how can I save submerged outboard?

[sat1962]

So....I was about to synchronize my carburettors and when I went down to the boat today (moored at my neighbors dock...fresh water) I found it 3/4 under water....outboard completely submerged. It's a 1988 Johnson 70....any hope?

Help!!

Thanks.

 

[The-Machinist]

Re: how can I save submerged outboard?

Get it dry Quickly. I have lost a smaller outboard off of a very weak transom and had to leave it over night. I pulled and cleaned the carbs and flushed the crank case with deisel fuel throughly, luckly it was ok inside. The electronics on the otherhand.........

 

[ezeke]

Re: how can I save submerged outboard?

Best left submerged until you are ready to work on it. Then it needs to be in running position and constantly oiled. This is one time when you can't get too much oil in the carbs, so pour it on. Take the plugs out and turn the flywheel with a rope starter to pull the oil into the engine and lubricate the pistons, then add more oil through the spark plug holes.

You need to get every ignition component as dry as possible and then spray what you can with WD-40 to displace the water and slow or stop corrosion. This is one place where a air compressor is a real help.

The gearcase is sealed, so it should not have a problem.

If you have not done so, disconnect the battery and keep it that way until you are confident that everything is dry and clean.

When you are ready to run it, you will have to crank it a bit to get rid of the excess oil, but you may get it to fire by spraying premix into the spark plug holes and directly into the carburetor throats.

I'm sure there are a hundred other ways of dealing with the motors, especially from areas with sudden violent storms, so read on.

Edit: the quicker you get it running again, the less damage will be done.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: how can I save submerged outboard?

 

[The-Machinist]

Re: how can I save submerged outboard?

Knowing all that probably could have saved me a ton of money
Thanks for the extra info T.D.

 

[sat1962]

Re: how can I save submerged outboard?

thanks guys for the quick replies i have question it was submerged only for an hour is that just as bad as all day and it only submerged completely for about 20 minutes while we were pulling bow out .Also i cant get to the boat until mid day tommorrow to tow it back to launch ramp will that be disater or will it be ok 4 that time frame
.thanks again

 

[ezeke]

Re: how can I save submerged outboard?

You should leave it submerged until you can work on it. The longer it is exposed to the air the more damage will be done. See paragraph two and three on TD's entry.

 

[grnd93]

Re: how can I save submerged outboard?

I'm gonna have to hijack this thread.

I've got a 1971 9.5 Johnson that I was asked to get running again. I thought it was going to be something easy like no spark/fuel. When I tried to start it the thing would not turn at all, not even with a socket on the crank. When I inquired what had happend I found out that it had been submerged for quite some time. Is this going to require a teardown/rebuild? For now I pulled th plugs and sprayed some PB blaster down the cylinders to see if I can at least get it to turn.

 

[sat1962]

Re: how can I save submerged outboard?

I followed instructions posted above by Tashdaddy and it runs again good luck with it

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: how can I save submerged outboard?

grnd93, YES