Outboard water jackets

[Rum_Pirate]

My outboard engines are +/-12 years old.

Have not been flushed with fresh water after each run.

Thinking of getting the accumulated salt deposits out of the water cooling system

BUT and am very worried that if I try and undo the dozen or so nuts on each engine, I may wring a couple off.

Stainless steel bolts and an aluminium block and cover.

I might, gently heat the bolts with a gas torch.



Repeatedly and let it cool completely each time, on the basis that doing so might break the stainless steel/aluminium adhesion. I don't want to burn the paint or melt the aluminium cover.

Could try dribbling (or flooding using a duct tape dam) a mixture of 50% acetone/50% automatic transmission fluid on the bolts and let them (hopefully) seep in.Had great success with this on some large rusted bolts.

Suggestions on how else to approach it?

 

[hinch]

plusgas - Google Search

you're welcome

 

[penfold]

If they're running and not overheating leave well alone.

 

[roy851]

if they have been used regularly then chances are you wont have too much build up. you could run them in a bucket with white vinegar/ central heating cleaner.
However if you really want to take them apart.. plus gas won't get you anywhere! are they yams? some will come out with too much messing
On the bolts you can access; a 1/2 knocker gun on a low setting and tickle them out. As for the ones down the bottom, heat and caution

 

[longjohnsilver]

if they have been used regularly then chances are you wont have too much build up. you could run them in a bucket with white vinegar/ central heating cleaner.
However if you really want to take them apart.. plus gas won't get you anywhere! are they yams? some will come out with too much messing
On the bolts you can access; a 1/2 knocker gun on a low setting and tickle them out. As for the ones down the bottom, heat and caution

Yes, I was going to suggest running them in a large bucket of mild brick acid, that should remove most of the salt deposits. I have a Yamaha 15 2s on my tender that lives all year round on the flybridge of Eos, I’ve never so much as even changed the impellor, let alone running it in fresh water. A few weeks back, after 7 months of not being used, it started first pull and is still pumping a strong stream of water from its tell tail. It’s never been serviced in about 12 years, apart from me taking the carb apart and cleaning the jets every now and again. It just works as it should.