do i HAVE to have water circulating through the outdrive to run the motor?

[eric0726]

I have a Volvo penta 3.0 with a Volvo outdrive. I need to do some work on my engine and I'm wondering if its absolutely necessar to have water circulating through the outdrive or if i can hook up my water hose to the inlet hose on the water pump which is mounted on the engine. (doing this will keep me from making a huge muddy mess in my yard). I just don't know if there are parts inside the outdrive that need to be kept cool like in the engine. Also, the repairs I need to make will NOT require the boat to be put in gear. I hope someone va give me some advice, thank you.

 

[HorizonblueDK]

Re: do i HAVE to have water circulating through the outdrive to run the motor?

No, you don't need water running through the Volvo outdrive, when running the engine a little, on land. But if you connect a garden hose directly to the raw water pump and start the engine, water will come out of the exhaust, and you will make a muddy mess behind the boat anyway.

Btw, I'm not sure it's a good idea to force water into the raw water pump. The gardenhose has a substantial pressure, maybe the vanes in the pump will flip, when the water is turned on, before you start the engine, I don't know, I wouldn't do it myself without some kind of relief valve, or an arrangement that supplies water at low pressure.

 

[Bondo]

Re: do i HAVE to have water circulating through the outdrive to run the motor?

Ayuh,... As long as yer feedin' it water, it don't matter if ya feed the drive, or the pump....

either way, the lawn is gettin' Wet....

 

[79Merc80]

Re: do i HAVE to have water circulating through the outdrive to run the motor?

Get one of those metel water/feed trofts, place it under the boat and outdrive. Fill it with water and start it. if you have it placed correctly, it should be able to catch almost, if not all, of the water being expelled from the exhaust.

Just a thought.

Craig

 

[dennis461]

Re: do i HAVE to have water circulating through the outdrive to run the motor?

The muffs loose more water than they are worth.
I run a small hose up the hole under the leg on my 270 drive.
Duct tape the gills closed, garden hose valve open just a little.

Beats taking the hose off the raw water pipe at the back of my engine and risking damage to the hose or clamps.
.

 

[Don S]

Re: do i HAVE to have water circulating through the outdrive to run the motor?

You have to understand that all the water that goes into the engine, rather through the drive or hooked to the engine, will come out the drive and transom shield. So, like bond-o said, your yard is going to get muddy one way or the other,
Your drive is also not even close to what a 270 drive is, and even if you did hook your hose up to the pump on the engine, no damage would occur, of any kind. The water will push past the impeller and go out the exhaust and out the back of the boat. Just like it will if it's running, maybe a bit slower.

 

[eric0726]

Re: do i HAVE to have water circulating through the outdrive to run the motor?

I see your point Don, what goes in must come out. I also like the tub under the outdrive idea. Atleast I know now that the outdrive doesn't need water flow while the engine's running. And I think the muddy yard is just something I'm gonna have to deal with. We've had a pretty bad drought down here in Texas so maybe it won't be such a bad thing. Thank you guys for all your input.

Eric

 

[bgc]

Re: do i HAVE to have water circulating through the outdrive to run the motor?

We use a 100 gallon Rubbermaid livestock waterer under the outdrives at the shop. This works well for keeping the mess contained. If the drive is too low to the ground we put the front jack down or automotive ramps under the trailer (on the single axel units).

 

[Maclin]

Re: do i HAVE to have water circulating through the outdrive to run the motor?

When using a trough or barrel or tub it is important to keep water running into the tub to keep from recirulating heated water from the engine over and over, you want fresh cooler water mixing in to offset the heated water coming back in from the exhaust (the exhaust itself is heating it up as well), and also need to keep the water level topped up as the exhausted water may not all go into the tub. It can be even messier with a tub because at the end you have to drain the tub somewhere even if you use a siphon hose.