---

I just took the cover off of my 1984 Evinrude 90 that I had stored in the barn for the winter. I could not understand why the release levers were so hard to turn. When I finally got it opened and the cover began to come off I had a waterfall of cow corn pouring out from under it. Apparently it is not a good idea to stow an engine in the barn where feed is stored. I spent the better part of an hour vacuuming all the corn out of places where it does not belong and I will probably have to take the entire cowling off to get the rest of it out or I will have a big pop corn machine when I get it heated up.

Lucky for me, it does not appear like they ate any of the wire insulation, corn must be a better source of nutrition! Next year I will put this engine in moth balls with the cover off.

This is not an exaggeration, I had every ounce of 15 pounds of corn stuffed into every nook and cranny under the cowling and I still don't know what I may find in the exhaust housing when I take it apart. Right on top of the carbs I had the largest mouse nest I have ever seen. Must be a great condo for them over the long and very cold winters here.

I can't help but to think what might have happened if I just fired it up and never looked! LOL

---

Make sure you check the air intake and carbs as well - they love to make nests in there too. Good luck.

7.4 hours? Is that a typo?

---

It seems that Evinrude engines are not only great engines, but comfy homes for the local wildlife. When I put my boat on the lift early in the season a blue bird nested under my cowling. Had straw down in every corner of the engine.

---

I had a family of mice nest in my John Deere ride on mower one winter, and when I started it up and took off, I left a trail of singed baby mice scurrying down my driveway. I had to take the whole thing apart to vaccuum it out....it has never been quite right since.

I now place a few outdoor mouse bait cubes under the cowling at the end of the season.

---

No pics?
My only problem is cats living in my Skippy.
Last season there were four kittens!

---

No pics because I was doing a slow burn at that moment and immediately got the shop vac out to see if my wires had been damaged. So far no signs of that.

7.4 hours on this motor does appear to be right because when I got the boat the deceased owners son told me his father had the new motor installed and only had the boat on the water 3 times before he took ill. I spoke with the Marina that installed it and at that time they installed a new hour meter and had the records showing that they winterized the motor that fall. It did look old and well worn but just the exterior from sitting out and uncovered.

Last fall, before storing it in the barn I replaced the impeller and bought new spark plugs, the ones in it look brand new and looking in to the top of the pistons all I can see is new metal with very little carbon build up. I did repaint the cover and some other exterior parts.

What concerns me now is determining if and how much of this corn could have gotten down into the exhaust cowling. I am forced to have to remove the lower unit again even if just to inspect because there does appear to be a route for the kernels to have fallen down. The entire back end right under the cylinder heads was completely loaded and it took almost an hour of vacuuming to get most of it out. The nest was right above the carbs and in front of the fly wheel so I will have to make sure no corn is in the carbs as well.

I could probably use a few cats in the barn but with my luck I would end up with cats that don't hunt!