How to Prepare Your Outboard Motor for Summer

If you winterized your small 2-cycle outboard motor it's now time to get it ready for summer fun. The following steps will help prepare and maintain it to insure a season of trouble-free boating enjoyment. While various brands of outboard motors may require special steps the approach outlined here should pertain to most makes of smaller outboards.

Lower Drive Unit

Prior to winter storage you probably drained and refilled the lower gear case of your outboard motor to make sure no water was present which could freeze and crack the housing. If that is the case it should only be necessary to check the lubricant level to make sure it is correct. If you did not drain it before winter, do so now and refill with fresh lubricant. Be sure to disconnect the spark plug wire of your outboard motor when working near the prop. While you're working on the lower casing check the outboard propeller for gouges and cracks. Small areas can be lightly filed to smooth them out but do not remove much material or you'll have an unbalance situation leading to vibration. If you have an outboard with a shear pin it's a good time to check and make sure a spare pin is stowed onboard. If your outboard has a zinc anode to control corrosion replace it if it has eroded to half its original size. The water pump, located in the lower housing, has a flexible impeller that can deteriorate, get hard and break. If the engine has been stored for an extended period or used in muddy, sandy water or salt water, you may want to inspect the impeller and replace it if it looks marginal. Having this break and losing the cooling water can result in your outboard overheating and expensive repairs.

Engine Maintenance

Since the cylinder(s) of your outboard motor should have previously been fogged with oil last fall, you should remove the spark plugs and turn over the engine several times to expel any surplus oil. I prefer initially running the engine using the plug(s) I used the previous summer and then replace them once any excess fogging oil is burned out of the cylinders. Next replace the spark plugs with new ones and be sure to gap them according to the specifications. Check the spark plug wires of your outboard motor for any cracks or scuffing and replace as necessary. Also check the manual choke, throttle and advance linkages to make sure they are in order. For outboards with a rope pull start inspect the rope for wear or fraying and replace if a marginal condition is found. If your engine has an electric start, lubricate the engagement gear so it moves easily. Exercise the outboard gearshift and throttle to insure they are working freely. Inspect and replace the fuel filter if you feel it is necessary. Use a freshly charged battery for an electric start outboard motor and make sure the battery cable contacts and battery contacts are cleaned of any corrosion. Grease the tilt and rotation bearings for smooth operation. If the outboard motor has cables for a steering wheel and throttle and shift control make sure these function smoothly and lubricate as needed. Wipe down the engine housing with a spray cleaner to remove any excess grease, oil, or dirt that may have accumulated over the winter.

Fuel Tank and Supply Line

If your 2-cycle outboard motor has an external fuel tank check to make sure it is dry before adding fresh gas and mixing in the appropriate amount of oil. Check the fuel line, primer bulb and other fittings for signs of leakage and check the cap on the gas tank to make sure the vent mechanism is not blocked. If it has a pressurized fuel system carefully inspect the hoses and fittings to make sure there is no leakage.

Testing Your Outboard Motor

It is usually easiest if you have a test stand where you can test the engine in water filled barrel. Never run your outboard motor without a water supply for cooling. Running your outboard in a test tank or water barrel should give an accurate indication if any further work is necessary. Water 'earmuffs' can be used in place of a tank on certain outboards. As long as there is a good water flow you should run it until it gets warm to simulate actual conditions. Verify that the water pump is working and that there is a good flow of water from the telltale port often located just under the back of the motor cowling or on one side. If there is no or weak flow use a stiff wire to clean out the hole in case sand is blocking it. The water stream should be lukewarm. Run the speed up and down to check for smooth running and speed transitions. Adjust the carburetor according to the owner's manual as necessary to obtain smooth idling and transitions to higher speeds.

It's always advisable to refer to your owner's manual for maintenance items specific to your outboard motor. In addition to that following these simple steps should help assure you will have a summer of trouble-free performance from your outboard motor.