Motor went for a swim

[joblo33]

A couple days ago I was putting a 9.8hp Merc on a tinny at my cabin and the cowling I was holding onto fell off the motor and I watched the motor sink to the bottom in 35 feet of water (luckily lake water). I quickly dove in, forgetting about the cell phone in my pocket , and pulled it up to the dock. I pulled the plugs and cranked on it with gas hooked up, plug side down for a few minutes until only gas was coming out the plug holes. I then drained the carb and put it all back together. It fired 2nd pull and for a few seconds it was spraying mist out the exhaust but that stopped and it ran normally. It's now back to starting on the 1st pull and idling fine. Is that the end of it or will the water have damaged something? So far it looks like the only damage done was a $250 cell phone. <br />Eric

 

[ntoracn@yahoo.com]

Re: Motor went for a swim

other than checking for water in the lower case, I think your fine

 

[dakk1]

Re: Motor went for a swim

Eric<br /><br />Several years ago I had 150hp IL6 go under when caught in a flash flood while still on the trailer. Fresh water but muddy. Flushed it out good and after everything dried out, it ran fine. Sold that motor to a friend and he got several more years of service out of it. I think your good to go.<br /><br />Dave..

 

[Bob H.]

Re: Motor went for a swim

The engine should be fine. Since it was quickly retrieved the bearings shouldn't have been too badly exposed to any junk in the water.

 

[KIGuy52]

Re: Motor went for a swim

There's a guy somewhere on this forum that pulled up his Mariner after it was underwater for 10 years. It still runs. Droppin' Mercs in the water every once in a while doesn't hurt 'em. Some people use 'em for anchors.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Motor went for a swim

How long did you run it after the dunk? I would run it for an hour or so to make sure all the water is gone.

 

[d.tro]

Re: Motor went for a swim

Holy Cow, you dove down 35 ft? Anything over 15 and I'd be screwed.<br />Did you swim back up with it, or hook up a rope or what?<br />As far as the cell phone, you could try immersing it in some isopropyl alcohol and setting it out to dry (might be too late now). I have heard a lot of people have been able to dry them out and they work fine.

 

[joblo33]

Re: Motor went for a swim

My boat was hooked to an anchor chain so I pulled myself down with that and looped a rope from my boat through the plastic handle on the transom mount. The cell phone seems to have revived a bit, although I might still try the alcohol idea. It turns on now but the screen area is full of water still so theres a little air bubble that moves around when I tip it. After the motor was running again I drove it for at least an hour and a half down to the boat launch down the lake and back to pick up the 14 footer. My friend was driving the tinny back and he could keep up with the 50hp on my boat when I was running at about 2/3 throttle, so I think it's running pretty well.<br />Eric