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83 mfg bowrider

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bigtrout29

Contributing Member
Hey guys have a couple questions hoping some one can point me in the right directions I just purchased my first bigger boat it is a 83 mfg bow rider with a merc 165 inboard it has been sitting for a couple years in dry storage was winterized before put away then pulled out of storage about 8 months ago.The old owner tried to start it with no go and put in a barn. My first question is what should I do before I try and turn it over. I checked oil and it is really clean looks new. Not sure how much feul is in it should i drian it out I havent even hooked battery up yet cuz it is still minus in ontario canada at nite so dont wanna fill with water.My other question is was told that the trim is slow going down and fast going up any ideas on that would be good.
Thanks guys hope uses can help
 
ASSUMING that the hull is in good condition, i.e., no dryrot in stringers or transom or spongy decks....

1) Drain gas.
2) Borrow a battery (why?.... keep reading...) and see if the engine will crank over. If it won't, unbolt starter, leaving all wires on, from bell housing and slide it back about 2to3 inches. Be careful that the "nose" of the starter is free and clear. Wedge some wood between starter flange and bell housing. Try to start again. If starter spins, engine may be frozen and $$$$$ will need to be spent.
3) If engine cranks and turns over per first attempt in #2 above. Pour 5 gal of fresh fuel in tank. Replace fuel filter ( or drain if it has a bowl) make sure to fill filter with gas before installing. Try to restart.

If it does start or even sounds as if its going to start....STOP engine immediately and
Replace raw water impeller ( usually inside drive lower unit). Inspect old impeller and make sure its intact.

4) Replace cap and rotor and unless spark plug wires are pristine, replace them too. New plugs @ this point as well. If old ones look good keep as spares. Make sure plugs are gapped corretly before installing.

IF engine starts and runs... change oil and filter and belts on front of engine..

This procedure may seem a little odd, but on a boat with this history, you don't want to be throwing good money after bad...
 
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Thanks for the info sandkicker should I spray some fogging oil in the cylinders so they are not dry I am trying to figure out how to upload pics the thing is in mint condition or I would have bought it
 
Hey guys I know it has been along time since I posted on this post but got food news the motor turns over like a champ lots of oil pressure. I am gonna have to drain 70 plus liters of fuel out if her because the fuel looks orange and won't even burn with a match (put some in a cup and tryed hahah)also with the trim situation the trim goes up with the up button and goes to trailering position with holding the two buttons but when I push the out the motor runs for a few seconds then stops I have to wait then do it again pump motor gets hot.and almost sounds like it is grinding.been looking into replacing the pump should I stick with a single solenoid or go to the double. I have an single now old prestolite with metal resivoir..thanks in advance
 
Ugh. With anything this old you should replace all the basics. That is, all fluids (fuel, oil, hydraulic, coolant if present), points, condensor, cap, rotor, plugs, wires, belts, filters (carb, fuel, tank), and fuses. Clean and tighten all your electric connections from the battery to the engine, alternator and the starter. Don't forget the ground strap and/or negative lead. Lube linkage on carb and shift. Shoot some WD40 in your key switch. With that you are probably a day or so and a couple hundred bucks into this and you haven't run it yet!
T think you should get a n(used) trim pump def.
 
Hey thanks for the reply I done all of that all ready just trying to figure out if I should stick with the single solenoid or the switch trim pump or add the second solenoid
 
I would go with two solenoids.


The down solenoid is what is not present now

There should be a three wire plug before the pump. This is the wire harness and the long section comes from the control for the pump. (wire colors, red with purple stripe, Blue with white stripe, and green with white stripe.

red with purple stripe = Power to trim switch control

Blue with white stripe = Trim UP, Sky is blue

Green with white stripe = Trim DOWN, Grass is green



The DOWN wire color should be green with white stripe.

This wire currently goes from the pump switch control panel all the way to the pump motor thru the small connector and may possibly be connected to a small terminal block where the pump motor wire is also connected. If no terminal block then it will be connected to the motor wire some how.

This is full motor current from the trim control switch...........No the best design for sure.

So if you add a second solenoid what you need to do is,

Take the green with white stripe wire coming from the small connector and disconnect from the terminal block.
Also disconnect the MOTOR green with white stripe wire form terminal block or how ever the two are connected.

Install new second solenoid to frame.

One small terminal will get the small green with white stripe wire from trim control.
The other small terminal should go to ground.

These two small terminals are the solenoid activation (control).

The two large terminals on the solenoid,

One gets the MOTOR white with green wire and the other get Battery +. Typically Jump Battery + from the other solenoid (10 gauge wire) RED in color!!!!!!
 
Why "gas" did not burn...

Put a gallon of gas in a vented container in most environments, and wait long enough and all the gas will be replaced by....water.
Gas initially cool.
Heats up and gas vapor is expelled.
Temperature drops, gas vapor in can cools and shrinks in volume
Air with moisture is sucked in
Temp drops, moisture precipitates out ( i.e. morning dew)
Temp goes up.... repeat....
 
Thanks Bob.I took my trim motor in to the shop today it is shot need a new one my last question.when the new pump and resivor comes in should be tomorrow should I use solenoid or relay witch is better since the new one doesn't come with any of it? Thanks again guys for all the help on the situations been a great help... thanks again
 
Hey guys I know it's been awhile life got busy.so I am Stuck pulling my hair out lol what's left I did all the stuff new fuel new trim pump was pretty excited on the weekend put the water to it on the muffs turn the key and nothing turns over hard and fast and no start.checked for spark and no spark and now I'm stumped any help would be great thanks merc 165 inline 6 thanks
 
Don't

Work on the points first..................

99% of the time when a point ignition does not function it is the points or condenser................
 
Don't forget to clean the "cam" that the disti points run on, then relube w/ grease (sometimes supplied). Set proper dwell (gap) before you even try to start it.
 
Hey guys great news she run had hooked to the muffs first turn of the key and she fired right up have a buddy coming to check the timming this week then out on the lake for the first time in 4 year wanna thank all for the help in getting this thing running thanks again
 
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