Johnson 1988 225 for a 23'

[Andy5597]

Motor not run in 8 years, is it worth trying to bring back to life, or should I just move on. If move on, to what?

[77SceptreOB]

I revived my 1989 Yamaha 225 after a 8+ year slumber. Mine hadn't been cranked since July 2001 until Oct 2009.

My resusitation included:

1) Bought a new economy battery.
2) Cranked it, to see if it would turn over (It did!!)
3) Checked compression on all 6 cyl. (125-130 on all)
4) Bought a new 6 gallon gas tank and new gas line. Drained the oil tank reservoir, refilled w/ new 2 stroke oil. Drained and replaced the fluid in the Lower Unit.
5) Took it to the lake, tested/ran it at low rpm.
6) Took it to Yamaha dealer and had all 3 carbs rebuilt
also had the engine de-carboned. total cost $465
7) Replaced the spark plugs
8) Took it back to the lake for water trial #2
Ran very well
9) Winterized the engine and waiting for Spring 2010.

[workinpr0gress]

Seafoam, spray down each cylinder and mix some in the fuel....and don't bother starting it without pulling the carbs off and put new floats and jets and clean every orifice and the bowls...

[Bigshrimpin]

[htillman]

I've seen this before but did not save it. Acie, the guy listed first is the person that takes care of my outboards. This guy is excellent. I have a 1989 225 Johnson and a 1999 250 Johnson, both well taken care of and run very well. I'm going to save this article this time and give to Acie. He opened a new shop a couple of years ago.

[eggsuckindog]

I would just put a little oil in the cylinders - not sure about seafoam for lubricating - and turn it over manually first. I would then just get a tank and battery and see if it fires up, no harm in that, those Rudes are hard to kill. See what happens and take it from there.

[KenB]

Be sure to check the fuel lines to make sure they are not dried up. I didn't do that on an old motor, and the fuel line kept popping off the fuel pump because the fuel lines had hardened up. I had to jerry rig a cinch with 50# leader to get back in. Plus, I think the ethanol fuel will eat the old fuel lines.

Also, rebuilding the carbs is not that hard, and you can get cheap kits from Napa.

[workinpr0gress]

I would just put a little oil in the cylinders - not sure about seafoam for lubricating - and turn it over manually first. I would then just get a tank and battery and see if it fires up, no harm in that, those Rudes are hard to kill. See what happens and take it from there.

...I wouldn't run it more than a few seconds...I guarantee any motor that has sat that long has remanants of what used to be fuel blocking the needle and seat and caked in the bowls...Carbon isn't gonna be as much gummy as hard and charcoallike at this point on the inside of the block... Almost any older carbed 2 stroke needs all of the circuits(high,mid,low) to get proper lubrication...The initial starting of an older motor is the most important, thats when they can score or hang a ring easiest... It's probably not gonna want to start up and when it does it's gonna probably rev to Holy Hell for a few seconds, especialy if a can of ether is in your hand(try a spray bottle of fuel)...lol...Good news is those carbs are easy....I can walk you you through taking the carbs apart if you need...Also just trash the screen filter on the motor and get a new one before you do the carbs.... I mentioned Seafoam because you can go right to Napa or Autozone, Advance and get the spray of Seafoam Deep Creep for down the carbs and in the cylinders and get the can of Seafoam for the fuel...plus it works great, I could'nt tell you how many sinkers and sitters I have brought back throughout the years with it...There's other very good stuff just never seen better than Seafoam, ...Start it to see if it fires after its been lubricated and hand cranked a half dozen times but not much more... Once you get it running decent then you should monitor a couple little things....no big deal

[workinpr0gress]

Be sure to check the fuel lines to make sure they are not dried up. I didn't do that on an old motor, and the fuel line kept popping off the fuel pump because the fuel lines had hardened up. I had to jerry rig a cinch with 50# leader to get back in. Plus, I think the ethanol fuel will eat the old fuel lines.

Also, rebuilding the carbs is not that hard, and you can get cheap kits from Napa.

The fuel lines should be ok on that year motor as long as they are in decent shape.

[ScottM]

The nice thing about those motors is they are simple and reliable if properly maintained. Even if you took it to a mechanic to have it gone through, you're probably looking at $1K tops to get it running right. To me that is short money for an engine that will perform well on your boat. I had one on a 23' Seabird and my father had a Rude on his 23' Sceptre. Both engines, although thirsty, did the job well and didn't break the bank.