Hi fellow boat lovers,
I was recently given this '85 4Winns, Horizon 170, 170 horse Mercruiser powered runabout. I've known this boat and its 2 owners since the boat was new.
I can't beat the price and the boat has had a lot of work done to it, including new engine, lower unit, recovered seats and floors.
I also received a Clymer's stern drive shop manual for 62-85 models., along with all shop records, repair invoices, etc.
I am pretty clever with my hands and own lots of tools and know how to use them. But for the life of me I cannot even find this motor in the manual, much less which heat exchanger it is. There is a leak around the back end cap of the exchanger, and the cap looks damaged. I'm wondering if someone tried unsuccessfully to remove the exchanger, got frustrated, and just pulled the cover while the exchanger was still in place. I used a water clamshell to pump water into the lower unit which seems to circulate ok. However, when I started the engine liquid of some sort poured out the back of the exchanger. Also, I discovered there was no liquid in the closed loop reservoir or overflow bottle.
I am about to abandon the exchanger in favor of fresh water cooling as I am on fresh water, not on the ocean, and for the life of me I cannot remove the 3rd, center bolt holding the exchanger to the block. Ubolts removed fine. Thinking the exchanger was attached to the block before it was installed in the boat.
So, my question is: can I abandon the exchanger system and just run fresh water through the motor? I believe my '83 Bayliner didn't have a heat exchanger, or most boats I've known.
Thanks.
Chuck in Texas
I was recently given this '85 4Winns, Horizon 170, 170 horse Mercruiser powered runabout. I've known this boat and its 2 owners since the boat was new.
I can't beat the price and the boat has had a lot of work done to it, including new engine, lower unit, recovered seats and floors.
I also received a Clymer's stern drive shop manual for 62-85 models., along with all shop records, repair invoices, etc.
I am pretty clever with my hands and own lots of tools and know how to use them. But for the life of me I cannot even find this motor in the manual, much less which heat exchanger it is. There is a leak around the back end cap of the exchanger, and the cap looks damaged. I'm wondering if someone tried unsuccessfully to remove the exchanger, got frustrated, and just pulled the cover while the exchanger was still in place. I used a water clamshell to pump water into the lower unit which seems to circulate ok. However, when I started the engine liquid of some sort poured out the back of the exchanger. Also, I discovered there was no liquid in the closed loop reservoir or overflow bottle.
I am about to abandon the exchanger in favor of fresh water cooling as I am on fresh water, not on the ocean, and for the life of me I cannot remove the 3rd, center bolt holding the exchanger to the block. Ubolts removed fine. Thinking the exchanger was attached to the block before it was installed in the boat.
So, my question is: can I abandon the exchanger system and just run fresh water through the motor? I believe my '83 Bayliner didn't have a heat exchanger, or most boats I've known.
Thanks.
Chuck in Texas