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.

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
"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.

"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?

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.

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....

"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

"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?

"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

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.