Filling the aqualift
My engine instructions (Universal MX25-XPB) warn against cranking the engine more than 30 seconds or so, without exhaust to blow the water out of the Auqualift muffler. This is spinning it pretty fast with the electric starter run by a fully charged battery. I think it would take a bit longer to fill the muffler by hand cranking. The time it takes to fill it really depends on how much water your raw water pump is pumping, and how large the muffler is. When the muffler is full of water, it can back up into the cylinders, causing damage. If the muffler gets close to full, you need to drain it before continuing. Mine has a drain valve to accomplish this. Hopefully you didn't get any water into the engine. If the muffler is full of water, then you may need to take a closer look, because if it fires up with water in the cylinders, you'll have a problem.P.S. If you can turn the engine over by hand or especially with the starter motor easily, then it probably doesn't have water in the cylinders. What I would do is put a fresh battery in, make sure the muffler is DRAINED, and then crank it over with the starter gingerly. KEEP THE FUEL SHUTOFF CLOSED. If it turns over for 5-10 seconds with the starter without problem, then I think it would be OK to give it fuel, and start it up.