Cooling question Mercruiser

[A1SlowHand]

Howdy all,
I am replacing a thermostat housing on a 1983-1984 Alpha One Mercruiser 5.7L with standard cooling. I also added a 6"inch risers. I bought a thermostat housing kit which I know came with more gaskets and such that I won't need.

The question I have concerns the "tee-ball" value. It was shipped with the thermostat kit. Is it needed? Or do I just run hoses from the thermostat housing to the risers? Does the "tee-ball" value go inside the hose? I can't find much on the internet addressing the "tee-ball" and it's usage or installation.

Any Help would be GREAT HELP.

Thanks.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Cooling question Mercruiser

Ayuh,.....

With that old of a Alpha you Need the check-balls to hold back the water,....
The Gen.II drives move more water,+ Don't need them....
They go into the T-Stat housing, in the barbs that feed the risers....

 

[Don S]

Re: Cooling question Mercruiser

I guess it's time to explain how and WHY the thermostat housings with the check balls actually work.
The do open into the hoses, but that are not to restrict flow, but to actually stop flow. Here is what happens.
When you first start the engine and the thermostat is closed, water if forced out around the check balls to the exhaust risers in order to cool the hot exhaust gasses and prevent the rubber exhaust hoses from burning up.
When the thermostat opens, water circulates thru the engine, thru the thermostat and out thru the exhaust manifolds up thru the exhaust risers then out. At that point, water pressure is basically equal on both sides of the check balls and the spring pressure on the check balls pushes them back and blocks off the water passages so that all the cooling water goes thru the engine first.
Without them, the engine could overheat due to excess flow to the risers.

 

[A1SlowHand]

Re: Cooling question Mercruiser

Thanks Don,

That was the only picture I've seen of the tee-ball value on the internet. Could be I was looking in all the wrong places too.

The explaination of how and why it works that way is a big plus in my understanding of the overall cooling system.

How tight should the balls be screwed to the tee pipe? Is the tee value subject to sticking open from trash picked up throught the raw water pump?

thanks
Ron

 

[A1SlowHand]

Re: Cooling question Mercruiser

How about it Don, anymore information on the tee-ball?

 

[Don S]

Re: Cooling question Mercruiser

How tight should the balls be screwed to the tee pipe?

Don't have a clue, didn't know they were adjustable. The only ones I have seen had a long, brass, skinny, bolt with just a few threads on the end for the nut.

Anything in the system can clog up if it gets enough garbage in it.

 

[A1SlowHand]

Re: Cooling question Mercruiser

That's almost what I have. I have a spring between the ball and the locknut, with enought threads to really crank it down tight. I think I will start with enought pressure on the spring to keep non-pressurized water from leaking then go from there.

Thanks once again for your help and input.

Ron

 

[DockedPay]

Re: Cooling question Mercruiser

Hello, new to the forum. Just wanted to thank Don S. for that diagram and explaination. Im having an overheating problem at the moment with my 5.7 merc...( see "my first thread..merc overheating")!..