Spring prep questions

matt_unique · Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 7:19 pm Post subject: Spring prep questions

Today I continued some spring prep work. I replaced my Racor filters and after Dr. Bob's recent post drained my fuel water separators in each of the engine cowls. I added some gas to each tank as well.

I have never been able to get a stream when connected to muffs so I always dunk the engines in a large tub of water. Both engines fired right up but no stream of water. I only let them run for 5-10 seconds then shut them down. I then decided to run some water through the forward flush port without the engine running the make sure water could flow through the cooling tube fine. There was no evidence of debris. I removed the hose and fired up the engines. The engines immediately began "peeing" on their own. I ran each engine for a good 15 minutes verifying the charge and all that.

Is that an S.O.P. I was unaware of after being dry for the winter? It seems odd I would have the same problem on two engines if no. Over the next couple of days I will test them again to make sure they pee based on a draw from the tub.

Second question, what is the manual referring to for a grease point titled "steering bracket"? I can't for the life of me match up the picture they show with anything that looks like it needs grease. The rest of the grease points are identified easily.

Thanks

thataway · Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 8:20 pm Post subject:

I suspect that the water passages were completely drained, and it took a few seconds to get a prime. The danger of running running the engines dry would be burning up the impellers. I suspect that the pumps had just not picked up the prime and filled the passages. (the pumps are full displacement pumps, so as soon as there was water, they were flooded, but still may not have picked up enough water, since there is a little distance from the intake to the pump.

Not sure what grease point you are referring to.

Glad it is finally good enough weather to de-winterize the boats. We had a lot of rain, but then a beautiful day...up to 80 in the sun--and about 65 now at 7 pm.

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 9:12 pm Post subject: Spring flush

Matt,

Here's a link to Quality Marine Products. They make flushing bags, including one that is made for use while the engine is in saltwater. It might make the "Spring Flush" a little easier.

Steve

matt_unique · Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 10:59 pm Post subject: Flush

Thanks for the replies.

To be clear, my engines were submerged to the cavitation plate in a 30g tub of water before I turned the key. There was visible air coming from the cooling tube, but no water until I connected the water hose to the forward rinse port. The engines were shut off while I ran water through the forward rinse port, then I capped the rinse port and started the engines. They immediately had the pee stream at this point and purred like kittens for the 15 minutes I ran them.

Do you think I just did not run them long enough when I first started them in the tub of water? I was concerned about running more than really 8-10 seconds without a pee stream so I shut them off and "primed the system" as I mention above.

Thanks

thataway · Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 11:22 pm Post subject:

Not a bad idea to "prime the system"--but submerged to the cavitation plate, there was water to the impeller immediately when it turned over--and no damage would occur. One of the reasons you don't run these engines on the hose, is that there is no water lubricating the impeller --and it is sucking air--thus burns up when run on the "hose"

matt_unique · Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 9:43 am Post subject: Air

Captains Cat · Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 11:03 am Post subject:

I think you just didn't wait long enough Matt. With the boat out of the water anyway, it wouldn't have been too difficult to do the impellers if you had to.

Charlie

matt_unique · Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 12:30 pm Post subject: Impeller

Thanks Charlie.
I think my impellers are fine. I've got 84 hours on the engines and after my little prime they both produced a good stream at idle.

It's a mystery as to why they would not draw water when initially dunked...I did not have the problem previously. I'm thinking it must be related to the fact they were bone dry for 5 months...it's a simple procedure to do at the start of each season if that is the case.

thataway · Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 4:15 pm Post subject:

Yep, if you had run the engines a few seconds longer there would have been water--there are a fair number of passages to fill up--and the engine is at an idle (properly). Not unusual after such a "dry spell". There is normally some water left in the passages, During the winter it all drained out. (which you want)

Captains Cat · Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 5:53 pm Post subject: Re: Impeller

matt_unique · Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:18 pm Post subject: Stream

Thanks gentlemen.

Captains Cat · Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 6:22 pm Post subject:

I know you're talking to Dr. Bob, but who's the other one??

Laughing

Charlie

matt_unique · Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2009 7:42 pm Post subject: Well

T.R. Bauer · Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:13 am Post subject:

They may have been clogged. Last year I towed the boat down to Seward, put her in the water and no water flowed out of the port engine. I freaked! We screwed around with it for a while and finally I just pulled the little hose that goes from the powerhead to the peehole and water just shot out. I then cleaned it up and the problem was gone. Fortunately it has nothing to do with the impellor, it is just gunk. Since then when it suddenly stops peeing I just motor on until I get back to port for "degunking".......

Sea Wolf · Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:39 am Post subject:

One very common problem experienced with the water flow indicator stream orifices (or "Pee Stream Holes"), is that some insects ("bugs") lay eggs in them or over-winter in them, plugging them temporarily when the motors are first started in the Spring.

Sometimes it's necessary to clean them out with a small flexible wire or relatively large monofilament fishing line if them seem clogged when first starting up for the boating season.

(Hope this wasn't mentioned above, but I don't remember it and don't have time to re-read it all!).

Joe. Thumbs Up