Using a trash can to test/adjust your motor in???

[Scot-a-lot]

I have heard that it is relatively easy to test your motor by sticking the lower unit in a trash can full of water. I have a 115 horse Merc, and I am afraid of the prop hitting the sides. Can I take of the prop and run the motor without it. I have rebuilt the carbs and I am trying to adjust all the idle jets to feed fuel equally.<br />Any advice

 

[CKJR]

Re: Using a trash can to test/adjust your motor in???

scot-a-lot<br /> i use a plastic trash can or green landscape container to run my engine, taking the prop off will make the motor fit more easily. with the engine submerged in water, will provide back pressure so that you can make all idle adjustments. a good idea is to drill a hole in the can and block with a screw to make draining more easily.

 

[muskyone]

Re: Using a trash can to test/adjust your motor in???

you can pick up a set of muffs most boat stores i got mine at the hardware store and run it on a hose

 

[John Reynolds]

Re: Using a trash can to test/adjust your motor in???

I think I read somewhere that running a motor without the prop can cause the motor to run up too fast and too quick

 

[splugeeman]

Re: Using a trash can to test/adjust your motor in???

Get the muffs ...they run $8-9 bucks and are easy to use with a common garden hose at low pressure!

 

[SCO]

Re: Using a trash can to test/adjust your motor in???

you would keep it in neutral. Would be a good back presure replicator and keeps the noise down. Get a big drum and keep prop on, wont fit in garbage can.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Using a trash can to test/adjust your motor in???

You can go to the farm and home center and pick up a 100 gallon oval livestock water tank, $50. This size is nice because you can back trailer up to the end and use the tilt and trim to lower motor into the water. It really comes in handy for other things too, makes a nice mini paint spray booth.

 

[buddy leduc]

Re: Using a trash can to test/adjust your motor in???

The one advantage to using a tank is that you will find out if your impeller is working or not. My neighbor tested his motor with muffs and everything seemed fine but when he went to the lake it turned out his impeller was shot. Luckily he told me his story or the same thing would have happened to me. I use muffs now if I know for sure that the water pump is working but if in dought use a tank of some type.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Using a trash can to test/adjust your motor in???

Running the motor in a bucket is fine for fogging, winterizing, testing water pump, etc., but all adjustments to motor tuning should be done on the water.<br />- Scott

 

[JB]

Re: Using a trash can to test/adjust your motor in???

Ditto Scott.<br /><br />Never run an outboard in gear without a prop or test wheel. Never rev an outboard without a load.<br /><br />All fine adjustments to mix need to be done in the water, under load.

 

[lorax]

Re: Using a trash can to test/adjust your motor in???

One time I was working on my ol 115 Merc in-line. I had the engine idiling in a 55gal drum cut in half. For some reason or another I decided to clunk it into gear. The instant it went into gear the whole contents of the can shot straight up in the air. Talk about stupid human tricks. <br /><br />It really impressed upon me the volume of water those props move.