Jet outboard maintance?

[camburgersoup]

I inherited a jet / jon from my dad. I believe the motor is a 2014 Merc 60/40 jet. I have owned smaller prop motors but nothing over 25hp. Could someone give me a run down of the basic maintenance this motor needs? All my dad told me is that I should grease the zerk on the lower unit, he said any marine grease will do. Is that right? (he is not very mechanically inclined, and I'm not much better)

 

My dad said he had it "serviced" once in 2017 but I don't know exactly what that means. Other than that I don't think any work has been done on it.

 

It starts up every time and I think it only has about 20-30hrs total on it.

 

Can someone give me an idea of what I need to do to take good care of the motor? Is there something I should be doing yearly and after each trip? Also I think I want to get a bigger motor at some point, when I add a 3rd person to the boat it has trouble getting up on plane.

 

 

[netboy]

Not much difference than a prop outboard.

Just lubricate the main bearing of the jet pump after each use. I also have a homemade tool to clear the intake if you run thru some weeds. That will stop a jet real quick.

  

[jdmidwest]

It looks like a 4 stroke, have to change the oil and filter every year.  New fuel filter at the same time.

Crowbar or long heavy screwdriver for rocks and stuff.  Make sure the water keeps flowing out the pee hole.

[Seth]

Outboard jets recommends the Mercury 2-4-C grease for those jet lowers now. I give mine 10 pumps after every use.

[fishinwrench]

15 hours ago, camburgersoup said:

he said any marine grease will do. Is that right?

Yes.  Basically all you're doing is pushing any water away from the bearing.

Not sure why Mercury touts the 24C for everything.  You can wipe that stuff right off your hands with a paper towel and then grab your sandwich.   I always kinda figured the harder it is to clean up....the better it is for a Marine application.

For what it's worth, I've never seen a driveshaft bearing failure on a jet pump.  I'm sure it can happen, but I've never had to swap one. And my main parts supplier has had the same 3 in stock for 14 years 😅

[snagged in outlet 3]

14 hours ago, Seth said:

Outboard jets recommends the Mercury 2-4-C grease for those jet lowers now. I give mine 10 pumps after every use.

10 pumps?  I just pump until it comes out of the hose.  Rarely takes more than one pump....

[BilletHead]

I pump until I get good looking grease. The color of what it looks like in the tube.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Just now, BilletHead said:

I pump until I get good looking grease. The color of what it looks like in the tube.

Me too.  Rarely takes more than a pump. 

[BilletHead]

16 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Me too.  Rarely takes more than a pump. 

    Are you using a full sized grease gun that takes the big tubes? I'm using a little gun that takes the oversized toothpaste looking tubes. It's kind of a short stroker and a few squeezes is needed.  Real low pressure. Not sure if it is true or not but I was warned if you use a full sized gun and pump hard that you can damage the bearing seal. Anyone else know that this is true or not? I'd like to know. Grease cheaper in bigger tubes.

[gotmuddy]

@Seth aint no one pump chump son!😆