Water from prop and engine

scatgo

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 13, 2014
Messages
370
Just put the out drive on my boat today. Alpha one. Got the hose with the ear muff looking things hooked up to it and ran the engine. everything looked fine but i was getting water form the prop. after looking into that that should be fine. it looks like the water should flow around the forward gear carrier and out the back of the carrier with means out the prop. After that I saw water coming out the engine all over the starter. Even with that things seemed fine. Water temp stayed steady at 160 at idle. After I shut it down and moved a few things out of the way I could see a hole in the engine just behind the starter. The dam casting plug is gone! the two in the front of the engine [ 228,GM 305] are there and fine along with the bake one on the other side of the engine. The edges of the hole look rough and rusted. could the plug have rusted out? cant find it in the bottom of the boat?
 

Bondo

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Staff member
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Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,095
Just put the out drive on my boat today. Alpha one. Got the hose with the ear muff looking things hooked up to it and ran the engine. everything looked fine but i was getting water form the prop. after looking into that that should be fine. it looks like the water should flow around the forward gear carrier and out the back of the carrier with means out the prop. After that I saw water coming out the engine all over the starter. Even with that things seemed fine. Water temp stayed steady at 160 at idle. After I shut it down and moved a few things out of the way I could see a hole in the engine just behind the starter. The dam casting plug is gone! the two in the front of the engine [ 228,GM 305] are there and fine along with the bake one on the other side of the engine. The edges of the hole look rough and rusted. could the plug have rusted out? cant find it in the bottom of the boat?

Ayuh,.... I'm sure it's Possible,.....

Clean out the hole, 'n drive in a brass replacement core plug,...
 

scatgo

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jul 13, 2014
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370
Do you know if they are all made from brass? If so it could not have rusted.
 

thumpar

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Jun 21, 2007
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6,138
They should be brass but if a truck/auto motor was put in they would be steel.
 

Howard Sterndrive

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Nov 5, 2008
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4,603
occasionally one will pop out just from winter shrinking and expanding cast iron - if ice pushed it out you may have bigger problems but no sense worrying - put one in and see how it goes- You can get the Pioneer brand brass plug kit for around $15 - $20 at auto parts stores. Not sure if any carry singles anymore - doubt it. 1 5/8" I think the size is if you do see singles.
 

scatgo

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Jul 13, 2014
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370
Going to try a shortcut. They sell rubber expansion plugs that are made to replace the metal plug. There is not a lot of room to work so I am not sure if getting a metal plug in will go to well. Anyone know how well the rubber plugs work? Like I said it looks like I dont have much choice but to go with the rubber plug.
 

Bondo

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Apr 17, 2002
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71,095
Going to try a shortcut. They sell rubber expansion plugs that are made to replace the metal plug. There is not a lot of room to work so I am not sure if getting a metal plug in will go to well. Anyone know how well the rubber plugs work? Like I said it looks like I dont have much choice but to go with the rubber plug.

Ayuh,.... It's a Bandaid, but Ya, of course it'll work,....
 

scatgo

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 13, 2014
Messages
370
Found the freeze plug it was sitting on top of the stater. And it was brass. the bore that the plug gose into was pretty rough from rust so if there was even enough room to get a new brass plug in I am sure it would have leaked. The rubber plug was a life saver worked like a charm and everything is fine. I guess it just worked itself out from winter shrinking and expanding of the cast iron like Howard Sterdive said. Thanks people
 
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