Do I need to use muffs on my boat?

[bozzman3]

Hello All,I have a 1997 Mercruiser 5.7 Alpha 1 gen 2 outdrive.It has a fresh water cooling kit with a raw water pump on the engine.I know that I need to supply freshwater to that pump when running the boat out of water but do I need to supply the outdrive using the muffs also?Since the pump in the outdrive does not supply the engine with raw water what purpose does it serv?

 

[tommays]

Re: Do I need to use muffs on my boat?

The outdrive pump supplys water to the oil cooling cavity in the upper section of the drive

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Do I need to use muffs on my boat?

ALWAYS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Use muffs.If you don't then you will burn up the raw water pump.Jerry

 

[bozzman3]

Re: Do I need to use muffs on my boat?

So if I have started the boat without the muffs on have I damaged the outdrive pump?It ran a total of maybe 60 seconds and during that time it was started and stopped 3 times.If the outdrive pump is now bad what are the problems I might have if I continue to use the boat with a bad outdrive pump?Thanks for the fast replie.

 

[Don S]

Re: Do I need to use muffs on my boat?

Being as it's a Gen II drive, the impeller will probably be fine for what it has to cool now (just the upper gear housing). Keep an eye on the gear lube, if it starts turning real dark or black (burned) you should be ok. Just check it during normal winterization when you are changing gear lube and pulling the drive.

 

[bozzman3]

Re: Do I need to use muffs on my boat?

ALWAYS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Use muffs.If you don't then you will burn up the raw water pump.Jerry

Thanks Jerry,I know that but my question was more about what function my outdrive pump serves me in my particular application.

 

[bozzman3]

Re: Do I need to use muffs on my boat?

Being as it's a Gen II drive, the impeller will probably be fine for what it has to cool now (just the upper gear housing). Keep an eye on the gear lube, if it starts turning real dark or black (burned) you should be ok. Just check it during normal winterization when you are changing gear lube and pulling the drive.

Wow this forum rocks!!! Fast answers from great people!!! So to sum it all up use the muffs and watch my out drive oil for abnormal signs.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Do I need to use muffs on my boat?

What Don means is gen 2 pumps are more durable and more forgiving than gen 1 pumps.
60 seconds with no water is still a long time.
All you can do is dunk the boat and hope for the best.
If it starts to overheat you know where your problem is.
Keep an eye on that gauge!!

 

[Don S]

Re: Do I need to use muffs on my boat?

He's not going to overheat Jason, he has in engine mounted pump. The outdrive pump is not cooling the engine in his application. Just the drive.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Do I need to use muffs on my boat?

i stand corrected.....
i was just scanning the post and missed the part about the freshwater cooling kit the first time around.
neeeeeeed...... mooooreee..... cooooffeeeeee.....