When you are running the motor in a barrel or just are
using muffs, make sure that water IS flowing out of the
pee hole. This will show that water is circulating inside
the motor itself and cooling it. As for bringing it down
to a place to have it checked? Not a bad idea, but if your
handy you can do it yourself.

Changing the water pump impeller is generally a good thing
to do. Whether you are in fresh water or salt water, a rubber
impeller dry rots and then falls apart. Normally this happens
when you are full throttle and the old motor doesnt have an
over heat sensor (or its not tested and working)

Nothing ruins a day on the water than a seized motor!



(Art Coe) wrote in message om...
Sorry for starting a mini flame war, but I do appreciate all the
advice. Based on all the input I believe I will proceed as follows:

1. Visual inspection of hoses, wires, etc., make any repairs
necessary and replace the lower unit lube.

2. Squirt some 2-stroke oil in the cylinders and pull the starter
cord a few times (hopefully it will pull - if not I'll have a pretty
good idea of what I've got on my hands).

3. Mix a small quantity of fuel/oil with a slightly richer portion of
oil than usual (spec. is 50:1, maybe go 30 or 40:1).

4. Try and fire it up and run it for awhile in a barrel of water and
see how it goes.

5. If it seems OK, probably take it to a shop for a check/tune up.

6. When I begin using it on the water again, bring along a kicker
just in case.

Again, thanks for the input.