MerCruiser (I/O) cooling system plugs with sand

[amuller]

In going through this for the first time I found the water inlet hose packed with sand. It could not possibly have been getting much if any cooling.

On our first outing we got into a shallow silty area and again I found lots of sand in the cooling system.

There is no strainer on the intake and one of the fittings has an orifice about 1/8", presumably to limit flow rate.

Is this a common problem with this model or with outdrives generally? What's the solution? Should I put a strainer in the hose from the transom to the engine?

Thanks for any info.

Alan

 

[Bondo]

Re: MerCruiser (I/O) cooling system plugs with sand

There is no strainer on the intake and one of the fittings has an orifice about 1/8", presumably to limit flow rate.

Ayuh,... What Mercruiser are We talkin' about,..??
Can't think of Any with a 1/8" passage in the cooling system...

Btw,... With ANY boat, when you pump Mud into the cooling system,...
It gets Plugged up....

 

[amuller]

Re: MerCruiser [90hp!] (I/O) cooling system plugs with sand

Re: MerCruiser [90hp!] (I/O) cooling system plugs with sand

Oh Sorry. It's the 90 horsepower Renault setup. 1972. Don't know why I left that out.

The brass hose fitting on the inner transom casting--not sure of proper term-for the water feed hose to the plastic "check valve" gizmo has about an eight-inch orifice in it. I'm assuming this is actually the correct fitting but am not certain.

Thanks.

Alan