Motor in a barrel

sidney gibson

Recruit
Joined
Nov 4, 2005
Messages
4
Motor in a barrel

Dear everyone,<br /> I have a 1993 Evinrude 70 horse engine and it does great. I would like to start it at home, in my 55 gallon drum. Prior times I left the prop on, and when I put it in gear, it sloshed water out and the overheat horn went off.<br /><br /> Is it ok to take the prop off and put it in gear? I have not been fishing for a while and this is a quick fix to keep the engine running ok.<br /><br />Thank you all,<br /><br /> Sauger man
 

mrbell83

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 23, 2005
Messages
148
Re: Motor in a barrel

Re: Motor in a barrel

If it were me, I would not run it with the prop off. Aside from that, why do you need to put it in gear? If you are getting it ready for summer just starting it and makeing sure all systems are a go should be good enough.
 

Solittle

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Apr 28, 2002
Messages
7,518
Re: Motor in a barrel

Re: Motor in a barrel

Use muffs on the end of a hose.
 

sidney gibson

Recruit
Joined
Nov 4, 2005
Messages
4
Re: Motor in a barrel

Re: Motor in a barrel

Thank you for your reply.<br /><br /> I always start it at least once a month with the muffs; I just want to check and confirm that the gears are working also. I know that if I leave it in neutral, the prop does not turn, so I just wanted to make sure that everything in the lower unit works. I guess when I get out on the water this week, I will find out if it is ok.<br />Thank you men for your replys.<br />Saugerman
 

mrbell83

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 23, 2005
Messages
148
Re: Motor in a barrel

Re: Motor in a barrel

In my opinion if there was nothing wrong with the gears last year and you change the oil yearly I wouldn't see any reason that you would have to do a test like that. Just my.02
 

DHPMARINE

Captain
Joined
Dec 16, 2003
Messages
3,688
Re: Motor in a barrel

Re: Motor in a barrel

For your own piece of mind,use the barrel,put in forward,if it goes in gear,return to neutral and shut it off.Refill the barrel,restart and do the same in reverse.<br /><br />If you pull the prop and run it,you probably won't even notice it going into gear.<br /><br />You could also run in a barrel with muffs on if that suits your testing better.<br /><br />DHP
 

ElRipper

Cadet
Joined
Mar 5, 2008
Messages
10
Re: Motor in a barrel

Re: Motor in a barrel

They make a special prop for barrel running. You can put a load on your gears, shaft etc, and rap up your rpm without splashing the barrel empty.
Muffs are ok for idling and short runs, but NO gearing with a muff !! the gears and prop have to have a load on them. Dont run your motor on your muffs more than 8 to 10 minutes and not at high rpm, bad idea without a load on your pistions, etc, :cool:
 

F_R

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
28,226
Re: Motor in a barrel

Re: Motor in a barrel

A test prop would be futile in this case. We are talking about a 70hp motor in a 55 gallon drum. Test props are for commercial test tanks.
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: Motor in a barrel

Re: Motor in a barrel

i run mine on muffs, then at idle just bump it into gear, for a minute, and back to neutral, when the prop stops, you can do the same for reverse. but only at idle.
 
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