Beta 14HP coolant draining if unable to get the drain plug out

[webcraft]

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Self and various other people tried to get the drain plug out of the engine three years ago. No way is that going to happen. Ended up sucking as much coolant out as possible after removing the tube stack from the heat exchanger.

Is there any way of getting more coolant out of the engine?


- W

 

[rogerthebodger]

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Self and various other people tried to get the drain plug out of the engine three years ago. No way is that going to happen. Ended up sucking as much coolant out as possible after removing the tube stack from the heat exchanger.

Is there any way of getting more coolant out of the engine?


- W

You could try using compressed air to blow the remaining coolant out

 

[webcraft]

You could try using compressed air to blow the remaining coolant out

Is there not a danger of blowing gunge into crevices and constrictions?

What about just running the engine?


- W

 

[wrr]

I has a similar problem with one of its larger siblings. The plug was a 1/4" BSP thread. I bought a replacement, heated the existing plug with a small gas soldering torch and grasped it with a good quality Mole-type wrench. This mangled it a bit but it did unscrew and come out! The replacement was inserted with some PTFE tape and has yielded to a spanner since. It may be worth retrying your plug as it will allow you to drain and flush the block.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Is there not a danger of blowing gunge into crevices and constrictions?

What about just running the engine?


- W

No its more likely to blow all the gunge out of any crevices and open up any constrictions.

Just cover the engine with rags other the gunge will go everywhere.

 

[webcraft]

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No its more likely to blow all the gunge out of any crevices and open up any constrictions.

Just cover the engine with rags other the gunge will go everywhere.

OK, sounds promising . . . now, where do I get the compressed air from??

- W

 

[ganter]

Sorry, couldn't resist.

You could rent one with an air gun from any local plant hire place.
Any yard or marina near by with workshop is bound to have one.
If you're near Hamble - I've got one.

Coolant capacity of the 14 is 2.5L btw.

 

[Yellow Ballad]

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OK, sounds promising . . . now, where do I get the compressed air from??

- W

I think Aldi are selling a small compressor

 

[RichardS]

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Self and various other people tried to get the drain plug out of the engine three years ago. No way is that going to happen. Ended up sucking as much coolant out as possible after removing the tube stack from the heat exchanger.

Is there any way of getting more coolant out of the engine?


- W

Is there not a coolant hose (calorifier/pump) which runs to a low point which you could just unclip? After that just refill and run for a few times with plain water and all the old coolant will be gone.

Richard

 

[Skylark]

I’ve recently changed the OAT coolant in my 6 year old Yanmar. It has 2 drain plugs, one near the heat exchanger and the other low on the block. Atmospheric pressure alone was insufficient to drain the coolant completely, or not with my low patience threshold. I simply gave the cooler a good clean and blew into the system, it worked a treat. I also added a couple of litres of fresh water as a flush prior to adding the new coolant. Simple mouth blowing pressure was fine to completely drain the system.

 

[rogerthebodger]

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OK, sounds promising . . . now, where do I get the compressed air from??

- W

Get hold of a dive cylinder. I used my dive cylinder to unblock various pipes on board.

A CO2 or old powder fire extinguisher may also be used.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I wouldn't blow fire extinguisher powder into the engine if I were you. It would surely make a hell of a mess.

 

[Pye_End]

Take the forward std. engine mount off (just unbolt bracket from the engine and the mount from the bed, thus keeping the position correct).

Unscrew the bend with the plug from the engine block, making working on it easy. Also allows you to really clean the waterways.

Much easier than it sounds. Worth persevering with getting the drain to work I would have thought.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I wouldn't blow fire extinguisher powder into the engine if I were you. It would surely make a hell of a mess.

I ment take an old used powder fire extinguisher and refill it with air from your local tyre pump service station.

 

[webcraft]

Take the forward std. engine mount off (just unbolt bracket from the engine and the mount from the bed, thus keeping the position correct).

Unscrew the bend with the plug from the engine block, making working on it easy. Also allows you to really clean the waterways.

Much easier than it sounds. Worth persevering with getting the drain to work I would have thought.

This sounds good - I assume you have done it?

Got any pics?


- W

 

[Pye_End]

Yes, and No.

 

[thegasmannick]

use wet vac and open other end pipe leave it running for a while