"D Smyth" wrote in message
...
I've just recovered my 20 horse Merc outboard from the river. It went
under
when heavy rain submerged the small boat it was attached to.
I brought it indoors, dried up what I could, put a heat gun on wet areas,
especially the electrical components, took out the plugs, poured oil in
the
cylinders and pulled the starter a few times, drained the lower unit then
sprayed everything I could with WD 40.
a)Have I forgotten anything?
b)What are the odds on getting it going next spring?

Thanks

ds



Get it running now! Yesterday would have been better! The chances are that
all the bearings on the rods and crank will be rusting as you are reading
this! Six months from now everything will be a rusted glob of scrap iron and
corroded aluminum!
The best thing you could do is immediately after getting the outboard out of
the water is to concentrate on getting it running. Every hour you wait adds
to the rust and corrosion!
Greg