Run a Berkeley Jet dry?

[slo boat]

Hi, just finished the engine install and its ready to fire up, but i want to do so at home, break in the cam, check the electrical system, etc, before i hit the lake.<br /><br />Is it OK to run a jet outside of the water?<br /><br />If not, can I "T" in a garden hose at the water inlet from the jet, so water feeds to the engine and the jet? will that be enough?<br /><br />otherwise, drop the boat in the pool? <br /><br />Thanks!

 

[moderator1]

Re: Run a Berkeley Jet dry?

Moving to I/O forum....

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Run a Berkeley Jet dry?

I don't own an I/O jet anymore, but I owned a Kodiak engine (basically = mercruiser marinization) with an American Turbine pump. I've never heard of any alternative to putting pump in a fairly substantial pool of water - either backing into the lake or river or some mechanics have a large pool they can back them into. My understanding was/is that the pump needs water running through it which means you need to submerge the intake grate. Maybe someone else has a different opinion. Good luck.

 

[tommays]

Re: Run a Berkeley Jet dry?

berkeley has a BIG website and all maner of support why not start with the experts?<br /><br /> Sorry, Tommays, no posted links allowed..you can just say the name, but NO link.<br /><br />tommays

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Run a Berkeley Jet dry?

hello<br />I dont think the berkly stator uses a water cooled bearing but the shaft packing is water cooled. its best to back it overboard or dissconnect the pump drive coupling and use a hose on the seawater in line. however I have seen many run with just a T in the seawater in line. if the motor is set up properly it will turn over about 3 times and light off needing only a final timing adjustment and the air ful mix adjusted. if you fill the carb bowls prior to starting should never roll over more than about 5 times. try to keep the idle speed about 11-1500 for the first ten minutes or so to insure adequate lube to the cam. what motor are you running in front of that pump ?

 

[slo boat]

Re: Run a Berkeley Jet dry?

Thanks for the info everyone, I'll look around some more for a definite answer.<br /><br />I figured the only thing that water was requiered for was cooling of the packing and the bearing, since there is no other metal to metal contact(hopefully) inside the pump. I'm not sure about the the wear ring though.<br /><br />As far as the mill in front of the pump is a small block Chevy with an Engle cam and higher compression pistons. It has an old Holley 3-barrel on top(with the big oval secondary)which i think is an overkill, and Edelbrock M1 exh logs that have been converted to exit over the transom since I didn't have the risers or holes cut in the transom.

 

[navigator336]

Re: Run a Berkeley Jet dry?

The Berkeley techs I talked to back when I had a jet (early 1980's) both said to have it in the water whenever running it. As I recall it had to do with the balance of the impeller more than anything (which would imply undue wear ring or impeller wear. The main bearing is sealed and not water cooled. The bushing on the other end is in an oil bath. The packing would only need a little water to keep from burning up. <br /><br />I ran mine several times in the driveway for short periods of time with no adverse impact on the pump performance (I completely rebuilt the pump when I first bought the boat, so I was very sensitive to even minor changes in performance). When I ran it in the driveway, I would jam a hose into the intake grate and use another to feed the engine. I considered disconnecting the U joint for an extend run one time, but decided to just take it and my tools to the lake instead.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Run a Berkeley Jet dry?

still floatin,<br />Ran a set up like yours some years back. We tee'd into the water inlet as you mentioned, never had any problems. We did add a valve to regulate the flow into the motor. Use to run the valves, set the timing and stuff that way.