It's ok to spin the motor by hand, right?

gunner1

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 13, 2006
Messages
375
I fogged my outboard today but due to the fact that the motor isn't wired up because I just finished replacing the transom and haven't finished the mounting/wiring yet I simply cranked the flywheel a few times by hand to distribute the oil. This shouldn't have screwed anything up, right?
 

5150abf

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 12, 2007
Messages
5,808
Re: It's ok to spin the motor by hand, right?

Concure, you are fine, I have read that you shouldn't turn it backwards though, don't know if that is true or not but there you go.
 

gunner1

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 13, 2006
Messages
375
Re: It's ok to spin the motor by hand, right?

I thought it would be fine, I just had the idea in my head that I had read somewhere not to do it. Maybe it was in the manual somewhere and it was referring to the shift linkage removal or something. I don't know. But at least I know I'm GTG!
 

kenmyfam

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 10, 2006
Messages
14,392
Re: It's ok to spin the motor by hand, right?

Should not be an issue. Rotate the usual way though. Better safe than sorry.
 

saumon

Lieutenant
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Messages
1,452
Re: It's ok to spin the motor by hand, right?

Concure, you are fine, I have read that you shouldn't turn it backwards though, don't know if that is true or not but there you go.

The only reason why it's not recommended to turn it backward is cause, if you do so, you'll force the impeller blades the wrong way. If you let them sat for a while and then start your engine next spring, chances are good that they'll fail right away...
 

gunner1

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 13, 2006
Messages
375
Re: It's ok to spin the motor by hand, right?

The only reason why it's not recommended to turn it backward is cause, if you do so, you'll force the impeller blades the wrong way. If you let them sat for a while and then start your engine next spring, chances are good that they'll fail right away...

As you are standing at the stern of the boat facing the outboard, the "correct" way to turn the motor was clockwise, right? I mean from the ground, not inside the boat.
 

saumon

Lieutenant
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Messages
1,452
Re: It's ok to spin the motor by hand, right?

As you are standing at the stern of the boat facing the outboard, the "correct" way to turn the motor was clockwise, right? I mean from the ground, not inside the boat.

Easily said, it's clockwise if you look down at the flywheel
 

jonesg

Admiral
Joined
Feb 22, 2008
Messages
7,198
Re: It's ok to spin the motor by hand, right?

I fogged my outboard today but due to the fact that the motor isn't wired up because I just finished replacing the transom and haven't finished the mounting/wiring yet I simply cranked the flywheel a few times by hand to distribute the oil. This shouldn't have screwed anything up, right?

I do it as long as the spark plugs are out, there was a guy here 2 weeks ago who did it with the plugs in and it fired.
 

gunner1

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 13, 2006
Messages
375
Re: It's ok to spin the motor by hand, right?

I do it as long as the spark plugs are out, there was a guy here 2 weeks ago who did it with the plugs in and it fired.

I NEVER thought of that! Fortunately, I don't have a battery hooked up at the moment or fuel, but I probably would have **** my pants if something like that happened!
 

jay_merrill

Vice Admiral
Joined
Dec 5, 2007
Messages
5,653
Re: It's ok to spin the motor by hand, right?

On lots of motors, it wouldn't matter if the battery were hooked up. If you create spark in a magneto ignition motor, you're liable to get a little "pop!"



???
 

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: It's ok to spin the motor by hand, right?

that's the reason the manuals say not to turn the flywheel or prop (or lawn mower blade) by hand--unless your plugs/kill switch is out.
 

Triton II

Commander
Joined
Nov 23, 2004
Messages
2,479
Re: It's ok to spin the motor by hand, right?

... and why propellor engined aircraft are shut down by pulling the mixture lever to full lean. Stops accidental ignition if someone touchs the prop.
 
Top