Jet drive intake cleaner - mini project

[mickjetblue]

I made a special cleaning tool for the jet drive intake of my outboard.
It is actually a fireplace poker, commonly available at yard sales for a couple
of dollars. I put it into a vice to hold it steady, heated up the lower end near
the poker end with a propane torch, and bent it a couple of times to what you see in the pictures.

It works for cleaning both weeds and any small rocks that get stuck in the
intake. I was surprised to find that one day there were 2 rocks actually stuck,
and this did the trick for instant removal. I use it from the stern of the boat,
after shutting off the motor, and raising up the tilt. Works great for me!

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Jet drive intake cleaner - mini project

Cooll tool. I run and outboard jet and might just cobble together something like that - although so far (9 years), all I use is a largish screwdriver and just pry gently between each pair of intake fins and the rocks just drop out.

Can you get to the grate totally from in the boat, or do you need to go to shore and wade?

When I had an inboard jet, it was a a REAL BEAR getting rocks and debris out of the intake because it was under the boat and very difficult to get access to. I had a fabricator/welder make me a special tool, much heavier and longer than yours, with a T handle to get some leverage and control on it. but same basic idea and shape. I would NEVER buy another inboard jet without a "stomp grate" - I think they are absolutely essential if you actually do any shallow river running.

Do you know they also make stomp grates for outboards?

 

[mickjetblue]

Re: Jet drive intake cleaner - mini project

I was out today, and had no intention of picking up any weeds, but things
change, and I ran into a batch of weeds anyway.

So, attached is a pic I took showing how I use the intake cleaner in actual
practice, and from inside the boat. A little leaning is involved, and how much
leaning depends on whether you are standing on the floor at hull level or on
a raised level.

Thinking about it, I suppose a branch from a hardwood tree would work just
as well. Just need the right angle, size, and a little wood whittlin.