2002 135hp Mercury Optimax freezing

[Augwen]

Hello All,
As this is the best time of the year to fish(my thoughts) I am out a lot. I am having trouble wit the motor freezing up and not peeing. It is stored in a heated area when not in use but is freezing up when it goes out. What do I do to stop this and what part is actually freezing? I check the discharge hole and it does not seem to have anything in it. After being in the water a while it seems to thaw out but not after heating up the impeller. Thanx

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: 2002 135hp Mercury Optimax freezing

Augwen, What do you mean by: "freezing"? The water freezes, or turns to ice? The motor freezes up and won't run? I believe this vintage motor has a thermostat that would stop the tell tale (temporarily). Is that what you mean by freezing? JR

 

[Augwen]

Re: 2002 135hp Mercury Optimax freezing

Morning JR, The motor does not freeze. We think it is the water somewhere in the water stream that freezes internally. If you start it and let it warm up (it is not peeing at this point)it will thaw out and start peeing again. We have had to replace the impeller twice because of this. The motor starts beeoing at us that it is over temp at the impeller. We can sit in the water and it will eventually thaw whatever is freezing but that sometimes takes a lot of time that could be spent fishing.Thanks for the help...Augwen

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 2002 135hp Mercury Optimax freezing

what is the air and water temperature, when it does this.

 

[Augwen]

Re: 2002 135hp Mercury Optimax freezing

Outside air is between 20 and 25 degrees, water temperature is around 45...

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 2002 135hp Mercury Optimax freezing

When you bring the boat inside, has the engine had a chance to drain. If you tilt the motor up before bringing the boat out of the water and its not tilted down again until you launch again, the trip to the water could allow trapped water to freeze in the engine. The engine must be vertical to fully drain.

 

[Augwen]

Re: 2002 135hp Mercury Optimax freezing

We actually tilt it up to load, put it back down while sitting, put it back up to travel and then put it down for storage. So it seems to get completely drained. We thought that was the problem so we actually raised and lowered repeatedly to prevent that. It still would not pee right away in the cold temperatures.

 

[KCLOST]

Re: 2002 135hp Mercury Optimax freezing

I'd like the serial number for you motor....

You may have a poppet valve problem... But I need to make sure...

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: 2002 135hp Mercury Optimax freezing

I can't begin to stress what an incredibly bad idea it is to take that motor out in those temperatures. Even if the motor does warm up at low speed, once you push the throttle over 1/2, there is nothing but freezing water bypasing the thermostatically controlled circuit. Freezing water pushing through a warm block? The aluminum shrinks very rapidly and chances of destroying the powerhead are all but absolutely certain. Ever consider ice fishing?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 2002 135hp Mercury Optimax freezing

He says the water temperature is 45 degrees. Hardly freezing. Its the air temperature that's freezing. I'm not convinced there is a freezing problem with this engine.

 

[Augwen]

Re: 2002 135hp Mercury Optimax freezing

I'd like the serial number for you motor....

You may have a poppet valve problem... But I need to make sure...

 

[Augwen]

Re: 2002 135hp Mercury Optimax freezing

Some good input so far but am still not sure what is happening to make it freeze. It has to be holding a small pocket of water somewhere, but where? The serial number is OT484710/135XL SWB...