Yamaha 200 thats been sitting

[Curious]

I've got a 96 Yamaha Salt Water Series 200 thats been sitting since around 2005.  I don't think it has been winterized, (I live in the Northeast).  I plan to get it mounted this spring after my transom recore project, get the control, oil tank, gas tank and battery hooked up to it and see how it runs.  I took the intake cowling off the carbs this afternoon and looked into the carbs which look pristine.  My question is should I not even bother trying to run it without cleaning the carbs first?  Or does it make sense to just see how it runs first?
Thanks, Dan

[wingtime]

I know zip about Yammies.  On the carbs did you just look into the throats of them?  or did you pull off a bowl?  one thing you can do is pull off the bowl drain or main jet cap and see what the inside tip of the screw looks like.  If it's the same brass color as the outside of the screw then odds are the bowls are clean.  If it is green or brown then you need to pull them apart.  I just went thru this with a Merc V-6 that was sitting for almost as long.  I decided to clean the carbs before trying to start it.  I'm glad I did.  The top two were not that bad.  The bottom one was funky with a rats nest in it.  One thing you should do is pull the plugs and squirt in some oil  Either Marvel Mystery oil or two stroke oil.  Then spray some in each intake.  Turn the motor over by hand with out starting it to distribute the oil.  You may want to do a compression check at this time too.  You really want to make sure things are right with this motor before you try and start it  and unnecessarily damage something.

No matter what you do I would do a full service of this engine.  You will need to do it sooner or later.  That way you will start off your season with a nice baseline.  Service the lower unit, water pump, T-stats, fuel pump, carbs, fuel filters, etc etc.

[Curious]

Thanks wingtime.  I was already considering doing the full service thing.  I can do most of these things myself such as lower unit lube, t stats, etc.  Thanks for the advice on the compression test, I hadn't thought of that.  

I only looked into the throat behind the choke and they looked fine, although I know that means nothing regarding what's in the bowl or jets.  One thing I noticed when I took the intake cowling off, the lower gasket had fallen slightly when it was installed last and it was not lined up right.  Another good reason to have a professional take a look at it.

[flounderpounder225]

My last boat had a 96 225 SWS on it, but my carbs were electronically controlled, there was a carb for each cylinder, I never had any issues and it was a great motor, but once when I thought I was having carb issues I investigated the rebuilding option, about $800 they are very tricky to set up and you have to have the proper tools to set each carb, just saying, be careful, look at the bowls if you can, but don't go too far without having a professional look at it first, you could also run a heavy dose of sea foam through it, 1 can of seafoam in a gallon of gas, put your fuel line in the gas can, prime it up and start it on that, let it idle for a bit, then shut it down and let it sit for half an hour or so, then start it back up on reg fuel, this will also decarbonize the cylinders and rings

[Curious]

Thanks Marc.  I don't think its a good idea to tackle the carbs myself.  I know I could do it, but a professional Yamaha mechanic, knowing what he's doing with all the right tools could probably get it done right in half the time it would take me.  I like your seafoam idea.  I think I'll try that and see how it runs first, then have the carbs dismantled if necessary.