first outboard purchase, what initial maintenance should I perform before attempting to fire it up? Because I picked it up for so little money, I don't mind spending some to get it in reliable condition. Should I take it to a shop to have it inspected? Thanks for any help.
Starfish
06-17-2009, 09:14 PM
If it hasn't been run for an extended/unknown time the first thing I'd do is pull the carb, drop the bowl and clean out any varnish and gunk from the jets etc. Then I'd pull the plugs and spray some fogging oil and turn the motor over with the plugs out to make sure none of the rings are stuck. I'd change the lower unit oil and check to make sure the gears appeared to be working properly (freewheel forward and reverse while in neutral, freewheel forward only in forward gear, freewheel reverse only in reverse gear). Then I'd get a new fuel hose and squeeze bulb, mix up a fresh batch of gas (after cleaning out the tank if there was any old fuel in it), put the engine on a stand in a tub of water in the backyard, and give it a rip! Good luck.