My unwashed o/b

[Gsailor]

A mariner 1997 built 2.5hp o/b.

I used to run fresh water through it after every use. Like new condition.

I now realise that in 2019 I put it away (standing upright) but without flushing it.

I won't be able to get to the o/b until next year.

Does anyone know if I am likely to have corrosion issues inside?

Could I just run it in a bucket of antifreeze? That is what I should have done 3 years ago.

 

[William_H]

No IMHO it will not be seriously affected by not being flushed. My Johnson 6 lived on my boat for many seasons never flushed. No more corrosion than might be expected for it's age. You yould have benefited by putting oil into cylinder. But you did not. Don't worry until you get back to it. ol'will

 

[Paul1962]

Suggest your water pump components will need some serious attention - just rebuilt a Mariner 2hp that was similarly treated and the lower leg where the Impeller casing sat was heavily pitted

 

[Boathook]

I suspect that it will be ok. Just run it in fresh water and if in a bucket you will see crystals appear. Water pump may be ok but a bit difficult to tell. If the pump has never been serviced taking it to bits could well be a problem due to corrosion on the bolts.

 

[Rappey]

Does anyone know if I am likely to have corrosion issues inside?

No problem. The moment you lift it out of the water the sea water runs out and what's left inside probably dries quick as the engine is still hot. Then you put it into fresh water to rinse. I used to flush mine every time but it still became blocked with salt.. It's very easy taking the head off to scrape out years of salt build up .I rarely flush my tohatsu 3.5 nowadays

 

[Refueler]

rappey mentions the Salt ... this is the biggest factor ... water channels in the head getting blocked by salt ....

The act of flushing is not so much to reduce corrosion - which it will help to do - but more to remove the salts before they harden and then need serious chemical flushing / service to remove.

I had a Johnson I bought untested in water - I was in a hurry to get any motor at the time ... it started easily - all seemed great.

Got it home - put it in the drum to test and no water flow.

Took it to O/Bd service guys .... the water channel in the leg holding the tubes was completely corroded away .... service couldn't do anything other than say the power head was excellent !! It would need completely new 'leg' ......

I sold it Spares or Repair ..... buyer was told of the findings ... but he was interested in the power head / prop section etc.

The water channels according to Service had rotted from the saltwater never having been flushed out ...

 

[Gsailor]

Thank you.

I will have to wait and see.

 

[Gsailor]

I suspect that it will be ok. Just run it in fresh water and if in a bucket you will see crystals appear. Water pump may be ok but a bit difficult to tell. If the pump has never been serviced taking it to bits could well be a problem due to corrosion on the bolts.

I did change the impeller once just as part of a service _ old one was a bit rigid but no broken bits.

 

[Boathook]

I did change the impeller once just as part of a service _ old one was a bit rigid but no broken bits.

As the engine has only had one new impellor in around 25 years I would change the impellor before use. I suspect that the bolts on the gearbox will be difficult to remove due to corrosion.

 

[Gsailor]

As the engine has only had one new impellor in around 25 years I would change the impellor before use. I suspect that the bolts on the gearbox will be difficult to remove due to corrosion.

You may be right but I hope you are wrong.

I used to use a lot of waxy anti-corrosion spray around bolts.

I hope I I used copper slip or any other grease when I put it back together.

I can't remember how I did it, but I know I changed the impeller. I certainly don't recognise the diagram posted previously, and don't remember dropping the gear box from leg _ but that could be my age showing.

I thought my impeller (I keep spelling it "impellor" but spell check jumps in _ will look that up too) was behind prop and easier to change than diagram posted but I suspect I am wrong.

Worrying that memory is failing.

I used to lay it up after a run through anti-freeze and use fogging oil and drop carb bowl and empty it.

Lazy and forgetful as time marches on.

 

[Gsailor]

Found a vid

I did think mine was as easy as this and the vid rings bells. Mercury and Mariner are same I think.

Can't believe my o/b is so old !

I remember buying it brand new and how much it cost and it still looks pretty mint condition _ I used to look after it really well ( I did use to inject oil into spark plug hole and tell-tale outlet until oil dribbled out of leg until I bough a can of fogging oil)

When I dig it out of storage I hope the bolts are free.

I know I did not flush it but I did crank it over to hopefully lube piston (because I knew I had not used fogging oil). First job will be to drop carb bowl even though I used a fuel stabilizing additive _ I expect thick varnish and therefore a removal of carb and carb cleaner soak.

Will post (if I find it is all good) photos next year.

It was only used a little bit to get to mooring and back.