I/O freshwater flush

[glasply1]

Has anyone on this forum installed the 3way or other fresh water flusher that also flushes the outdrive? I'm interested because I keep my boat in saltwater moorage and it only gets freshwater through it during the annual maintenance haulout. It has fresh water cooling but for the $65-85 cost it might be worth it to make outdrive, risers, manifold, etc. last a little longer. Thanks for your comments. I posted this on another forum but no response so far.

 

[Boatist]

Re: I/O freshwater flush

I think you will get more infomation if you give motor type and year.<br />I have a motor flusher on my 1980 OMC 3.0 series 400 stringer. Hook the hose to it and flush the motor, also supplies water to the water pump impeller. I trailer my boat and it works good but in the water I think the outdrive impeller would still pump water.<br /><br />I would think you could just use the standard Muff, turn the water high enough that with motor running still get some pressure leakage. That should insure only get fresh water in.

 

[glasply1]

Re: I/O freshwater flush

The engine is a chev 350 and the outdrive is a volvo 280. Since the boat is in the water a muff style flusher could not be used. It would have to be attached with the outdrive in the raised position and then lowered back into the water into the operating position. Probably would not keep saltwater out and possibly would slip off. The muffler could be mounted when the boat was on shore, which is what I do during the annual maintenance haulout. Hopefully I understood your posting. Thanks for the comments.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: I/O freshwater flush

Originally posted by Glasply 1:<br /> Since the boat is in the water a muff style flusher could not be used. It would have to be attached with the outdrive in the raised position and then lowered back into the water into the operating position. Probably would not keep saltwater out and possibly would slip off.

This is the way I have been flushing my twins for the last three years.The right muffs wont fall off because they have a thin spike through them to hold them to the intake screens.You can also use the regular muffs and push an ice pick through the center of one muff until it enters the intake hole.This is the method I use and it works very good.You really dont have to lower the drive much as long as the water pressure is left on and you ONLY idle.

 

[Boatist]

Re: I/O freshwater flush

I agree with charlie. Many style muff out there and you can get model that fit very tight. If you really think it will fall off use a bungy cord to pull it foward and a block in the back so it can not go foward and it will stay in Place. Turn the water high enough that water leaks out of the muff and no salt water will force it way in against the pressure. If your outdrives raises out of the water like mine it would work good.<br /><br />Another way to go would be to add fresh water cooling for the motor and install hose connection to your water supply hose from the outdrive to flush the manifolds with out running the motor.

 

[Olds Eddie]

Re: I/O freshwater flush

Check out this post. <br /><br /> http://forums.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=24;t=015496

 

[glasply1]

Re: I/O freshwater flush

Thanks for that reference. Will add one of these products to the boat. Already have fresh water cooling but this insert should provide even more protection against the salt water.

 

[glasply1]

Re: I/O freshwater flush

Correction - The Marine Tech quick flush is $110 for I/O installation, with 3/4" fittings. Even though it is more money than I originally thought, I think it might still be a good deal since it is all "marine" bronze with stainless steel balls! I particularly like the ability of this 3way set-up to back flush the outdrive. It also comes with a stainless strainer that can be lowered into the bilge as an emergency pump. <br />Muff type flushers would require the outdrive to be raised to put on the muff, be lowered to run the engine and flush it, then raised to remove the muff and then lowered again for storage. Thanks for all the ideas and advice.

 

[mmainelli]

Re: I/O freshwater flush

You say you're at a mooring. Since I have to assume you'll do any flushing at dock side where the fresh water is, how do you get back to your mooring without running on raw water again? Or, another question. How long a hose do you own?

 

[glasply1]

Re: I/O freshwater flush

Flushing would be done at my slip.<br />I have a very long hose!