Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

Hey all I have a 2005 3.0 alpha 1, and everytime I take the boat to a sand
bar I keep getting rocks and sand in the thermostat causing it to not close
and making the engine run too cool. I turn the engine off about 20 feet from
the sandbar and coast in, when its time to leave I dont start the engine
until the water is about 3feet deep. Im still sucking up sand. Since the
t-stat housing is flat on the top of it, I am contemplating drilling a hole
in it, tapping it and putting a screw in the hole. That way when the stat
gets jammed I can remove the screw and shove a small screwdriver in the hole
and push open the stat to let the sand out.
If anyone has a better idea I would LOVE to hear it.

Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

Better idea:
Don't start the engine till you are in 3 1/2 feet of water. In 3 feet of
water your prop is churning up the sandy water and your water pump is being
ground up by the sand.
Jim
"seeray28(steve)" wrote in message
...
Hey all I have a 2005 3.0 alpha 1, and everytime I take the boat to a sand
bar I keep getting rocks and sand in the thermostat causing it to not
close
and making the engine run too cool. I turn the engine off about 20 feet
from
the sandbar and coast in, when its time to leave I dont start the engine
until the water is about 3feet deep. Im still sucking up sand. Since the
t-stat housing is flat on the top of it, I am contemplating drilling a
hole
in it, tapping it and putting a screw in the hole. That way when the stat
gets jammed I can remove the screw and shove a small screwdriver in the
hole
and push open the stat to let the sand out.
If anyone has a better idea I would LOVE to hear it.

Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

well I tried the 31/2 foot . It didnt work. I still got a rock in the
t-stat. this time though I ran the boat at wot for about 15 minutes and the
rock finally let go
mmmm I think I need to try another idea.
Thanks though
Steve
"Jim" wrote in message
ink.net...
Better idea:
Don't start the engine till you are in 3 1/2 feet of water. In 3 feet of
water your prop is churning up the sandy water and your water pump is
being
ground up by the sand.
Jim
"seeray28(steve)" wrote in message
...
Hey all I have a 2005 3.0 alpha 1, and everytime I take the boat to a
sand
bar I keep getting rocks and sand in the thermostat causing it to not
close
and making the engine run too cool. I turn the engine off about 20 feet
from
the sandbar and coast in, when its time to leave I dont start the engine
until the water is about 3feet deep. Im still sucking up sand. Since the
t-stat housing is flat on the top of it, I am contemplating drilling a
hole
in it, tapping it and putting a screw in the hole. That way when the
stat
gets jammed I can remove the screw and shove a small screwdriver in the
hole
and push open the stat to let the sand out.
If anyone has a better idea I would LOVE to hear it.

Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

"seeray28(steve)" wrote in message
...
"Jim" wrote in message
ink.net...
Better idea:
Don't start the engine till you are in 3 1/2 feet of water. In 3 feet of
water your prop is churning up the sandy water and your water pump is
being
ground up by the sand.
Jim
"seeray28(steve)" wrote in message
...
Hey all I have a 2005 3.0 alpha 1, and everytime I take the boat to a
sand
bar I keep getting rocks and sand in the thermostat causing it to not
close
and making the engine run too cool. I turn the engine off about 20 feet
from
the sandbar and coast in, when its time to leave I dont start the
engine
until the water is about 3feet deep. Im still sucking up sand. Since
the
t-stat housing is flat on the top of it, I am contemplating drilling a
hole
in it, tapping it and putting a screw in the hole. That way when the
stat
gets jammed I can remove the screw and shove a small screwdriver in the
hole
and push open the stat to let the sand out.
If anyone has a better idea I would LOVE to hear it.








well I tried the 31/2 foot . It didnt work. I still got a rock in the
t-stat. this time though I ran the boat at wot for about 15 minutes and
the
rock finally let go
mmmm I think I need to try another idea.
Thanks though
Steve


Seems odd that a motor would be designed to be so vulnerable. What's the
manufacturer have to say about it?

Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

Good luck
Jim

"seeray28(steve)" wrote in message
...
well I tried the 31/2 foot . It didnt work. I still got a rock in the
t-stat. this time though I ran the boat at wot for about 15 minutes and
the
rock finally let go
mmmm I think I need to try another idea.
Thanks though
Steve
"Jim" wrote in message
ink.net...
Better idea:
Don't start the engine till you are in 3 1/2 feet of water. In 3 feet of
water your prop is churning up the sandy water and your water pump is
being
ground up by the sand.
Jim
"seeray28(steve)" wrote in message
...
Hey all I have a 2005 3.0 alpha 1, and everytime I take the boat to a
sand
bar I keep getting rocks and sand in the thermostat causing it to not
close
and making the engine run too cool. I turn the engine off about 20 feet
from
the sandbar and coast in, when its time to leave I dont start the
engine
until the water is about 3feet deep. Im still sucking up sand. Since
the
t-stat housing is flat on the top of it, I am contemplating drilling a
hole
in it, tapping it and putting a screw in the hole. That way when the
stat
gets jammed I can remove the screw and shove a small screwdriver in the
hole
and push open the stat to let the sand out.
If anyone has a better idea I would LOVE to hear it.

Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

no screen that I can see. its an alpha 1 leg if that matters.

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 25 Jun 2006 21:33:13 -0500, "seeray28\(steve\)"
wrote:

well I tried the 31/2 foot . It didnt work. I still got a rock in the
t-stat. this time though I ran the boat at wot for about 15 minutes and
the
rock finally let go

Try checking the water inlet.... is the screen still in place? What
you describe ... in 3.5 feet of water is *very* strange....

Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

"seeray28(steve)" wrote in message
...
no screen that I can see. its an alpha 1 leg if that matters.

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 25 Jun 2006 21:33:13 -0500, "seeray28\(steve\)"
wrote:

well I tried the 31/2 foot . It didnt work. I still got a rock in the
t-stat. this time though I ran the boat at wot for about 15 minutes and
the
rock finally let go

Try checking the water inlet.... is the screen still in place? What
you describe ... in 3.5 feet of water is *very* strange....




I think you found your problem.

Eisboch

www.eisboch.com

Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

"seeray28(steve)" wrote in message
...
"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 25 Jun 2006 21:33:13 -0500, "seeray28\(steve\)"
wrote:

well I tried the 31/2 foot . It didnt work. I still got a rock in the
t-stat. this time though I ran the boat at wot for about 15 minutes and
the
rock finally let go

Try checking the water inlet.... is the screen still in place? What
you describe ... in 3.5 feet of water is *very* strange....



no screen that I can see. its an alpha 1 leg if that matters.



Is this an inboard/outboard type of thing that can be tilted up?

Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"seeray28(steve)" wrote in message
...
no screen that I can see. its an alpha 1 leg if that matters.

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 25 Jun 2006 21:33:13 -0500, "seeray28\(steve\)"
wrote:

well I tried the 31/2 foot . It didnt work. I still got a rock in the
t-stat. this time though I ran the boat at wot for about 15 minutes
and
the
rock finally let go

Try checking the water inlet.... is the screen still in place? What
you describe ... in 3.5 feet of water is *very* strange....




I think you found your problem.

Eisboch

www.eisboch.com



He has a gen 2 Alpha. The pickup inserts are no longer used. They are molded
into the gear housing. He could use a sea strainer if he has room, but that
still won't help the water pump. If he really needs to go clam digging with
his outdrive, he should try to rig up an engine mounted raw water pump with
a sea strainer and thru hull pickup.
Jim

Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
"seeray28(steve)" wrote in message
...
"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 25 Jun 2006 21:33:13 -0500, "seeray28\(steve\)"
wrote:

well I tried the 31/2 foot . It didnt work. I still got a rock in the
t-stat. this time though I ran the boat at wot for about 15 minutes and
the
rock finally let go

Try checking the water inlet.... is the screen still in place? What
you describe ... in 3.5 feet of water is *very* strange....



no screen that I can see. its an alpha 1 leg if that matters.



Is this an inboard/outboard type of thing that can be tilted up?

Alpha 1 is an I/O. I do not know how rocks can get into the water
intake as the holes are pretty small.

Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 26 Jun 2006 19:19:34 GMT, Jim penned the following well
considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:


He has a gen 2 Alpha. The pickup inserts are no longer used. They are
molded
into the gear housing. He could use a sea strainer if he has room, but
that
still won't help the water pump. If he really needs to go clam digging
with
his outdrive, he should try to rig up an engine mounted raw water pump
with
a sea strainer and thru hull pickup.

I defer to your greater knowledge of the gen 2.... but how the hell do
you get "rocks" past the pickups..... molded or not????

--

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

Homepage
http://myworkshop.idleplay.net/

Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats

You need to obtain the owner's definition of "rock". I suspect that he is
exaggerating just a bit.

Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

"Jim" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"seeray28(steve)" wrote in message
...
no screen that I can see. its an alpha 1 leg if that matters.

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 25 Jun 2006 21:33:13 -0500, "seeray28\(steve\)"
wrote:

well I tried the 31/2 foot . It didnt work. I still got a rock in the
t-stat. this time though I ran the boat at wot for about 15 minutes
and
the
rock finally let go

Try checking the water inlet.... is the screen still in place? What
you describe ... in 3.5 feet of water is *very* strange....




I think you found your problem.

Eisboch

www.eisboch.com



He has a gen 2 Alpha. The pickup inserts are no longer used. They are
molded into the gear housing. He could use a sea strainer if he has room,
but that still won't help the water pump. If he really needs to go clam
digging with his outdrive, he should try to rig up an engine mounted raw
water pump with a sea strainer and thru hull pickup.
Jim


He says he can't find any "screen" though on the intakes. Is it possible
someone punched the molded ones out?

Eisboch

Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Jim" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"seeray28(steve)" wrote in message
...
no screen that I can see. its an alpha 1 leg if that matters.

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 25 Jun 2006 21:33:13 -0500, "seeray28\(steve\)"
wrote:

well I tried the 31/2 foot . It didnt work. I still got a rock in the
t-stat. this time though I ran the boat at wot for about 15 minutes
and
the
rock finally let go

Try checking the water inlet.... is the screen still in place? What
you describe ... in 3.5 feet of water is *very* strange....




I think you found your problem.

Eisboch

www.eisboch.com



He has a gen 2 Alpha. The pickup inserts are no longer used. They are
molded into the gear housing. He could use a sea strainer if he has room,
but that still won't help the water pump. If he really needs to go clam
digging with his outdrive, he should try to rig up an engine mounted raw
water pump with a sea strainer and thru hull pickup.
Jim


He says he can't find any "screen" though on the intakes. Is it possible
someone punched the molded ones out?

Eisboch



There really isn't a screen, per se. Take a look at your outboard. The
intakes are probably similar.
Jim

Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

"Jim" wrote in message
nk.net...



There really isn't a screen, per se. Take a look at your outboard. The
intakes are probably similar.
Jim

Your gonna make me walk all the way down there to look at a couple of holes?

Tomorrow.

Eisboch

Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

If your mechanical abilities are in any way proportional to your spelling,
you may want to contact the manufacturer before attempting anything further.


"seeray28(steve)" wrote in message
...
actually its sand, but there are some good sized chuncks of sand getting
caught in there.
Tonite I made a screen for the inside of the thermostat housing. I have it
at an angle so that if there is sand sucked up it will be pushed out the
exhaust manifold and not into the thermostat

"JimH" wrote in message
oups.com...

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
"seeray28(steve)" wrote in message
...
"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 25 Jun 2006 21:33:13 -0500, "seeray28\(steve\)"
wrote:

well I tried the 31/2 foot . It didnt work. I still got a rock in
the
t-stat. this time though I ran the boat at wot for about 15
minutes
and
the
rock finally let go

Try checking the water inlet.... is the screen still in place? What
you describe ... in 3.5 feet of water is *very* strange....



no screen that I can see. its an alpha 1 leg if that matters.



Is this an inboard/outboard type of thing that can be tilted up?

Alpha 1 is an I/O. I do not know how rocks can get into the water
intake as the holes are pretty small.

Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

geez ,misssspel a phew wordz and sum1 starts bustin my azz

"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...
If your mechanical abilities are in any way proportional to your spelling,
you may want to contact the manufacturer before attempting anything
further.


"seeray28(steve)" wrote in message
...
actually its sand, but there are some good sized chuncks of sand getting
caught in there.
Tonite I made a screen for the inside of the thermostat housing. I have
it
at an angle so that if there is sand sucked up it will be pushed out the
exhaust manifold and not into the thermostat

"JimH" wrote in message
oups.com...

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
"seeray28(steve)" wrote in message
...
"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 25 Jun 2006 21:33:13 -0500, "seeray28\(steve\)"
wrote:

well I tried the 31/2 foot . It didnt work. I still got a rock in
the
t-stat. this time though I ran the boat at wot for about 15
minutes
and
the
rock finally let go

Try checking the water inlet.... is the screen still in place?
What
you describe ... in 3.5 feet of water is *very* strange....



no screen that I can see. its an alpha 1 leg if that matters.



Is this an inboard/outboard type of thing that can be tilted up?

Alpha 1 is an I/O. I do not know how rocks can get into the water
intake as the holes are pretty small.

Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

Well, everything in a discussion is a potential indicator. Another is the
fact that you have not contacted the manufacturer - a small step which might
solve your problem very quickly. Why haven't you done that?


"seeray28(steve)" wrote in message
...
geez ,misssspel a phew wordz and sum1 starts bustin my azz

"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...
If your mechanical abilities are in any way proportional to your
spelling,
you may want to contact the manufacturer before attempting anything
further.


"seeray28(steve)" wrote in message
...
actually its sand, but there are some good sized chuncks of sand
getting
caught in there.
Tonite I made a screen for the inside of the thermostat housing. I have
it
at an angle so that if there is sand sucked up it will be pushed out
the
exhaust manifold and not into the thermostat

"JimH" wrote in message
oups.com...

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
"seeray28(steve)" wrote in message
...
"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 25 Jun 2006 21:33:13 -0500, "seeray28\(steve\)"
wrote:

well I tried the 31/2 foot . It didnt work. I still got a rock
in
the
t-stat. this time though I ran the boat at wot for about 15
minutes
and
the
rock finally let go

Try checking the water inlet.... is the screen still in place?
What
you describe ... in 3.5 feet of water is *very* strange....



no screen that I can see. its an alpha 1 leg if that matters.



Is this an inboard/outboard type of thing that can be tilted up?

Alpha 1 is an I/O. I do not know how rocks can get into the water
intake as the holes are pretty small.

Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

On Tue, 27 Jun 2006 11:42:34 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

Another is the
fact that you have not contacted the manufacturer - a small step which might
solve your problem very quickly. Why haven't you done that?

That's easy. He's embarassed to tell them, just like you or I would
be.

They'll tell him to stop running in shallow water, and by the way,
your warranty is void.

Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 26 Jun 2006 21:56:29 GMT, Jim penned the following well
considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:


You need to obtain the owner's definition of "rock". I suspect that he is
exaggerating just a bit.


We'll, I wasn't thinking *boulder,* but if it holds the thermostat
open wide enough to affect the temperature of the engine, it certainly
is big enough to capture my attention.

--
The holes in the pickup are about 5/32" Anything, mussel seeds excepted,
that gets thru them "should" be able to pass thru the t'stat. Engine scale
could cause the problem, but this engine is too new for that.
I am beginning to think, as someone else suggested, that he gets a reading
from Mercruiser. This shouldn't be happening.
Jim




://myworkshop.idleplay.net/

Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats

Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

Actually the reason I havent taken it to the dealer is because I trust
no-one to work on my engines other than myself



"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 27 Jun 2006 11:42:34 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

Another is the
fact that you have not contacted the manufacturer - a small step which
might
solve your problem very quickly. Why haven't you done that?

That's easy. He's embarassed to tell them, just like you or I would
be.

They'll tell him to stop running in shallow water, and by the way,
your warranty is void.

Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

We're talking about the MANUFACTURER - the company that makes the thing.
There's a thing in your house with 12 buttons. You press some of them and
then talk into it. You can use it to communicate with the MANUFACTURER.


"seeray28(steve)" wrote in message
...
Actually the reason I havent taken it to the dealer is because I trust
no-one to work on my engines other than myself



"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 27 Jun 2006 11:42:34 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

Another is the
fact that you have not contacted the manufacturer - a small step which
might
solve your problem very quickly. Why haven't you done that?

That's easy. He's embarassed to tell them, just like you or I would
be.

They'll tell him to stop running in shallow water, and by the way,
your warranty is void.

Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

mmmmmmm the manufacturer. gee I would have never thought about it. I guess
looking at about a dozen other alpha 1 sterndrives and not seeing a screen
at the intake ports would not be enough. Unless of course there was a lot of
screwups at the manufacturer that day. SO just for the giggles I called up
Merc today. Guess what, There is no screen on the alpha 1 2nd gen..
Ok so now I have contacted the manufacturer , any other ideas
Oh and as a foot note ( thats the small print at the bottom of the page in a
book) Im so glad to see that you learned how to count. I can only guess that
you did not have to use the same fingers twice.
WTF I cant believe that someone elses sarcastic behavior is causing me to
act like this


"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...
We're talking about the MANUFACTURER - the company that makes the thing.
There's a thing in your house with 12 buttons. You press some of them and
then talk into it. You can use it to communicate with the MANUFACTURER.


"seeray28(steve)" wrote in message
...
Actually the reason I havent taken it to the dealer is because I trust
no-one to work on my engines other than myself



"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 27 Jun 2006 11:42:34 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

Another is the
fact that you have not contacted the manufacturer - a small step which
might
solve your problem very quickly. Why haven't you done that?

That's easy. He's embarassed to tell them, just like you or I would
be.

They'll tell him to stop running in shallow water, and by the way,
your warranty is void.

Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

Sarcastic??????? It took you 6 days to call the mfr, after it was
suggested numerous times in this discussion. But, never mind. You've got the
answer you need, even if it's not the one you want: You have to stop using
the motor in ways it was not intended for.



"seeray28(steve)" wrote in message
...
mmmmmmm the manufacturer. gee I would have never thought about it. I guess
looking at about a dozen other alpha 1 sterndrives and not seeing a screen
at the intake ports would not be enough. Unless of course there was a lot
of
screwups at the manufacturer that day. SO just for the giggles I called up
Merc today. Guess what, There is no screen on the alpha 1 2nd gen..
Ok so now I have contacted the manufacturer , any other ideas
Oh and as a foot note ( thats the small print at the bottom of the page in
a
book) Im so glad to see that you learned how to count. I can only guess
that
you did not have to use the same fingers twice.
WTF I cant believe that someone elses sarcastic behavior is causing me to
act like this


"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...
We're talking about the MANUFACTURER - the company that makes the thing.
There's a thing in your house with 12 buttons. You press some of them and
then talk into it. You can use it to communicate with the MANUFACTURER.


"seeray28(steve)" wrote in message
...
Actually the reason I havent taken it to the dealer is because I trust
no-one to work on my engines other than myself



"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 27 Jun 2006 11:42:34 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

Another is the
fact that you have not contacted the manufacturer - a small step
which
might
solve your problem very quickly. Why haven't you done that?

That's easy. He's embarassed to tell them, just like you or I would
be.

They'll tell him to stop running in shallow water, and by the way,
your warranty is void.

Rocks/Sand in the thermostat
 

wrote:
On Wed, 28 Jun 2006 22:12:45 -0500, "seeray28\(steve\)"
wrote:

mmmmmmm the manufacturer. gee I would have never thought about it. I guess
looking at about a dozen other alpha 1 sterndrives and not seeing a screen
at the intake ports would not be enough. Unless of course there was a lot of
screwups at the manufacturer that day. SO just for the giggles I called up
Merc today. Guess what, There is no screen on the alpha 1 2nd gen..

The fact that the manufacturer merely replied that they didn't put
them on doesn't mean much..... I wonder if the factory service reps
have ever heard of this problem before.... if so, could there be a
fix?


Ok so now I have contacted the manufacturer , any other ideas....

Assuming that you don't have a handful of these rocks already inside
of and moving around in the engine....

.... then you are picking them up each time you get in shallow
water.....

Only things left are (1) Make your own screen or (2) Stop in 5 feet of
water and pole your way in to shore and then out again.

I don't see any other options. But I am still mystified by WHAT is
bringing these particles off the bottom to be sucked into the intake.
There's just something about that, that doesn't make sense.
-- Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Southport, NC. http://myworkshop.idleplay.net/ Homepage http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide

I wonder if he has polled other users of the same beaching spot to see
if they are having similar problems.