Flushing Honda 20 with hose adapter

[DavidGrieves]

Hi

We have a 20hp 4 stroke Honda outboard at work that has suffered blocked cooling system a couple of times now. The manual says there is a garden hose flushing adapter that screws into a port on the top of the engine.
Has anybody any comments about using the adapter?
Does the adapter stay in all the time or is it removed after use?
The manual says "Do not run engine" This would suggest the water enters cooling system after impeller and thermostat, is this correct?
Yeah, I know it would be too easy to put it in a wheelie bin, half full of water for ten mins. But at work we're restricted by manual handling regs, PUWRE regs, risk assesment to mention a few...

Thanks
David

 

[Davy_S]

When you screw the water hose in, water pours out of the intake ports lower on the leg, the manual tells you to block these off with ducktape. I have found it far easier to simply use the water muffs ( Look like headphones) make sure water is coming out from the tell tale, the Honda is equiped with an overheat alarm as well.
This works better, but I would prefer drum full of water.

 

[DavidGrieves]

Hi

Thanks for the reply

We can't get the flush muffs on as we have a stainless steel prop guard bolted to the bottom of the leg, yet more health & safety...

 

[GeoffHill]

Lateral thinking time.....

large plastic bin, stick some polystyrene round the rim on the bin, so it floats.

fill bin with fresh water, to a couple of inches from the top, float bin under leg, then lower into bin and run in neutral for a while.

 

[Davy_S]

The flushing adaptor should screw in the port side of the leg, around the cavitation plate, you take the screw out, then the adaptor has a thread at one end, and a hose connector at the other, screw this in and connect a hosepipe, but you Will have to tape up the intakes each side of the leg. When finished remove adaptor and put the screw back in. good luck!