On 2/10/10 1:43 PM, Steve B wrote:
Every once in a while, I want to run my 40 Merc OB to test it and look for
leaks, adjust carbs, etc, without taking it to the lake and doing it
dockside or bouncing around out there, and perhaps getting towed in.

I have a 55 gallon plastic barrel with the top out. I can fill it to the
water mark on the engine, the same as if it were in the lake. Is this an
advisable way to work on an engine. I have even shifted it into gears, just
not hit the gas. Duh .......

Is it the same as doing it at the lake?

Steve




My father had a welded steel outdoor tank for testing. It would hold
three large outboards side by side and was equipped with a lifting
crane. It was fine for many adjustments. My dealer has a drive in test
tank in which his mechanics test outboards on boats on trailers.

A 55-gallon plastic barrel for testing a 40-hp outboard
sounds...dangerous. Why not do your rough low speed testing with the
motor on the boat and the motor hooked up to the proper set of muffs?