Cross Flow Thermostat Access

[epjman]

Access to the thermostats on a bubble back cross flow motor is somewhat obstructed to say the least. While I had my power head removed for rebuild I made some modifications to the lower engine cover to allow easier access to this area in the future, see photos. I used rivets to secure the rear portion of the cover which can be easily drilled out for removal and either replaced with new rivets or screws with locking nuts. I would recommend using a silicone sealant to fill the gap created by the cut or you will get a slight whistling sound when operating at WOT. http://picasaweb.google.com/epjman/TstatAccess?authkey=Gv1sRgCMzdzoSs05rOmQE#5569100982620031666

Eric

 

[blimp]

Re: Cross Flow Thermostat Access

Awesome, that is a great fix to a design flaw on those things.

 

[boobie]

Re: Cross Flow Thermostat Access

That is just SUPER. To bad OMC didn't build something like that into that mtr years ago. Sure would have saved me a lot of trouble.

 

[levi_tsk]

Re: Cross Flow Thermostat Access

im gonna have to do the thermostats on my 1981 140 would you mind going into a little more detail on this mod it looks good im just wondering how you cut the inside bottom of that cowl? isn't there a lip down there?

 

[joejoe7716]

Re: Cross Flow Thermostat Access

Thats funny..... did the same on my 97 115...but you did a better job.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: Cross Flow Thermostat Access

A really nice, clean job. Really resolve the headache of working on the stat housing. Great idea.

 

[epjman]

Re: Cross Flow Thermostat Access

I'm the 3rd owner of the motor and I've owned it for about 18 months, hadn't replaced the t-stats during that time and I believe it caused motor failure, broken rings on cylinder #1. I decided to rebuild the power head myself and while disassembling realized that this lower engine cover was a solid piece and you really can't remove it with out removing the power head and even then it's difficult and access to the t-stat and lower exhaust cover/manifold are difficult to access as well. I removed lower plastic trim covers, placed a piece of duct tape in the areas of the cut and using a saws-all with metal cutting blade slowly made the cuts. To secure the piece back in place a used pieces of aluminum I had laying around trimmed to fit and shaped with hammer to follow the contour and secured with aluminum rivets. I had planned to use screws and locking nuts but the rivets worked out great and for future access can be easily drilled out and replaced. I really don't see how someone could have accessed the t-stat housing and reinstalled under the original configuration. I posted another photo of the t-stats, I don't think they where working or where ever replaced. http://picasaweb.google.com/epjman/TstatAccess?authkey=Gv1sRgCMzdzoSs05rOmQE#

Eric

 

[boobie]

Re: Cross Flow Thermostat Access

Geeez, those t-stats don't look bad to me LOL!!!!

 

[1fishbone]

Re: Cross Flow Thermostat Access

Geeez, those t-stats don't look bad to me LOL!!!!

Naw, nothing wrong there, they look good to go

 

[levi_tsk]

Re: Cross Flow Thermostat Access

wow those where fried !!!!!!!!
so you cut the lower cowl when it was still off the motor then?

 

[epjman]

Re: Cross Flow Thermostat Access

The lower cowl was still on the motor, I was having trouble removing the power head from the exhaust adapter but thats another post. once you remove the plastic trim pieces it was easy to insert the saws-all up from the bottom and cut up towards the top. I used duct tape on the surface to protect the paint surface. Even after I cut out the piece it was still difficult to remove the other portion of the cover, it's a real poor design newer models are split in the middle fore and aft.

 

[levi_tsk]

Re: Cross Flow Thermostat Access

alright ill give it a roll then thanks for the info epjman im probably gonna use a metabo to cut it though because itll zip through the cowl with no risk of breaking it like a sawzall could


wonder if the bolt pattern is the same for the two ? probably not huh??