Submerged engine ??? - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Whaler Repairs/Mods
  Submerged engine ???

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Submerged engine ???

Smallfrye posted 11-20-2002 05:16 PM ET (US)
What typical issues can I expect with an engine submerged in fresh water ? This motor was not "preserved" but the freewheel turns.
I feel the electronic modules are shot, probably the starter. Will the cyl. need rebored or polished ? Any experienced Whalers out there ?
JBCornwell posted 11-20-2002 05:32 PM ET (US)
Ahoy, Smallfrye.
I had an engine that had been submerged in salt water and not pickled. You probably remember it.
Electronics were fine. Replaced starter and T&T motor. The rest came back with thorough cleaning (in kero).
She runs fine, now. Maybe not typical, maybe typical.
Red sky at night. . .
JB
Hendrickson posted 11-21-2002 06:08 AM ET (US)
I have 90 Yamaha that spent about four days under water (fresh) a little over a year ago and it has been trouble free so far. I did pull the plugs and crank some oil and gas trough it before I tried starting it.
Wayneman posted 11-21-2002 03:50 PM ET (US)
I have an old Merc 40 that runs better under water than on top of it...
Bigshot posted 11-22-2002 09:13 AM ET (US)
I sank 2 engines in my life, both in salt water....neither on a Whaler:) They were fine for at least a year after that when sold. The key is to get it running as quickly and frequently as possible. It is not the electronics(most are waterproof)or anything else that goes wrong it is the crank and the bearings. VERY important to get them lubricated asquickly as possible. If she won't start at least turn it over and squirt foggong fluid in the carbs to grease the crank.
where2 posted 11-22-2002 01:05 PM ET (US)
I agree with Bigshot. Only time I ever drown an engine (in saltwater), I spent an hour trying to get it running again on the beach (drawing fuel through the powerhead to keep things lubricated). Following that, I paddled the boat home as quickly as possible, pulled the flywheel, dried the points, dropped the lower unit in a bucket and started her up. I let it run for atleast 10 minutes in the bucket to help flow as much salt out of anywhere and to dry up any remaining moisture. I then washed the powerhead down with a can of WD40. That was 12 years ago...
Unlike others here, I still have that engine, despite having dunked it in the Atlantic. It sat dormant for 5 years in my garage between uses, yet fired right up on the 4th or 5th pull, when I wanted to use it last year... I have a difficult time parting with it after I rebuilt it when I was 15. Man was I upset when I dunked it in the Atlantic a year later!
Best thing you can do is get the lubricants flowing inside moments after you pull the engine out of the water. The longer air sits on the cylinders after you pull the engine out of the water, the more rust forms. Pull the plugs, and drain the water, spray down the cylinders with WD40, then spray it through the carb throat while you turn it over more vigorously.
11 footer posted 11-22-2002 10:05 PM ET (US)
I was watching one of them boating tv shows about a year ago. I recall them saying that if possable leave the engine in the water till you are readdy to do the work. Is this true?
11
captbone posted 11-24-2002 03:44 PM ET (US)
you should leave it underwater (Fresh) until you are ready to play with it. If you take it out and put it away for a few days until you are ready to play with it, it will rust solid. I guess the idea is that it cant rust as fast underwater?
Montauk72 posted 12-03-2002 06:57 PM ET (US)
Drain the carb or carbs, Pull the plugs, shoot some two cycle oil into the cylinders. Turn her over a few times with the plugs out. Connect the wires and lay the plugs on the block, turn the flywheel and see if shes got spark jumping across the spark plug gaps.If shes got spark, prime the carb or carbs full and your good to go....

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: Submerged engine ???
Smallfrye	posted 11-20-2002 05:16 PM ET (US) What typical issues can I expect with an engine submerged in fresh water ? This motor was not "preserved" but the freewheel turns. I feel the electronic modules are shot, probably the starter. Will the cyl. need rebored or polished ? Any experienced Whalers out there ?
JBCornwell	posted 11-20-2002 05:32 PM ET (US) Ahoy, Smallfrye. I had an engine that had been submerged in salt water and not pickled. You probably remember it. Electronics were fine. Replaced starter and T&T motor. The rest came back with thorough cleaning (in kero). She runs fine, now. Maybe not typical, maybe typical. Red sky at night. . . JB
Hendrickson	posted 11-21-2002 06:08 AM ET (US) I have 90 Yamaha that spent about four days under water (fresh) a little over a year ago and it has been trouble free so far. I did pull the plugs and crank some oil and gas trough it before I tried starting it.
Wayneman	posted 11-21-2002 03:50 PM ET (US) I have an old Merc 40 that runs better under water than on top of it...
Bigshot	posted 11-22-2002 09:13 AM ET (US) I sank 2 engines in my life, both in salt water....neither on a Whaler:) They were fine for at least a year after that when sold. The key is to get it running as quickly and frequently as possible. It is not the electronics(most are waterproof)or anything else that goes wrong it is the crank and the bearings. VERY important to get them lubricated asquickly as possible. If she won't start at least turn it over and squirt foggong fluid in the carbs to grease the crank.
where2	posted 11-22-2002 01:05 PM ET (US) I agree with Bigshot. Only time I ever drown an engine (in saltwater), I spent an hour trying to get it running again on the beach (drawing fuel through the powerhead to keep things lubricated). Following that, I paddled the boat home as quickly as possible, pulled the flywheel, dried the points, dropped the lower unit in a bucket and started her up. I let it run for atleast 10 minutes in the bucket to help flow as much salt out of anywhere and to dry up any remaining moisture. I then washed the powerhead down with a can of WD40. That was 12 years ago... Unlike others here, I still have that engine, despite having dunked it in the Atlantic. It sat dormant for 5 years in my garage between uses, yet fired right up on the 4th or 5th pull, when I wanted to use it last year... I have a difficult time parting with it after I rebuilt it when I was 15. Man was I upset when I dunked it in the Atlantic a year later! Best thing you can do is get the lubricants flowing inside moments after you pull the engine out of the water. The longer air sits on the cylinders after you pull the engine out of the water, the more rust forms. Pull the plugs, and drain the water, spray down the cylinders with WD40, then spray it through the carb throat while you turn it over more vigorously.
11 footer	posted 11-22-2002 10:05 PM ET (US) I was watching one of them boating tv shows about a year ago. I recall them saying that if possable leave the engine in the water till you are readdy to do the work. Is this true? 11
captbone	posted 11-24-2002 03:44 PM ET (US) you should leave it underwater (Fresh) until you are ready to play with it. If you take it out and put it away for a few days until you are ready to play with it, it will rust solid. I guess the idea is that it cant rust as fast underwater?
Montauk72	posted 12-03-2002 06:57 PM ET (US) Drain the carb or carbs, Pull the plugs, shoot some two cycle oil into the cylinders. Turn her over a few times with the plugs out. Connect the wires and lay the plugs on the block, turn the flywheel and see if shes got spark jumping across the spark plug gaps.If shes got spark, prime the carb or carbs full and your good to go....