Start engine with no drive installed?

[a70eliminator]

I'm just curious if any damage could be caused starting without drive installed, we wouldn't run it long, just enough to effectively fog the engine, the only thing I can think of would be running with a dry engine waterpump, but it has a sealed bearing. I realize the manifolds would heat up pretty fast too, this is an OMC Cobra 4.6 it has a bad shift cable which is why the drive was pulled. The engine has been sitting all summer and I just want to hear it run and dump a can of sea foam into the carb, I just may end up owning this boat next year.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Start engine with no drive installed?

A water inlet hose(hot/cold) from a washing machine cut in half, stuffed into th water inlet opening will work.

 

[Don S]

Re: Start engine with no drive installed?

Find the hose that goes from the thermostat housing to the transom shield. Disconnect at thermostat housing. Make a hose adapter from garden hose to hose that fits on thermostat housing.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Start engine with no drive installed?

I would not unless you hook up a water hose to run through water through the engine and exhaust.
I ran mine for a very short time when the outdrive was off and I think this caused my exhaust flapper valve to fail. Because it was only 1 year old and when I ran it without outdrive to do the same thing you are wanting to do I found a chunk of exhaust flapper valve spit out the exhaust.
I had antifreeze in my engine block with fresh water cooling system.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Start engine with no drive installed?

Besides impeller needing water, which wont be a problem, the rubber exhaust hoses from the elbows need the water spray to cool them so they dont fry. If they do, you can't tell cuz they fry from the inside.

 

[mcleaves]

Re: Start engine with no drive installed?

With and engine mounted raw water pump either pull the impeller or get that in the loop.

I think what everyone is saying is get water to it

M

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Start engine with no drive installed?

Gor er done yesterday, boat was already backed into a garage up tight against the back wall, didn't want to flood out the guys garage. So I slumped over the carbureted engine with arrester cover off while Mike started the engine, I began to dribble the stuff down the carb and told him to rev it up a little, I then quickly emptied the whole bottle stalling out the engine, start to finish was no more than about 2 minutes, the engine block didn't even get warm, the manifolds just started to warm up I had my hand on them the whole time.
We talked about pulling the belt off the engine waterpump but decided to not mess with it being a steel impeller and sealed roller bearing. No harm was done no funny noises ect.

 

[guyaverage]

Re: Start engine with no drive installed?

Your water pump bearings are probably fine. Your water pump seals, on the other hand, are probably fried.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: Start engine with no drive installed?

Nope, you didn't hurt a thing! 'nutcase