Outboard Flushing
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 7:57 pmFrom: Karl010203 (Original Message) Sent: 16/04/2008 21:57
Hi All,
For those of you with outboards - left on board and on moorings - how do you flush your outboard?
Thanks in advance
Karl
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Recommend Delete Message 2 of 6 in Discussion
From: workingidler Sent: 16/04/2008 23:36
Hi Karl,
I have a 1998 8hp Tohatsu which came with my mark III 7 yrs ago and has been on a row-out pile mooring all that time.
I have never flushed it - however I admit that recently (whilst at a marina luckily) it would not start and the thermostat required replacing due to corrosion etc - still going strong at time of writing.
After talking with others I believe there is a key factor in my engines longevity. It is always stored upright allowing the water to drain out unimpeded when stopped. It sits in the cockpit well when underway and at anchor and is hoisted onto a 'horse' with a block and tackle when on the mooring. This ensures no salt water deposits are left to solidify in the water channels as can happen with a tilt arrangement.
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Recommend Delete Message 3 of 6 in Discussion
From: Meander21 Sent: 17/04/2008 00:08
Hi Karl,
I have a large plastic drum with the e top cut off it. The drum only needs to be large enough to take the leg of the outboard.
I either take out fresh water in two containers to fill up the plastic drum, or if I'm at my local wharf, I fill up the plastic drum from the tap on the wharf.
Then I stand the motor up in the drum and run it for 5 minutes or so. If need be, sometimes I catch the telltale water stream in a small bucket and put it back into the drum so that I don't run out of water.
Bryce
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Recommend Delete Message 4 of 6 in Discussion
From: Karl010203 Sent: 17/04/2008 01:02
I was hoping to get away with not so frequent flushing but after starting it and not getting a stream of water the other day I got it serviced and the inlet had salted up... not bad given it has done less than 10 hours service...
I lie the outboard down though... maybe there is something in that.
I am considering the flushing bag and carrying more water, a real pain on a mooring though.
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Recommend Delete Message 5 of 6 in Discussion
From: Keitherson Sent: 17/04/2008 20:25
Hi Carl
I don't bother with flushing. My last outboard was going strong after 7 years when it was stolen. My current outboard lives permanently on the transom of my Mk 1 (with a good anti-theft lock!) and is now 6 years old. It starts first time every time. At last service the mechanic could tell it was used in salt water but said I should get some more years out of it.
No doubt flushing would prolong motor life but as Top Hats only need small inexpensive outboards to push them to hull speed it's not a big cost to replace them every ten years or so. Here's some more opinions:
http://www.practical-sailor.com/marine/ ... shing.html
http://www.sailnet.com/forums/learning- ... board.html
Keith
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Reply
Recommend Delete Message 6 of 6 in Discussion
From: TalesS435 Sent: 05/05/2008 04:18
I bought a new Suzuki 6hp four stroke two and a half years ago and have flushed it every time it is used (as the maintenance manual states). The cut off plastic jerry can I use takes 15 to 17 litres to cover enough of the leg to keep me happy.
It was a drag to carry 20 litres out when she was on the swing mooring but I plan to keep the motor a long time and would hate it to fail because of corrosion or salt build up.
Some years ago I watched a group of sailors on their boat trying to get the outboard started to go sailing. Four hours and countless tugs on the starter later (having worked on it in between) the group gave up and went home. Life's too short I reckon.
Hi All,
For those of you with outboards - left on board and on moorings - how do you flush your outboard?
Thanks in advance
Karl
---------------------------------
Reply
Recommend Delete Message 2 of 6 in Discussion
From: workingidler Sent: 16/04/2008 23:36
Hi Karl,
I have a 1998 8hp Tohatsu which came with my mark III 7 yrs ago and has been on a row-out pile mooring all that time.
I have never flushed it - however I admit that recently (whilst at a marina luckily) it would not start and the thermostat required replacing due to corrosion etc - still going strong at time of writing.
After talking with others I believe there is a key factor in my engines longevity. It is always stored upright allowing the water to drain out unimpeded when stopped. It sits in the cockpit well when underway and at anchor and is hoisted onto a 'horse' with a block and tackle when on the mooring. This ensures no salt water deposits are left to solidify in the water channels as can happen with a tilt arrangement.
------------------------
Reply
Recommend Delete Message 3 of 6 in Discussion
From: Meander21 Sent: 17/04/2008 00:08
Hi Karl,
I have a large plastic drum with the e top cut off it. The drum only needs to be large enough to take the leg of the outboard.
I either take out fresh water in two containers to fill up the plastic drum, or if I'm at my local wharf, I fill up the plastic drum from the tap on the wharf.
Then I stand the motor up in the drum and run it for 5 minutes or so. If need be, sometimes I catch the telltale water stream in a small bucket and put it back into the drum so that I don't run out of water.
Bryce
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
-
------------------------------
Reply
Recommend Delete Message 4 of 6 in Discussion
From: Karl010203 Sent: 17/04/2008 01:02
I was hoping to get away with not so frequent flushing but after starting it and not getting a stream of water the other day I got it serviced and the inlet had salted up... not bad given it has done less than 10 hours service...
I lie the outboard down though... maybe there is something in that.
I am considering the flushing bag and carrying more water, a real pain on a mooring though.
--------------------
Reply
Recommend Delete Message 5 of 6 in Discussion
From: Keitherson Sent: 17/04/2008 20:25
Hi Carl
I don't bother with flushing. My last outboard was going strong after 7 years when it was stolen. My current outboard lives permanently on the transom of my Mk 1 (with a good anti-theft lock!) and is now 6 years old. It starts first time every time. At last service the mechanic could tell it was used in salt water but said I should get some more years out of it.
No doubt flushing would prolong motor life but as Top Hats only need small inexpensive outboards to push them to hull speed it's not a big cost to replace them every ten years or so. Here's some more opinions:
http://www.practical-sailor.com/marine/ ... shing.html
http://www.sailnet.com/forums/learning- ... board.html
Keith
-
------
-------
----
---------------------------------
Reply
Recommend Delete Message 6 of 6 in Discussion
From: TalesS435 Sent: 05/05/2008 04:18
I bought a new Suzuki 6hp four stroke two and a half years ago and have flushed it every time it is used (as the maintenance manual states). The cut off plastic jerry can I use takes 15 to 17 litres to cover enough of the leg to keep me happy.
It was a drag to carry 20 litres out when she was on the swing mooring but I plan to keep the motor a long time and would hate it to fail because of corrosion or salt build up.
Some years ago I watched a group of sailors on their boat trying to get the outboard started to go sailing. Four hours and countless tugs on the starter later (having worked on it in between) the group gave up and went home. Life's too short I reckon.