I'm about to buy a 23 hp MB LA Special and would like to know the basic maintenance involved in keeping your MM in top shape? I have heard fill your tank with premium and stabil and change the oil every 50 hrs, but not familiar with other duties. Thanks for any input.

Take good care of your prop... that can be an expensive thing to keep replaceing!
If you get in some shallow sand get out and push instead of grinding out, or you wont have a prop for long.

Also check you belt tension and dont run your motor in gear oow for long so your seal doesn't melt.

Other than that, check valve lash, spark plugs, and fuel filters every once in a while.

All that, plus rinse with water hose after runnin salt water. Spray all exposed electrical with Corrosion X, or some type of spray oil to prevent corrosion. When changing oil, it's a good time to check bolts on the front & back of the belt drive to make sure everything's still tight. Don't forget a squirt or 2 of grease in the shaft housing a couple times a year.

Thanks for the helpful tips. That must be a hassle dealin with all that sand, but up here in TN it doesn't exist. What does running your gear oow for long mean? is that idle?

He means with it Out Of Water, don't run it with the clutch engaged for very long. If ya have to for whatever reason, run water over the shaft housing to keep it cool.