how to test blower?

imraan47

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Sep 18, 2009
Messages
315
Hello.

I was wondering if there is a way to test the blower that it is sucking out the fumes. The blower does work but there is continuous squeaky sound. I also some how doubt that the fumes are being sucked out. Perhaps i can create some sort of smoke that i can see, maybe with incense? so that i can see if its getting sucked out?
 

smokeonthewater

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
9,838
Re: how to test blower?

squeaky sound = bearings in motor are shot.... these things are cheap.... throw it in the trash and get a new one..... next to test put your hand over the end of the hose..... it will be plainly obvious if it is working.... honestly just verify that the hoses are in good shape and not kinked or plugged and get a new blower......skip the smoke in bilge test....
 

themaniam1

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 4, 2009
Messages
127
Re: how to test blower?

Yep, what smokeonthewater said. Put hand in front of hose outlet vent and you should feel it working. Make sure the hoses are not kinked or smashed. Buy a new blower motor. Very easy to replace.
 

arks

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Nov 7, 2002
Messages
1,936
Re: how to test blower?

Yeah, if you can't easily feel the air moving from a vent, get a new one.
Keep in mind that some boats have both intake and discharge vents, so the air could be moving either way.
A proper blower setup will have the blower pushing air OUT of the bilge thru round flexible ducting (looks like dryer vent hose).
 

imraan47

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Sep 18, 2009
Messages
315
Re: how to test blower?

Blower looks like it works but the tubing (whatever that is called) are torn in some area's so should i replace it or not?
IMG_1043.jpg


IMG_1044.jpg


Should i be concerned about this..its all looks milky frothy yellow discharge. boat was winterized still is.
IMG_1048.jpg
 

smokeonthewater

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
9,838
Re: how to test blower?

if the hose is damaged replace it... if the blower squeals replace it... can't make out anything from the pic of "goo"
 

RickJ6956

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 18, 2009
Messages
349
Re: how to test blower?

The goo looks like partially emulsified motor oil or lubricant. Could be engine fogging oil from the winterization. Get some shop towels, wipe it all off, and verify that nothing is leaking.

What are those thin light-colored wires attached to the battery?
 

imraan47

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Sep 18, 2009
Messages
315
Re: how to test blower?

The goo looks like partially emulsified motor oil or lubricant. Could be engine fogging oil from the winterization. Get some shop towels, wipe it all off, and verify that nothing is leaking.

What are those thin light-colored wires attached to the battery?

wiring for the bow light and bilge and also re-wiried other switches. i didn't get it done properly..still figuring out where it should be going rather than the battery directly.
 

Fl_Richard

Lieutenant
Joined
Jan 21, 2005
Messages
1,428
Re: how to test blower?

Good call on re-wiring that mess. Those wires are WAY too small and will catch fire if (when) you short them out.
 

NYBo

Admiral
Joined
Oct 23, 2008
Messages
7,107
Re: how to test blower?

wiring for the bow light and bilge and also re-wiried other switches. i didn't get it done properly..still figuring out where it should be going rather than the battery directly.
Run a heavy (10 or 8 ga.) wire from each battery terminal to a fuse block under the dash. Use ring terminals at the battery, and use a 40 or 50 amp fuse near the battery on the positive feed. Then attach the individual device wires to separate fused circuits at the fuse block.

Fuse blocks

Or use a branch panel to take the place of a fuse block AND your current switches.

Branch panels
 

imraan47

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Sep 18, 2009
Messages
315
Re: how to test blower?

Sounds simple but really confused with electrical work. So i have been reading here and there. Definitely need to wire this up properly.

are the individual devices (bilge, blower etc) hooked up to the same fuse block that goes under the dash as you mentioned? I dont understand where both the wires from the device goes..i mean i know that hot would go into fuse then what about ground?

Run a heavy (10 or 8 ga.) wire from each battery terminal to a fuse block under the dash. Use ring terminals at the battery, and use a 40 or 50 amp fuse near the battery on the positive feed. Then attach the individual device wires to separate fused circuits at the fuse block.

Fuse blocks

Or use a branch panel to take the place of a fuse block AND your current switches.

Branch panels
 

smokeonthewater

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
9,838
Re: how to test blower?

you would have 2 terminal blocks... one for negative and one for ground.... you can also put a ground strip in the rear near the battery for a total of 3... then all positive comes from the positive strip through a fuse and switch to the item you are powering.... the negative can go to either strip.
 

4JawChuck

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 7, 2009
Messages
504
Re: how to test blower?

Is that an old seat belt used to retain the battery?

I wouldn't let that hit the water until you spend some time getting all those problems sorted out, you have a fire hazard waiting for a victim there.

Start with a new blower and hose assy and then pull all that wiring and sort it out and get it off the floor, then I would check that carb out and maybe have it rebuilt before you go out on the water.

Seriously be careful, you have a nightmare there. I thought my boat was bad when I got it!:eek:
 

joker650

Cadet
Joined
Oct 15, 2009
Messages
29
Re: how to test blower?

If you are not experianced with electrical take it to a shop.
Spend some money to prevent a catastrophy on the water.:eek:
 

imraan47

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Sep 18, 2009
Messages
315
Re: how to test blower?

If you are not experianced with electrical take it to a shop.
Spend some money to prevent a catastrophy on the water.:eek:

I'm getting lots of help here so i will tackle this on my own. Still 1 month before i hit the water anyway.
I will be going to the boat today so lets see how much i can get done.
 

NYBo

Admiral
Joined
Oct 23, 2008
Messages
7,107
Re: how to test blower?

you would have 2 terminal blocks... one for negative and one for ground.... you can also put a ground strip in the rear near the battery for a total of 3... then all positive comes from the positive strip through a fuse and switch to the item you are powering.... the negative can go to either strip.
Yeah, I forgot to mention the separate negative block(s).:redface:

To clarify a bit: The positive lead for anything that uses a switch on the dash would be connected to the positive fuse block under the dash. The only things I can think of that should be connected in or near the battery compartment would be the float switch for the bilge pump and an aft-mounted 12V accessory outlet ("cigarette lighter"). These would need their own separate fuses near the battery, though. You would hook up the negative lead to whichever negative block results in the shorter wire run to the accessory. For example, you would hook the negative for the bilge pump to the aft block, and the negative for the instrument lights to the one under the dash.
 

smokeonthewater

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
9,838
Re: how to test blower?

also... do not just run each wire directly.... determine a path... not the shortest but rather the best path .... just like the roads in a subdivision.... you don't drive too the front gate... you go down your driveway directly to the road that your neighbors all take to the next road that goes to a main road that goes to a highway..... So from the dash you have the main highway with ALL the wires in it... it goes back to the back of the boat... then a main road branches off at the rear corner while the highway continues across the rear to the next intersection and so forth.... Buy a BIG bag of wire ties with screw holes and a bunch of STAINLESS screws..... leave the wire ties very loose as you hang them so you can keep adding wires..... only cinch them down and nip after everything is done and tested.
 

imraan47

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Sep 18, 2009
Messages
315
Re: how to test blower?

Yeah, I forgot to mention the separate negative block(s).:redface:

To clarify a bit: The positive lead for anything that uses a switch on the dash would be connected to the positive fuse block under the dash. The only things I can think of that should be connected in or near the battery compartment would be the float switch for the bilge pump and an aft-mounted 12V accessory outlet ("cigarette lighter"). These would need their own separate fuses near the battery, though. You would hook up the negative lead to whichever negative block results in the shorter wire run to the accessory. For example, you would hook the negative for the bilge pump to the aft block, and the negative for the instrument lights to the one under the dash.

Thats odd..i looked closely under dash and took some pics. The cig lighter is down there along with a fuse block. I took all guages out to get the dash pannel out because i am getting that replaced. Now the thing is i'd rather install new switches as a branch fuse panel (http://www.iboats.com/Seadog-Vertic...06110863--**********.956121477--view_id.49304) but i don't know where i should install that as there isnt much room..but i was thinking on the side just before the shifter (as you can see in the picture i have put a red box). should this area be ok or any other area is better??

IMG_1004.jpg


underdashfuse2.jpg
 
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