Submerged o/b yesterday salt water--help!

[surftrish]

For the complete story--see post in "stupid human tricks" forum. Motor is a '83 Johnson 50 hp. I just had it rebuilt. It was submerged in salt water for about 30-45 minutes yesterday. After getting it out of the water, I bought new spark plugs and some starter fluid. We did the routine of turning over motor, removing plugs & drying them, turning over motor w/out the plugs, and then with the dry plugs again. There was still no spark after many hours of doing this but everything seems to be turning over ok. Is there something else I need to be doing? I know it's important to get the motor running right away. Thanks

 

[Jacques321]

Re: Submerged o/b yesterday salt water--help!

Hi,<br />I found this information on a GOOGLE search.<br /><br />Hope this helps:<br /><br />Servicing after submersion<br />1. Remove engine cover and rinse powerhead with fresh water<br />2. Disconnect spark plug leads and remove spark plugs<br />3. Disconnect fuel lines from engine. Drain and clean all fuel lines and fuel tank<br />4. Place engine in horizontal position (spark plug openings down) and work all<br />water out by slowly rotating flywheel about 20 times or until there is no sign of<br />water<br />5. Drain carburetor: place engine in upright position and remove carburettor for<br />disassembly and draining<br />6. Disassemble, clean and flush the starter, electrical connectors and all<br />electrical equipment with fresh water. Then treat them with a water displacing<br />electrical spray and thoroughly dry them before assembly<br />7. Inject outboard lubricant into spark plug holes<br />8. If engine shows evidence that sand may have entered it (sand under the<br />engine cover or a slight grinding or scraping when the flywheel is rotated) do<br />not attempt to start the engine. It must be disassembled and cleaned.<br />9. Reassemble the parts. Start the engine and run for 30 minutes in fresh water.<br />10. If engine fails to start, remove spark plugs again and see if water is present on<br />electrodes, if so, blow out water and reinstall or replace with new plugs.<br />Repeat starting procedure

 

[Scoop]

Re: Submerged o/b yesterday salt water--help!

Trish, this may help. I found the link in an old post. I searched on submerged on this site. <br /> http://www.brokeboats.com/sunk.html

 

[my new fishmaster]

Re: Submerged o/b yesterday salt water--help!

Yeah first thing take out the plugs then turn flywheel over by hand most clockwise. Make sure there is no water then let the sucker dry out shoot some engine oil storage in the cyl real good. Chances are it will still run but let it dry out first so there's no chance short.

 

[surftrish]

Re: Submerged o/b yesterday salt water--help!

Thanks guys. Still working on it. I've tried all the suggestions and it's still not starting. I think it could be something small but have to take it to the shop today because i'm stumped. It was only submerged for minutes, if at all, and was not running when it happened. I still have faith.

 

[kev_alaska]

Re: Submerged o/b yesterday salt water--help!

Make sure that you have the entire electrical system sprayed down with some type of moisture removing spray. West Marine carries several types of spray for this. The most effective I have found is called "Corrosion Block". Kind of spendy, but it will remove moisture and dry out electrical components. It also leaves a film on the electrical components the protects them from further damage in case you don't get it running asap. This spray will give you some time to diagnose before more corrosion hits the electrical system...good luck<br /><br />Kev_Alask***

 

[G DANE]

Re: Submerged o/b yesterday salt water--help!

Surftrish<br /><br />This is the time you HAVE to get it started, or disassembled. You cant get the water out of the bearings and every little edge of motor. At an authorized dealer, they would use ignition from another motor to get it started and run it under load 30 mins. Spary with fogging oil now and then. Its finding the error and starting now - or disassembling now, otherwise you will get serious damage to cranck, rods and bearings.

 

[DJ]

Re: Submerged o/b yesterday salt water--help!

surftrish,<br /><br />G DANE is absolutly correct. The clock is ticking.<br /><br />Try unplugging every connection that you can find. Pay special attention to the large one that connects inside the cowl from the control box. <br /><br />Also carefully inspect any fuses that you come across. Better yet, replace them.

 

[Walker]

Re: Submerged o/b yesterday salt water--help!

Check that your safety lanyard is installed on the kill switch. I know this sounds elementary but I get boats in all the time like that.

 

[G DANE]

Re: Submerged o/b yesterday salt water--help!

I forgot:<br /><br />This sometimes helps. After flushing complete motor externally under hood with freshwater ( beware of more water in intake and carbs ! ) try drying the electrical with a hairdryer. It sometimes brings the spark back.<br /><br />If you dont succeed, better take it to a shop right away, or it will be damaged.

 

[surftrish]

Re: Submerged o/b yesterday salt water--help!

Gave up and took it to the shop yesterday. Was told that the power pack was ruined and needs replacing--that's why it wasn't firing. That should be replaced this morning and hopefully it will be running today. I'll keep you updated. Thanks for all help--I make my mechanic read this stuff (whether he thinks he needs it or not).

 

[gateway]

Re: Submerged o/b yesterday salt water--help!

You said it was under water for 30 to 45 min...thats longer than a few min.

 

[surftrish]

Re: Submerged o/b yesterday salt water--help!

The whole thing is a blur to me...it all happened so fast! Anyway--motor is running! Needs carbs rebuilt and then should be ok to take out again. I'll be more aware of the surf from those darn hurricanes next time. Hopefully i've learned something from all of this.

 

[poppopfishes2002]

Re: Submerged o/b yesterday salt water--help!

just a thought.WD40 works great for water displacment it will actually dry water right up and leave a little oil coverage use it on DC current connections all the time.

 

[bruoff]

Re: Submerged o/b yesterday salt water--help!

Hey Trish, The wind isn't too bad today to run<br />the motor for a while. I don't know where you launch, but Craig Park here in Tarpon Springs is well protected. It may be later than would be recommended, but I'd run the motor for at least<br />30 minutes to try to heat it up and dry all those places where moisture hides. Just leave the transom tie-downs on, back it in like you were going to launch, not too deep, and run her on the trailer. That way if she stops you're not in the middle of the Bayou. Heck if you can give me a time, my wife and I might come give you a hand or<br />a sympathetic ear. (Yes I sunk on once), freshwater though, the old Merc never ran better after I flushed it out!!<br /><br />Bob

 

[surftrish]

Re: Submerged o/b yesterday salt water--help!

Thanks Tarpon Bob--nice to hear from a neighbor. I don't have the boat back yet--it's at "Doc of the Bay" on US 19. The motor is running though so i'm happy about that. Don't know that i'll have it back by the week-end either but it looks like there's another storm coming and i'd like to avoid a repeat of last week-end. My common sense is lacking--if I have the boat, I will take it out.

 

[ehaskins]

Re: Submerged o/b yesterday salt water--help!

Hehe Trish,<br /><br /> Say hi to the Troll.... hmmm on second thought pay for your repair before saying that I do alot of web/networking for a couple shops in the tampa area and they all refer to the parts guy there as Troll. <br /><br />Have fun<br /><br />Eric

 

[surftrish]

Re: Submerged o/b yesterday salt water--help!

Paid for the repairs--wasn't too bad. I did take the boat out yesterday and it was a beautiful day. I think it was the first time in about 8 weeks that I haven't had to be towed in. The motor is really lagging though. I push the controls forward and it takes a long time for the message to get to the motor and for it to kick in. I thought it might be the control cables but someone said there could still be some water in the carbs.