1992 Force 70HP -- square plastic plug on top of engine?

[cmjust0]

Hey guys.. My 70hp Force doesn't have a tell-tale, but I noticed the other day that there's a square plastic plug screwed into a drilled/tapped hole right at the top of the motor.. I actually put a wrench on it for a brief second at one point to see if it would turn at all, but it flexed instead and I did NOT wanna snap it off, so I quit fooling with it and went on about my business.. I didn't really even think enough about it at the time to notice whether the hole is in the block or the head -- only that it's directly on top of the motor..

It occurred to me several hours after I'd finished up fooling with the boat that the square plug *might* be filling what either used to be, or was intended to be, a drilled/tapped hole for a tell-tale..

Anybody else seen anything like that on a force motor, or was this more likely a custom thing someone did?

Anybody reckon I should try to pull that plug with the cowl off and see if she'll squirt water out the top of the engine? LOL! That would be one SUREFIRE way to know, I suppose...

 

[bentle]

Re: 1992 Force 70HP -- square plastic plug on top of engine?

Sure can but you don't want water all over your ignition components. (Not cheap)
Remove fitting. Find a fitting that is same size threads with an end you can put a hose onto. Point away from you and motor and start. Oh and make sure you have plenty of water flow to your muffs if that's what you are using.

 

[roscoe]

Re: 1992 Force 70HP -- square plastic plug on top of engine?

It is actually there for a water pressure gauge, but works just as well for a telltale.

Many many members have added a telltale using that threaded hole.


http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=210027

 

[cmjust0]

Re: 1992 Force 70HP -- square plastic plug on top of engine?

Thanks roscoe, that's great! Exactly what I was hoping to hear! I think I'll go home this evening and put a little more effort into getting that plug out, then make a trip to lowes for a fitting.. Anybody have any advice on what kind of tubing to use, and also, is there any kind of fitting I should install into the bottom cowling? I'd hate to just drill a hole and have some tubing sticking out, because my luck would be that the tube would come back through the hole and fill the cowl up with water...lol

 

[cmjust0]

Re: 1992 Force 70HP -- square plastic plug on top of engine?

Alright, well... I tried to get the plastic plug out and ended up basically twisting it off flush with the block. The square part is still technically there but I felt it begin to give as I was twisting it to get it out, so I stopped.. I'd say with another few lbs of force, it would pop right off..

So, now what? Drill it out? I supposed I'll have to, but MAN that makes me nervous...so if anyone has another suggestion, I'm all ears!

 

[roscoe]

Re: 1992 Force 70HP -- square plastic plug on top of engine?

I have at least twice, driven a thin flat heat screw driver into the plastic, about a half inch, and turned it out.

 

[cmjust0]

Re: 1992 Force 70HP -- square plastic plug on top of engine?

OK, thanks.. I'll give that a shot!

 

[Jiggz]

Re: 1992 Force 70HP -- square plastic plug on top of engine?

I had a spare gauge hole on my gauge panel so I went with the pressure gauge, 0-30 PSI. At WOT the pressure reads up to 15 psi.