Hi,,,Have a 3hp motor,,,been sitting for almost 2 years. What should I do to get it ready for fishing season? New plug for sure, maybe new gas filter,,,what about cleaning the fuel system/carb?

Any suggestions welcome! Thanks!

Wayne

If it's over four - five years old, I would put a water pump inpeller in it.

Check/change lower unit lube.

If it has a built in tank and had old gas in it, it's probably gummed up with shelac and you will need to clean that out.  If remote tank, you will need to check/clean it.  If it's shelac'd up, place a couple of handfulls of small rocks/large gravel in it with a quart of denatured alcohol and just keep shaking if until it's all cut loose, then pour it out and rinse it with a little fresh gas or alcohol.

There is a good chance the carb and fuel pump are going to need cleaning/rebuilt. The whole fuel system will need to be flushed for sure.

Yea, When I tune up my 25 merc I do the following.

-flush the carb and fuel lines.

-new plug and filter.

-new lower unit lube.

and thats about it for me. I am sure there is someone else who will have a nifty suggestion though.

 I bought a boat (35hp Merc) and was told it had sat for "several' years, nothing was mixed with the fuel. The fuel smelled funky, not as bad as some and worse than others. I was worried about carb work ($$$). Knew it had to have new batteries. I cleaned the tank, flushed filter and fuel lines. I shot some starter fluid in carb and crossed my fingers. It started right up. Sputtered and spit a little and then settled down to a smooth idle. Give it a try, nothing to lose...

skillet

Depending on the year and make the following link maybe very helpful.  It basically walks you through doing a whole tune up on a older evinrude, Even if your motor is newer the basics haven't changed to much in the smaller motors.  Check out the article on reviving a 15hp.  The basic concepts are the same going right up to 40hp. Very straight fwd  easy to understand articles.

http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/06/columns/max/articles.htm

There is an article in this month's Field and Stream that is about DIY outboard repair. It has some good troubleshooting ideas if you run into trouble getitng it running.  Good luck.