|
Outboard Engine submerged in fresh water - What to do?
I was just wondering what should be done when a small outboard 2 stroke
engine is submerged in fresh water for less than 5 minutes? This happened on the weekend and the first thing we did was to remove the spark plug, cycle the engine maybe 50 times with the pull start until no water was coming out of the spark plug hole. Very little water came out anyway. After about 2 hours the engine managed to start, but we were told that you shouldn't start the engine and that it should be serviced immediately. I would have thought that if the engine could be started as soon as possible that it would heat up and dry out any remaining water. I would think that all service manuals would say to take it in for a service straight away as that means extra money for the engine maker, but, is a service really required for an engine if it spent so little time submerged and actually started shortly afterwards? Surely outboard engines would have some design factor built it to minimise water damage since submersion must happen a little bit? |
"Rili" wrote in message ... I was just wondering what should be done when a small outboard 2 stroke engine is submerged in fresh water for less than 5 minutes? This happened on the weekend and the first thing we did was to remove the spark plug, cycle the engine maybe 50 times with the pull start until no water was coming out of the spark plug hole. Very little water came out anyway. After about 2 hours the engine managed to start, but we were told that you shouldn't start the engine and that it should be serviced immediately. I would have thought that if the engine could be started as soon as possible that it would heat up and dry out any remaining water. I would think that all service manuals would say to take it in for a service straight away as that means extra money for the engine maker, but, is a service really required for an engine if it spent so little time submerged and actually started shortly afterwards? Surely outboard engines would have some design factor built it to minimise water damage since submersion must happen a little bit? This happens often in racing. I would double up on the oil mix and run it as much as possible as soon as you can. An hour of running should do it. Don't let it sit with water in it. Dixon |
You did the right thing getting it running right away. I would have flushed a
bit of 50:1 mix through it to be sure everything was lubed before I started it but basically the quicker you get it up to operating temp and boil all the remaining water out the better. The "service" when they go into salt water is bascally to flush it with fresh water and get it running. |
|
"Greg" wrote in message
... [snip] The "service" when they go into salt water is bascally to flush it with fresh water and get it running. You have one hour MAXIMUM after your pull your engine from the salt chuck. Then you dump the powerhead in a tank of diesel. And if you cannot get it in for service right away, it's best to leave it in the water for just a short time. Or even in a tank of fresh water in the shop for a short time, if you have no diesel available. If you leave it exposed in the air, your bearings will begin to rust. And that will cost you a lot of cash. Any engine that has been in the salt water must be dismantled and cleaned to remove all the salt. You cannot just flush them and get them running, that is "back yard mechanic" nonsense. Any salt left in the area of the bearings could shorten the life of, or ruin, the powerhead. And while you have that engine apart, you put in a fresh powerhead gasket set (of course), rebuild the carbs and clean out the rest of the fuel system and electrical system. If you don't do the above, you are in for "****" next time you hit the water. Basically, any complete salt water emersion calls for a rebuild. |
On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 03:32:33 -0800, "none" wrote:
"Greg" wrote in message ... [snip] The "service" when they go into salt water is bascally to flush it with fresh water and get it running. You have one hour MAXIMUM after your pull your engine from the salt chuck. Then you dump the powerhead in a tank of diesel. And if you cannot get it in for service right away, it's best to leave it in the water for just a short time. Or even in a tank of fresh water in the shop for a short time, if you have no diesel available. If you leave it exposed in the air, your bearings will begin to rust. And that will cost you a lot of cash. Any engine that has been in the salt water must be dismantled and cleaned to remove all the salt. You cannot just flush them and get them running, that is "back yard mechanic" nonsense. Any salt left in the area of the bearings could shorten the life of, or ruin, the powerhead. And while you have that engine apart, you put in a fresh powerhead gasket set (of course), rebuild the carbs and clean out the rest of the fuel system and electrical system. If you don't do the above, you are in for "****" next time you hit the water. Basically, any complete salt water emersion calls for a rebuild. Nope. Just rinse it out with fresh water, and crank it untill it runs on its own. |
Some (23) years ago I went down in shallow sal****er, engine running as the
powerhead went under. It was a small jonboat, overloaded in a short chop, and skipper had had a few. One of the passengers swam thrashing ashore, the other took my advice to "stand up". To the amusement of a dozen or so friends on shore. I walked the boat ashore, got into dry clothes, pulled the plug and poured some gas thru, drained the carb, blotted the plug dry and re-inserted it. Took a couple dozen pulls to get it going. (Then the real fun started - diving for the case of vodka that was strewn across the bottom ;-) Motor ran fine for years, but I couldn't get it started last year. Maybe I should have rebuilt it at the time. By the way, it's a British Seagull Forty Plus. Sal's Dad The "service" when they go into salt water is basically to flush it with fresh water and get it running. You have one hour MAXIMUM after your pull your engine from the salt chuck. Then you dump the powerhead in a tank of diesel. And if you cannot get it in for service right away, it's best to leave it in the water for just a short time. Or even in a tank of fresh water in the shop for a short time, if you have no diesel available. If you leave it exposed in the air, your bearings will begin to rust. And that will cost you a lot of cash. Any engine that has been in the salt water must be dismantled and cleaned to remove all the salt. You cannot just flush them and get them running, that is "back yard mechanic" nonsense. Any salt left in the area of the bearings could shorten the life of, or ruin, the powerhead. And while you have that engine apart, you put in a fresh powerhead gasket set (of course), rebuild the carbs and clean out the rest of the fuel system and electrical system. If you don't do the above, you are in for "****" next time you hit the water. Basically, any complete salt water emersion calls for a rebuild. Nope. Just rinse it out with fresh water, and crank it untill it runs on its own. |
"Sal's Dad" wrote in message news:kdGdnbuoBcSoKZjfRVn- Motor ran fine for years, but I couldn't get it started last year. Maybe I should have rebuilt it at the time. By the way, it's a British Seagull Forty Plus. yeah...but you can't compare a British Seagull to the run of the mill outboards from the USA & Japan! |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 01:10 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004 - 2014 BoatBanter.com