gatorgitter
Cadet
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2008
- Messages
- 19
Howdy, Guys...
I have a new ( to me) used boat ; a '03 21' bowrider, w/a VP 5.0GXi-b ( multi port fuel injection ) , raw water cooled , oushing an SX outdrive. 50hours on it, stored on a lift on the Fl Intracostal , before I brought it to Orlando ; the boat Seems very clean. Seems like it running fine, but it's running cold, the temp gauge will hardly budge. I figure the thermostat was stuck open, so I get the parts, and set out to replace it this afternoon. Hoses and wires came off OK , and after lightly popping the housing w/a rubber mallet , it broke free ; it had never been removed before.
When I tilted the thermostat housing off, I noticed that the spring and One of the spring's retaining 'straps' was just 'sitting' there , not attached to anything. It appears as thougth the 2 spring retaining straps rusted/broke free , and 'let the spring go' ( from the thermostat body) . The problem is that there should be 2 of these 'straps' , but I only have one. I assume the other dropped into the manifold. I felt around a little, but couldn't feel anything expect a big lip/ridge .
I'm sure y'all see the questions coming... Where did the missing 'strap' go? How far into the manifold , or did it drop into the block? Will it get stuck anywhere in particular ? Any ideas on how to find / remove it?
Will it hurt anything to run it w/the 'strap' probabaly clanking around the manifold or block ? I've run it about 10/15 hrs already, and it seems to be running fine.
I plan on taking my IR temp gun to the engine, but it's real crowded, and I'm not sure I'll be able to get accurate readings all over , to check for hot spots.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated. To be honest, I'm kinda worried about it...
Thanks for the help ,
gator.
I have a new ( to me) used boat ; a '03 21' bowrider, w/a VP 5.0GXi-b ( multi port fuel injection ) , raw water cooled , oushing an SX outdrive. 50hours on it, stored on a lift on the Fl Intracostal , before I brought it to Orlando ; the boat Seems very clean. Seems like it running fine, but it's running cold, the temp gauge will hardly budge. I figure the thermostat was stuck open, so I get the parts, and set out to replace it this afternoon. Hoses and wires came off OK , and after lightly popping the housing w/a rubber mallet , it broke free ; it had never been removed before.
When I tilted the thermostat housing off, I noticed that the spring and One of the spring's retaining 'straps' was just 'sitting' there , not attached to anything. It appears as thougth the 2 spring retaining straps rusted/broke free , and 'let the spring go' ( from the thermostat body) . The problem is that there should be 2 of these 'straps' , but I only have one. I assume the other dropped into the manifold. I felt around a little, but couldn't feel anything expect a big lip/ridge .
I'm sure y'all see the questions coming... Where did the missing 'strap' go? How far into the manifold , or did it drop into the block? Will it get stuck anywhere in particular ? Any ideas on how to find / remove it?
Will it hurt anything to run it w/the 'strap' probabaly clanking around the manifold or block ? I've run it about 10/15 hrs already, and it seems to be running fine.
I plan on taking my IR temp gun to the engine, but it's real crowded, and I'm not sure I'll be able to get accurate readings all over , to check for hot spots.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated. To be honest, I'm kinda worried about it...
Thanks for the help ,
gator.
(not that I ever doubted you) I ran it fairly hard this weekend w/no problems. The temp guage looks good and I took an ir temp gun to it, and everything I could get to looked normal/balanced.