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Author Topic:   Rear Flush Improvement for Newer Mercurys

Sal A posted 04-16-2004 01:10 PM ET (US)
I have just taken my new boat on her maiden voyage. It went famously, and I will update the forum with more specific tests I will run tomorrow morning.
My question: I have pushed in the flush mount on the rear of the engine (hope I am using the right terminology). It supposedly has happened to a few others with the newer engines that have this flusher. The sun was shining, and the engine was warm, which I am sure contributed to the rubber housing around the flusher being soft and plyable. Have any of you come up with a creative way to bolster that flusher up? The actual flush hose attachment on my old Mercury 2-stroke carbed was robust and great, as well as seperate from the peehole, and in front of the engine, and not behind.
Any suggestions would be most appreciated. Thank you
jbtaz posted 04-16-2004 01:58 PM ET (US)
No I haven't. It happened on my 150. To reset it, while keeping the hose screwed in, I pulled it back out and reset it. (I'm just more careful pushing on it while screwing the hose in.)
AQUANUT posted 04-16-2004 02:20 PM ET (US)
I think its a poor design...I prefer the saltwater flush connection on the 2 stroke 90 saltwater version..with seperate hose connection..

.the one on my 115 fourstroke does the same

.also..I prefer to see the tattletale outlet discharging when flushing the powerhead.
lakeman posted 04-16-2004 02:44 PM ET (US)
I popped mine out the other day and fought it for about 30 min and then took a hose end attachement (sprayer) screwed it in to fitting and pulled it out and with a small wide screwdriver had it back in place in about 5 min or less. Also put 3M rubber protectorant on it as well.
Sal A posted 04-16-2004 02:53 PM ET (US)
Thanks guys,
Lakeman... Will the 3m rubber protector extend the life of the fitting? Will it make it stiffer and hold better?
blavid posted 04-16-2004 06:10 PM ET (US)
That used to happen to me.....
I now use a hose attachment that I got from West Marine - it is the single shut-off valve on the link below:
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=72523&catalogId=10001&classNum=239&subdeptNum=178&storeNum=4
I screw the shut-off valve into the flushing port on the rear of my Optimax very carefully, then I can attach the garden hose easily with the screw on adapter on the end of the shut-off valve. I haven't pushed the gasket in since I have started using this.
captreils posted 04-16-2004 11:35 PM ET (US)
Sal,
You only had your boat for one day and you already broke it... Thanks again for the wine. Maybe I'll see you out on the bay.
Pete
Yiddil posted 04-17-2004 12:50 AM ET (US)
I am axiously watching all this and thinking what will I break when I get my Nantucket...:) hehe But the info is great, and of course Ill have to get one...Never flushed one before...should be fun....
James posted 04-17-2004 03:34 AM ET (US)
I had the same thing happen to me on my 90 HP/4 stroke last year and I already had a plastic quick-hose attachment installed. Fortunately, the engine was not running and the rubber coupling fell into the engine, not out. It is a very poor design feature by Mercury for such an important engine flushing function. I try to be more careful with attachment of the hose coupling but I expect that it will probably happen again.
James.
erik selis posted 04-17-2004 04:15 AM ET (US)
Sal,
I remember this topic being discussed last year and there were some inovative solutions to the problem. I just can't seem to find the thread. Maybe you or someone else have more luck finding it.
Great to hear you've been out on the water!
Erik
lakeman posted 04-17-2004 06:56 AM ET (US)
Sal A
I do not know if it will help with with anything but to help keep it new. I would assume that a more flexable fitting would be much easier to fit in again and repeating the above post, It is a poor design. I just use the uv protect stuff everywhere, I use to use 303 but have found the 3-m stuff to be better and seems tolast longer but time will tell.
keysdezees posted 04-17-2004 07:43 AM ET (US)
Just took delivery of my new Whaler w/ 2004 Opti's and have noticed they changed the design for the flush system. My dealer mentioned that he thought this upgrade was available for older opti's. Might be something to check into...
AQUANUT posted 04-17-2004 10:22 AM ET (US)
Hey Guys,
check this out...in the R.V. industry there are 90% hose fittings approx 4 " long....they are used to keep the water supply lines to rv's from crimping....I am tryin one on my flusher fitting...solved my prob of the neopreme giving and popping inside the motor
Sal A posted 04-18-2004 10:39 AM ET (US)
Thanks guys. I just bought a small 6 inch attachment hose. I have my "quik release" screwed into that, and the small hose gently screws into the engine flush. This way, when I apply pressure snapping in the hose, that pressure is away from the engine flush. Thanks for the ideas!
Capt Pete... your boat is something to be proud of. And you are the Terminator of riggers. I hope OBM realizes your value. PS I consider it a huge victory that you didnt have to take your BOATUS rig and rescue me yesterday! Please say hello to Mary Francis, Nancy, and Mark. All of you bent over backward and are an example to boat dealers of all brands everywhere. If I can just mention this: Mark Daffner, the general manager, drove my boat 40 minutes north to deliver my boat to my slip. He helped me set up the slip properly with lines, took me out for a few hours with my boys, helped train me with trimming etc, as well as with docking. I had the boat out all day yesterday again and feel very comfortable in it. I might expect this if I purchased a $100,000 dollar boat, but I feel these guys treat everyone this way. Like buying from a toptier Mercedes dealer.

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Author	Topic: Rear Flush Improvement for Newer Mercurys
Sal A	posted 04-16-2004 01:10 PM ET (US) I have just taken my new boat on her maiden voyage. It went famously, and I will update the forum with more specific tests I will run tomorrow morning. My question: I have pushed in the flush mount on the rear of the engine (hope I am using the right terminology). It supposedly has happened to a few others with the newer engines that have this flusher. The sun was shining, and the engine was warm, which I am sure contributed to the rubber housing around the flusher being soft and plyable. Have any of you come up with a creative way to bolster that flusher up? The actual flush hose attachment on my old Mercury 2-stroke carbed was robust and great, as well as seperate from the peehole, and in front of the engine, and not behind. Any suggestions would be most appreciated. Thank you
jbtaz	posted 04-16-2004 01:58 PM ET (US) No I haven't. It happened on my 150. To reset it, while keeping the hose screwed in, I pulled it back out and reset it. (I'm just more careful pushing on it while screwing the hose in.)
AQUANUT	posted 04-16-2004 02:20 PM ET (US) I think its a poor design...I prefer the saltwater flush connection on the 2 stroke 90 saltwater version..with seperate hose connection.. .the one on my 115 fourstroke does the same .also..I prefer to see the tattletale outlet discharging when flushing the powerhead.
lakeman	posted 04-16-2004 02:44 PM ET (US) I popped mine out the other day and fought it for about 30 min and then took a hose end attachement (sprayer) screwed it in to fitting and pulled it out and with a small wide screwdriver had it back in place in about 5 min or less. Also put 3M rubber protectorant on it as well.
Sal A	posted 04-16-2004 02:53 PM ET (US) Thanks guys, Lakeman... Will the 3m rubber protector extend the life of the fitting? Will it make it stiffer and hold better?
blavid	posted 04-16-2004 06:10 PM ET (US) That used to happen to me..... I now use a hose attachment that I got from West Marine - it is the single shut-off valve on the link below: http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=72523&catalogId=10001&classNum=239&subdeptNum=178&storeNum=4 I screw the shut-off valve into the flushing port on the rear of my Optimax very carefully, then I can attach the garden hose easily with the screw on adapter on the end of the shut-off valve. I haven't pushed the gasket in since I have started using this.
captreils	posted 04-16-2004 11:35 PM ET (US) Sal, You only had your boat for one day and you already broke it... Thanks again for the wine. Maybe I'll see you out on the bay. Pete
Yiddil	posted 04-17-2004 12:50 AM ET (US) I am axiously watching all this and thinking what will I break when I get my Nantucket...:) hehe But the info is great, and of course Ill have to get one...Never flushed one before...should be fun....
James	posted 04-17-2004 03:34 AM ET (US) I had the same thing happen to me on my 90 HP/4 stroke last year and I already had a plastic quick-hose attachment installed. Fortunately, the engine was not running and the rubber coupling fell into the engine, not out. It is a very poor design feature by Mercury for such an important engine flushing function. I try to be more careful with attachment of the hose coupling but I expect that it will probably happen again. James.
erik selis	posted 04-17-2004 04:15 AM ET (US) Sal, I remember this topic being discussed last year and there were some inovative solutions to the problem. I just can't seem to find the thread. Maybe you or someone else have more luck finding it. Great to hear you've been out on the water! Erik
lakeman	posted 04-17-2004 06:56 AM ET (US) Sal A I do not know if it will help with with anything but to help keep it new. I would assume that a more flexable fitting would be much easier to fit in again and repeating the above post, It is a poor design. I just use the uv protect stuff everywhere, I use to use 303 but have found the 3-m stuff to be better and seems tolast longer but time will tell.
keysdezees	posted 04-17-2004 07:43 AM ET (US) Just took delivery of my new Whaler w/ 2004 Opti's and have noticed they changed the design for the flush system. My dealer mentioned that he thought this upgrade was available for older opti's. Might be something to check into...
AQUANUT	posted 04-17-2004 10:22 AM ET (US) Hey Guys, check this out...in the R.V. industry there are 90% hose fittings approx 4 " long....they are used to keep the water supply lines to rv's from crimping....I am tryin one on my flusher fitting...solved my prob of the neopreme giving and popping inside the motor
Sal A	posted 04-18-2004 10:39 AM ET (US) Thanks guys. I just bought a small 6 inch attachment hose. I have my "quik release" screwed into that, and the small hose gently screws into the engine flush. This way, when I apply pressure snapping in the hose, that pressure is away from the engine flush. Thanks for the ideas! Capt Pete... your boat is something to be proud of. And you are the Terminator of riggers. I hope OBM realizes your value. PS I consider it a huge victory that you didnt have to take your BOATUS rig and rescue me yesterday! Please say hello to Mary Francis, Nancy, and Mark. All of you bent over backward and are an example to boat dealers of all brands everywhere. If I can just mention this: Mark Daffner, the general manager, drove my boat 40 minutes north to deliver my boat to my slip. He helped me set up the slip properly with lines, took me out for a few hours with my boys, helped train me with trimming etc, as well as with docking. I had the boat out all day yesterday again and feel very comfortable in it. I might expect this if I purchased a $100,000 dollar boat, but I feel these guys treat everyone this way. Like buying from a toptier Mercedes dealer.