Plugged Hole = bad?

[ryanr623]

I boat on lake erie, which i have to get to by way of the maumee river (toledo, oh). Anyone who knows of the maumee knows its dirty, muddy and filled with debris.

My problem is that my alpha one water drain at the just above the lower unit nose cone is constantly getting clogged, to the point that nothing drains at all. I take wire and unclog it every time i boat, but now i want to dock it. Pretty much the hole will constantly be clogged now. Is this bad?

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Plugged Hole = bad?

My problem is that my alpha one water drain at the just above the lower unit nose cone is constantly getting clogged, to the point that nothing drains at all. I take wire and unclog it every time i boat, but now i want to dock it. Pretty much the hole will constantly be clogged now. Is this bad?

I think that you are talking about the seawater INLET. That is the water that cools your engine. Yes that is BAD. Engine will overheat!

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Plugged Hole = bad?

Are you referring to the very small hole bout 1/8" in dia. on the starbord side front of the lower unit? I am not an expert but I believe that is to drain the cavity around the lower shift shaft area. If it were to remain with water in the cavity on land and temps got below freezing could crack lower unit. It will fill with water when submerged anyways. Needs to drain when out of water.

 

[ryanr623]

Re: Plugged Hole = bad?

I think that you are talking about the seawater INLET. That is the water that cools your engine. Yes that is BAD. Engine will overheat!

No, the freshwater inlets are on the sides of the lower unit, with a "deflector" to help keep them from getting clogged. This pic is what i am talking about

 

[ryanr623]

Re: Plugged Hole = bad?

Are you referring to the very small hole bout 1/8" in dia. on the starbord side front of the lower unit? I am not an expert but I believe that is to drain the cavity around the lower shift shaft area. If it were to remain with water in the cavity on land and temps got below freezing could crack lower unit. It will fill with water when submerged anyways. Needs to drain when out of water.

Where does that cavity fill from? the propellor inlet?

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Plugged Hole = bad?

You have a lower unit off? Stand it upright and look down at the shift shaft near that stainless stud. You will see the cavity around it which runs down to that drain hole. It is open to the water when submerged. If you can't see the cavity around it then it is full of gunk.

 

[ryanr623]

Re: Plugged Hole = bad?

You have a lower unit off? Stand it upright and look down at the shift shaft near that stainless stud. You will see the cavity around it which runs down to that drain hole. It is open to the water when submerged. If you can't see the cavity around it then it is full of gunk.

No i dont, i was just curious where that cavity fills up from, I am guessing from the raw water inlets. Just like to know about everything