How can I run engine out of water?

[RogerBoat]

Greetings,
I recently installed a rebuilt carburetor on my OMC Ford v8 and took it to the lake, 35 miles away for a day of delight, only to find that fuel was running out onto the manifold. I sent the carburetor back, they rebuilt it and I am now ready to do the exercise again. But I would rather test the carburetor here at home to avoid the greef of another failure.

I can't find a tank large enough to fit the OMC outdrive into to do this. Does anyone have a good plan on how to supply water to the outdrive so the pump won't be burned up? I just had that rebuilt also. Thanks.

On another note, the only failure the old carburetor had was at the beginning of the day, it wouldn't start without a shot of starting fluid. Rest of the day it started fine. I discovered that there was no bypass wire around the ballast resistor and wonder if this is why it won't start cold rather than a problem with the carburetor. I consulted the wiring diagram for this engine and it shows a wire from the starter solenoid to the coil to bypass the resistor when cranking. But, I am reluctant to install this circuit since who knows what was done to the boat the past 25-30 years and perhaps I will damage something in the process. I think everything is OEM in this ignition circuit, but have no specs to test anything. Thanks for reading this far.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: How can I run engine out of water?

a set of muffs.

 

[boobie]

Re: How can I run engine out of water?

Model # or year. Muffs may not work.

 

[RogerBoat]

Re: How can I run engine out of water?

Sorry, I neglected to say that this is a 1976 OMC stringer electric shift. Muffs won't work. In fear of destroying a new $2,500 rebuild, I am reluctant to do the only thing I can think of which is to remove the screen covering the water intake and forcing water up the inlet pipe unless I can hear from other folks who have dealt with it. I don't know if the pump has any capability to draw water since in the lake the pump is below water. Also, a lot of water pressure is directed at the ball gears which might not work well out of water.

Thanks for responding to this.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: How can I run engine out of water?

you can install a tee in the supply line from the outdrive to thermostat housing like this (flush kits are $5 to $10 at any auto parts store)

turn the hose on full and it will feed the engine and backfeed the impeller to keep it wet

I like my pink one because it has a female thread, but the Prestone one comes with a union to connect it.

 

[RogerBoat]

Re: How can I run engine out of water?

Wow! thanks for the idea...would help with winterizing. Are you absolutely certain that forcing water to the impeller in a reverse direction will protect it?

 

[boobie]

Re: How can I run engine out of water?

Yes it will. The old omc flushers that replaced a trunion cap on the intermediate hsg did the same thing and they worked good. Just can't find them anymore.

 

[southkogs]

Re: How can I run engine out of water?

If this is a "new-to-you" boat, check the (usually) starboard side of the outdrive trunion cap (right where it pivots up and down). You may find you have a cap on there that when you unscrew it looks like a hose fitting ... that's 'cuz it is. It was put there to hook up to water flow and run the system. Took me a little pondering to figure that out on mine when I got it.

It should be fairly obvious that if you do, but some OMC's didn't come equipped with them.

 

[RogerBoat]

Re: How can I run engine out of water?

Thanks guys for the help. I put in the fitting, turned on the water, turned the starter and it fired right up. Carburator guys got it done right this time. Can't tell you how helpful these forums have been for me. I have a year and a half of restoration into this boat project and I probably never would have gotten this far without you guys. Thanks.

 

[wcasey5]

Re: How can I run engine out of water?

Will this work on ANY cobra drive? Or any drive at all? If I could avoid using muffs to be absolutely sure to get water to the impeller, it would be great.

 

[southkogs]

Re: How can I run engine out of water?

Thanks guys for the help. I put in the fitting, turned on the water, turned the starter and it fired right up. Carburator guys got it done right this time. Can't tell you how helpful these forums have been for me. I have a year and a half of restoration into this boat project and I probably never would have gotten this far without you guys. Thanks.

Congrats! Just noticed ... you're nearly next door to me (Murfreesboro).

 

[southkogs]

Re: How can I run engine out of water?

Will this work on ANY cobra drive? Or any drive at all? If I could avoid using muffs to be absolutely sure to get water to the impeller, it would be great.

I was about to say "no," but I'm not sure about the "T" supply that Howard Posted above. The Cobra should work on muffs though (Stringer 400 & 800 will too I think).

 

[wcasey5]

Re: How can I run engine out of water?

I was about to say "no," but I'm not sure about the "T" supply that Howard Posted above. The Cobra should work on muffs though (Stringer 400 & 800 will too I think).

I have the prestone kit already, I was thinking snip the line, install, hook up the hose and bob's your uncle. I tried it on muffs, but there is always that thought that the water isn't getting to the impeller.

 

[southkogs]

Re: How can I run engine out of water?

I have the prestone kit already, I was thinking snip the line, install, hook up the hose and bob's your uncle. I tried it on muffs, but there is always that thought that the water isn't getting to the impeller.

On the Cobra's running on the muffs, if you're getting water up in the engine the impeller is getting it. The cooling path goes through the impeller up to the engine I should think ... don't own one myself, I'm just postulating based off some things that I've read/seen.

I'm almost thinking just the opposite of you ... If you use the "T" in a Cobra, will the water back flow to the impeller like it will in a Stringer?

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: How can I run engine out of water?

I haven't tried the Tee on a Cobra, but it works great on both my OMC 800 and my Mercruiser Alpha One Gen II

I do not have a power steering cooler on either of my boats.

 

[wcasey5]

Re: How can I run engine out of water?

Would the Tee be a safer wat of applying water than a set of muffs? I'm thinking water is going down hill to the impeller rather than going up hill from the muffs?

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: How can I run engine out of water?

I have had muffs slide off and I had a set where the hose adapter popped out of the rubber suction cup thingy and was watering the driveway.

 

[wcasey5]

Re: How can I run engine out of water?

I think I will install on the cobra and give it a try. I have a new impeller I am going to install so I will give it a shot with the old impeller still in place.

So I would install the T in the line coming from the outdrive to the thermostat housing?

 

[boobie]

Re: How can I run engine out of water?

Yes. Look at Howards first pic again.