Force 150 and yellow jackets

[iCam]

I have a Bayliner Arriva with a 1989 Force 150 that my neighbor finally gave up and gave to me. The boat has been sitting since 2001 out of the water. I got the engine fired up and noticed that I had no water flow. I immediately killed the engine and started to dig into it a bit more. Evidently Yellow Jackets decided to make the water outlet a BIG home. I took the back cowling, and lower unit off to pull out all the abandoned nests. I am 100% confident the lower 1/2 of the engine is yellow jacket free. I re-assembled, re-started and still no water out of the exhaust port. I also removed the plug on top of the head, and it is dry. I stopped the engine.

Now I am thinking either I did not give the pump a chance to circulate the water through the block, or there is a nest higher in the engine.

I am un-familiar with the 150 and I don't want to do a tear down if I don't have to, so my question is how far up into the engine can a yellow jacket get and make a nest? And is there a easy way that I can inspect the water jackets in the engine (ie, exhaust manifold, crank cover etc.)

I have a laser temp meter, and at most the temps got to is 115 deg, before I shut it down. I did notice my cyl. temps were uneven. #s 3 and 4 were 20 deg. higher than the rest. I am assuming if there is a blockage it may be around the #5 cyl?

 

[drpepper]

Re: Force 150 and yellow jackets

I just obtained a boat with a Force 125, which had not been started, or in the water for about 10 years. When I got it going this weekend, I was having the same problem; no water flow. I finally decided to remove the thermostat and check for proper operation. While I had the thermostat housing removed, I stuck a garden hose in to the opening and flushed the cooling system. A lot of crud flushed out of the system (although there were no Yellow Jacket nests). While I had the thermostat out, I checked it for proper operation by immersing it into hot water and watching it open, and then close when removed from the hot water. After reassembling everything, the problem seems to have been corrected; motor is running fine and no more overheating. Don?t know if this process would help or solve your problem, but you need to start somewhere, and thermostats are usually fairly easy to access, thus making it a good starting point.

Good luck!

 

[bentle]

Re: Force 150 and yellow jackets

You didn't mention what you used to get the water up the lower leg. Did you use muffs or was it a drum or large 55 plus gallon barrel of some sort? Muffs should work well enough to verify if you are getting water through your motor.

 

[bentle]

Re: Force 150 and yellow jackets

Also you may want to go ahead and replace your impeller. In fact I would start there and work
my way up from there. Check the lower legs water inlets and verify nothing has been living in
there. You may have already done that but if not then its another place those nasty little
critters can hide. If your impeller is hard and has fins that are bent over with alot of wear then that could very well be the prob. While the motor was running did you try and raise the rpms briefly
and check for water flow . Briefly I mean less than a min. Don't want to overheat.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Force 150 and yellow jackets

First change the pump/impeller.Needs to be changed at least every 2 years 1 year is best.It should have enough pressure to blow the critters out.
After the new pump,remove the thermo and check flow.

 

[iCam]

Re: Force 150 and yellow jackets

I tested with both muffs and a drum. The engine never went above 1000 rpm. The impeller is new. The water tube was a pain to get in,but eventually was seated in the leg.

I will back flush it with a hose, put the tattle tail on and test the thermo today. I will let you all know what transpires as soon as I do it.

 

[iCam]

Re: Force 150 and yellow jackets

Well I stuck a hose in the thermo hole, turned the hose on high, and after a minute something (nest?) shot out the exhaust. Now water is flowing. Thanks all for the assist. I am sure they may be a couple more coming up.