going from salt water to fresh water

[tbirdkidd]

I just a 24 foot Aquasport with a 200 hp Johnson outboard (1984), I want the boat but the motor does not run, the owner said it quit because he bought it from a guy who used it in salt water and when he put it in fresh water (Lake St. Clair) the fresh water ruined the motor. Has anyone ever heard of this I always felt you could use an outboard in salt or fresh water without harming them.

 

[zarillus]

Re: going from salt water to fresh water

Hey Kidd-I am not a motor expert however that is absolutely crazy and makes no sense what the PO said.I would think fresh to salt would be worse.However none of that matters, it is totally dependent on maintance.What are the symptoms the motor is displaying?

 

[Monte1961]

Re: going from salt water to fresh water

You can tell the PO to kiss my azz tbird!

 

[Will Bark]

Re: going from salt water to fresh water

That PO has been drinking too much "kickapoo Joy Juice"!

 

[tbirdkidd]

Re: going from salt water to fresh water

Pulled it apart today and the old story motor got hot and fried number 2 and 6 cylinder, I will get into the lower tomorrow and expect to find a bad impeller. Scoared the walls a bit and burned the piston tops just might be repairable still turns over smooth. Oh one more thing this motor has 2 steering cable connections on the transum rather that one like im use to, anyone ever see that or know why, it is only a single engine but both connect to the motor.

 

[Will Bark]

Re: going from salt water to fresh water

For safety, usually 150hp and above have the double cable setup; lots of torque on the larger engines.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: going from salt water to fresh water

Putting a motor in fresh water is not going to hurt the motor. The motor was probably not well maintained from when it was in salt water and that is what has caused the break down. Saltwater environments are much more harsh on motors and outdrives than fresh water could or will ever be.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: going from salt water to fresh water

Exactly. If anything putting it in freshwater will help extend the life. Where I live, we routinely go to and from the ocean by way of the local rivers. We go from fresh to brackish to salt back to brackish and fresh again all in one trip. It's great. The river lets plenty of fresh water cycle through the motor after a day on the ocean. Saves me from having to run it in a tank to rise out all the passages when I get home.

 

[F_R]

Re: going from salt water to fresh water

Pulled it apart today and the old story motor got hot and fried number 2 and 6 cylinder, I will get into the lower tomorrow and expect to find a bad impeller. Scoared the walls a bit and burned the piston tops just might be repairable still turns over smooth. Oh one more thing this motor has 2 steering cable connections on the transum rather that one like im use to, anyone ever see that or know why, it is only a single engine but both connect to the motor.

Dual cables take the slack out of the steering system. Often used with high speed boats for that reason.

 

[tbirdkidd]

Re: going from salt water to fresh water

Thanks never knew that this site is awesome

 

[tbirdkidd]

Re: going from salt water to fresh water

Got it all apart today and to my suprise the impeller is perfect however the side with the 2 bad cylinders has a melted thermostat and it apears that the plastic melted and blocked the water flow. There was no alarm on the motor for overheating either.