Ideas of things to hold water to drop motor into?

jskise3

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May 30, 2012
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Instead of muffs what are some inexpensive ideas of something suitable to fill with water and drop motor in... Garbage can wasnt quite large enuff
 

ronward

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Re: Ideas of things to hold water to drop motor into?

I use a plastic 55 gal drum cut down just enuf to clear transom clamps on motor. I can adjust the height for my different motors by using 2x4 under the barrel to lift it or by lowering the trailer jack to bring the motor higher. A 30 gal trash can should be plenty big enuf for any motor...prop up the trash can or raise/lower trailer jack to get the pump in enuf water.
 
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emdsapmgr

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Re: Ideas of things to hold water to drop motor into?

That can/drun will heat up quickly, once the engine starts running. In order to keep the engine cool, put a running garden hose in the can and let it overflow when the engine is running.
 

boobie

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Re: Ideas of things to hold water to drop motor into?

55 gal drum is still the best idea for any motor.
 

ronward

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Re: Ideas of things to hold water to drop motor into?

+1. if you need to run it for an extended period in the barrel it will need constant fresh cool water. find a high spot in your yard to put the barrel and move the boat to it or you will soon be standing in a pond
 

ronward

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Re: Ideas of things to hold water to drop motor into?

if you run it in a barrel/trash can be very careful not to accidentally throw it in reverse. it will take about 1/10th of a second to destroy the barrel AND an aluminum prop. don't ask me how I know this. and be careful about forward as well...you will VERY quickly empty the barrel.
 

beason

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Re: Ideas of things to hold water to drop motor into?

someone should make something similar to a above ground pool, but for boats it could be stood up around the lower so it can be taller and hold more water.
 

ronward

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Re: Ideas of things to hold water to drop motor into?

they already have. they call it a 55 gallon drum . you drill a hole near the base to put a boat plug in and it makes it portable. novel idea but it works. for ANY motor no less
 

ronward

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Re: Ideas of things to hold water to drop motor into?

maybe we should name it a "motor pool" and patent it. I'm sure nobody else has ever thought of it
 

beason

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Re: Ideas of things to hold water to drop motor into?

Will a Volvo dp fit into a 55 gal drum? It's a big ole thing.
 

minuteman62-64

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Apr 12, 2011
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Re: Ideas of things to hold water to drop motor into?

I use a 33 gallon trash can sitting on two concrete blocks laid side by side. The blocks raise the trash can enough so I can submerge the water intake. Keep a trickle of water running into the can to make up for the water that blows off via the tell-tale.
 

Sea Rider

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Re: Ideas of things to hold water to drop motor into?

Something like this works fantastic well, install a spout on lower plastic barrel, connect a water hose to it and then to house drainage if that's ok with law regulations if any. While motor is on stand, pivot it fully, insert barrell, fill with water, once filled and engine is on, leave spout open while re filling with fresh water, will have colder water recirculating inside barrel with much better temp for engine. Once finished, empty barrel through hose, pivot engine fully again, release it from barrel.

Down issue, as there's always a down issue, with constant use barrel wall will be highly oil messed from combustion leftovers, worst if being a 2 strokes. Oily messy and not particular friendly to look or clean. After experiencing this filthy flushing method for some time and being a 2 stroke lover, muffs all the way.

You can even make a proper size box, place it under tail, flush engine on with muffs, all oily water drainage from engine will be discarded as same barrel example.

Happy Boating
 

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minuteman62-64

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Re: Ideas of things to hold water to drop motor into?

Something like this works fantastic well, install a spout on lower plastic barrel, connect a water hose to it and then to house drainage if that's ok with law regulations if any. While motor is on stand, pivot it fully, insert barrell, fill with water, once filled and engine is on, leave spout open while re filling with fresh water, will have colder water recirculating inside barrel with much better temp for engine. Once finished, empty barrel through hose, pivot engine fully again, release it from barrel.

Down issue, as there's always a down issue, with constant use barrel wall will be highly oil messed from combustion leftovers, worst if being a 2 strokes. Oily messy and not particular friendly to look or clean. After experiencing this filthy flushing method for some time and being a 2 stroke lover, muffs all the way.

You can even make a proper size box, place it under tail, flush engine on with muffs, all oily water drainage from engine will be discarded as same barrel example.

Happy Boating

I use a short piece of hose as a siphon. Let it run over some landscaping - even with a 2-stroke there's not enough petro product to cause a problem as long as the application is intermittent (that's landscaping, not edible food crops).
 

Home Cookin'

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Re: Ideas of things to hold water to drop motor into?

keg tubs work.

Also a sealed plastic barrel about 55 gallons, on its side, with a hole cut in but leave as much of the side as you can, behind the prop, to contain splashing if you put it in gear. The top hole should be at the bottom when it's on its side for draining.
 

airshot

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Re: Ideas of things to hold water to drop motor into?

If you have any farmers in the area look for an old metal stock tank. These were oblong galv steel that were filled with water for the livestock to drink. Lots of old farms have a couple of these laying around, may have a rusted hole that you could patch for temporary use.
In my youth days (long time back) my OB mechanic used one of these to test run the motors, kept a lid on the back half to keep the splash from emptying the tank.
 

theoldwizard1

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Feb 25, 2014
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Re: Ideas of things to hold water to drop motor into?

I used to have one of these:

Rubbermaid? Structural Foam Stock Tanks, 100 gal. Capacity - Tractor Supply Co.

It was deep enough to bury the water intake n a 175 hp Johnson. It has a knockout you can plumb to attach a drain hose.
These are really the perfect solution !

I was able to buy a 45 gallon Sterilite storage box (36" L x 21" W x 19" H) for under $20 that I'm hopping will work on my 115 hp Merc 4 stroke. It is pretty flimsy plastic so I need to make a cradle out of 2x4 to prevent the sides from blowing out.
 
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