Ok to start engine out of water?

[boatingnva]

Got a '99 Bayliner with a 5.0L Merc & A1 outdrive. Before loading the boat up with all the toys on our way to the lake, I always start it and run it for a few sec, just to make sure there wont be any surprises at the lake. I never let it run more than a few moments (never more than 1 minute). I had someone tell me this was not good for the engine/impeller, so I thought I would find out here. I tried a couple of different searches, but didnt find anything.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Ok to start engine out of water?

Never start the engine without a supply of water to the drive......NEVER!.....
You will fry your impeller & char the exhaust boots......JK

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Ok to start engine out of water?

Running the motor without a water supply is very hard on the water pump impeller. They heatup and melt in a short amount of time(minutes). Buy a flushing device (AKA "earmuffs", about $5) and hook the hose up to provide a water supply. You can run it all day that way (idle speed only) without and damage to the waterpump or motor.

 

[Don S]

Re: Ok to start engine out of water?

Absolutly it damages the impeller. But it would be very easy to just hook up a hose to a set of muffs for your engine so the impeller can be lubricated and cooled when doing a test run.
When dry, you are also burning the inside of the exhaust hoses coming off the exhaust risers.

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: Ok to start engine out of water?

Cool pictures Don!...really gets the point across!

 

[boatingnva]

Re: Ok to start engine out of water?

Yes it does!!! Many thanks for the replies, gonna change my habits now!

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Ok to start engine out of water?

Think you better change your impeller also!

 

[stevieray]

Re: Ok to start engine out of water?

Also may want to check the condition of the upper pump housing - that will deform (melt) when run with no water as well.

 

[boatingnva]

Re: Ok to start engine out of water?

Boy, do I feel like a dummy. :$ Dont know how I missed that little tidbit of info, but I obviously did.

Just got my service manual this week, replacing the impeller doesnt look too bad of a job (I do all my own motorcycle maintenance, adj valves, etc). Biggest question is which imeller kit to get? Are they based on serno ranges?

Thanks

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Ok to start engine out of water?

Well, you have an Alpha 1 Gen 2........
You can look that up & get it right here @ iboats .....JK

 

[stevieray]

Re: Ok to start engine out of water?

You may want to get the kit that also includes the upper pump housing - just in case the metal got hot & bent out of shape. It has every seal & gasket you need to put it all back together plus an impeller. I don't see that one on iboats - you may have to go to a Merc parts store.

 

[boatingnva]

Re: Ok to start engine out of water?

Well, you have an Alpha 1 Gen 2........
You can look that up & get it right here @ iboats .....JK

Can you be a little more specific?

BTW, I'm not a noob to forums, just this one. :/

 

[boatingnva]

Re: Ok to start engine out of water?

You may want to get the kit that also includes the upper pump housing - just in case the metal got hot & bent out of shape. It has every seal & gasket you need to put it all back together plus an impeller. I don't see that one on iboats - you may have to go to a Merc parts store.

I found the kit here on Iboats, sounds like may be a good thing to do before it take it in to get winterized. Now just gotta make sure I get the right one.

Thanks

http://www.iboats.com/mall/partfind...id=987&cart_id=245985788&session_id=486077844

 

[stevieray]

Re: Ok to start engine out of water?

That kit is for older models with a plastic pump. Your Alpha One drive should be a Generation II based on the 99 model year - it has a metal upper housing on the pump. Suggest going to mercury marine parts website to put in your serial# & get the right part# if you want to shop it online.

 

[boatingnva]

Re: Ok to start engine out of water?

Yep, it's a Gen II (shape of skag and bolts thru top). Since I'll be taking it in for winterization, I may have the shop replace it at the same time. Thought it would be interesting to do myself.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[stevieray]

Re: Ok to start engine out of water?

It's really not a hard job if you have the right parts. In fact, that is the first repair job I did on mine by myself. You can learn a lot about the drive doing little bits at a time - like this. Removing the lower gearcase requires no special tools & pump rebuild is a good way to get your feet wet - as it were. Make sure to get a good (factory) manual first. There are links to them on other threads here - just have to look thru some older stuff to find. Good luck!

 

[Don S]

Re: Ok to start engine out of water?

Here is a link to the free online Merc manual for your drive.
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/14/14cover.pdf

Might as well do the job right the first time.

 

[boatingnva]

Re: Ok to start engine out of water?

It's really not a hard job if you have the right parts. In fact, that is the first repair job I did on mine by myself. You can learn a lot about the drive doing little bits at a time - like this. Removing the lower gearcase requires no special tools & pump rebuild is a good way to get your feet wet - as it were. Make sure to get a good (factory) manual first. There are links to them on other threads here - just have to look thru some older stuff to find. Good luck!

Thanks StevieRay, I got my service manual just recently, ordered it here from iboats. Looks kinda fun, may just havta do it.

 

[boatingnva]

Re: Ok to start engine out of water?

Here is a link to the free online Merc manual for your drive.
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/14/14cover.pdf

Might as well do the job right the first time.

Thanks Don, appreciate the link.