Flushing engine on a Hunter 23

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Dennis Brooks

I am having trouble flushing the outboard on my Hunter 23. My boat is in a wet slip so I can't take the boat out of the water. The way the mounting for the outboard on the Hunter 23 is designed. You can't reach the water intake ports on the outboard. It is to far away. Does anyone have an easy idea to flush the engine? It is a bear to take off and on to flush.
 
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Brian Conneely

here's a stab, others should comment

Dennis, I'm assuming your in a slip with running water and hoses available. On initial thought I would just take the thing off and bring it to a location that is easier to work with, but with the info you provided here's a crack at it. If you backed the stern into the slip you might obtain better access. From here you could take the prop off the lower unit, attach the suction cups of the engine flushing clamp over the water intakes and maybe you're good to go? I do have to admit that I've never tried this but this thought did occur to me once when I was lugging the motor off the dock to bring home for a tune up. I'm on a mooring so this is a process I go through several times a season. I also have an adjustable motor mount, as of this past season, with plenty of vertical lift so I might go ahead and put this idea to the test for myself if the overall consensus doesn't see any major pitfalls. Brian Conneely H23 Kickin' Back
 
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Sam Leonard

Bucket

I raise the motor and put a large bucket over the bottom end. I hold it up with a small piece of rope and fill the bucket with fresh water. Run the motor for a few minutes, untie the rope, and take off the bucket. Sam
 
Apr 19, 1999
1,670
Pearson Wanderer Titusville, Florida
Bucket

I've done both but in this case the bucket sounds like the easier way to go. It'll work whether the cooling water pickup is on the side of the shaft or under the anti-cavitation plate. As long as you have a couple of gallons of spare fresh water and a bucket, this will work anywhere, even while anchored or on a mooring. You could probably even use the wash water more than once without too much trouble. Peter H23 "Raven"
 
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Brian

question peter...

Peter, I was under the impression that in order to get a thorough flush the motor needed to be shifted into gear...quite a delicate task with a bucket. If this isn't the case I've been building waves in a garbage can just for fun! BTW...how's the wedge working out for your motor mount? Sorry I didn't get that picture of mine posted; next time just for kicks. Brian h23 kickin back
 
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Jim

outboard thru flush

Brian,your engine should pump water thru itself with out being in gear.Running the engine in a bucket should do the trick.If you have doubts about it pumping fresh water thru check the cooling water "pee" hose (the small telltale water hose to show you its is pumping water thru the engine)At any rate is should pump water in a or out of gear.
 
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Dennis Brooks

Thanks

I will just turn the boat around in the slip. I was hoping someone had a device that I could slip on. Thanks everyone for the info.
 
Apr 19, 1999
1,670
Pearson Wanderer Titusville, Florida
Hey Brian

I dropped off a sketch of the motor mount wedge at the machine shop last week. They're going to make it out of ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) plastic but they haven't found a small enough piece yet (trying to hold the cost down, God bless 'em). The wedge was thicker than I expected...two inches thick at the top. I hope it doesn't end up costing an arm and a leg. Peter H23 "Raven"
 
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Steve

flushing

Flushing my honda 8 has always been a problem...being double-jointed would help...last summer i found a 7-gal. "eukanuba" dog food bucket that is the perfect fit. Its still a hassle tho... s/v hotspur
 
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Crazy Dave Condon

possible plug

There are some engines that you can buy that have an accessory plug you attach to flush with fresh water. See if that engine of yours has such a critter.
 
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