running fresh water cooling engine

[B.matt]

I have a new to me 1989 Sea Ray with fresh water cooling on both engines. My question is what is the proper way to run it on land. It has sea strainers instead of stern drive pump. 5/7l mercruisers and alpha drives.
Thanks

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: running fresh water cooling engine

Howdy,


Unless you have engine driven raw water pumps and thru-hull water pick-ups, you have them in the lower units.

You MUST put flush adapters on each drive and have th ewater on BEFORE you crank th engines


Regards,


Rick

 

[arks]

Re: running fresh water cooling engine

OTOH, if you do indeed have engine-mounted raw water pumps with dedicated thru hull intakes, you could buy a 'Fake-A-Lake' device, make your own, or just shut off the seacocks, pull off each intake hose, and put 'em in a bucket of water.
A garden hose will replenish the water in the bucket with about the same volume as the engine pumps it out. Just keep an eye on it so it doesn't go dry!

 

[B.matt]

Re: running fresh water cooling engine

The bucket tricksound good. The boat has sea strainers with dedicated raw water pump.

Thanks

 

[B.matt]

Re: running fresh water cooling engine

Do I still need the water pump in the drive? The inlet pipe on the transom is capped off. Everymechanic I have asked has a different answer.

Thanks

 

[Don S]

Re: running fresh water cooling engine

Everymechanic I have asked has a different answer.

So then you come to a public forum where there is differing opinions on everything.

IF, there is a good impeller in them, then yes you need water to them when running.
The water they pump may have some cooling effect on the upper. You could also take the impellers out and use the force of the water hitting the intakes to do the samething. At low speed, the upper will be in the water.

 

[B.matt]

Re: running fresh water cooling engine

I see your point about the forum, but that was the best answer yet.

Thanks

 

[missalot]

Re: running fresh water cooling engine

I have raw water pumps driven by the crankshaft with thru-hulls and strainers for water supply. I simply remove the hose between the strainer and the pump inlet, hook a garden hose to pump inlet and start em up. Been doing this for 7 years.

BTW, I took the impellers out of the drives and plugged the transom where the copper tubes used to be. So far no ill effects.