I just acquired a used eight HP Honda four cycle outboard. How often should this unit be fresh water flushed after using it in salt water.
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W
Warren
Fresh Water Flush
If one could "flush" two or three times a season, that would be great. However, unless your Charles Atlas, thats a pretty heavy engine to drag off & on your boat. Stick it in a trash can at the end of the season when you winterize it (maybe you don't do that in Flordia?)...you will not get the same life out of it as you would with a "fresh water engine"...but you could get six to ten years. Its important to keep the injestion of sand & silt to a minimum. Good Luck!
If one could "flush" two or three times a season, that would be great. However, unless your Charles Atlas, thats a pretty heavy engine to drag off & on your boat. Stick it in a trash can at the end of the season when you winterize it (maybe you don't do that in Flordia?)...you will not get the same life out of it as you would with a "fresh water engine"...but you could get six to ten years. Its important to keep the injestion of sand & silt to a minimum. Good Luck!
B
Brent
Flush on the boat
If your motor bracket allows you to raise your motor while still in the upright position you can use one of those little suction cup adapters that hook onto a hose and go over the water intake of the motor. I use one of these to flush my motor about once a month. I also rinse the entire exterior of the motor with fresh water after each time out. See the attached link for the flushing adapters. Brent Columbia 26mkII #1234
If your motor bracket allows you to raise your motor while still in the upright position you can use one of those little suction cup adapters that hook onto a hose and go over the water intake of the motor. I use one of these to flush my motor about once a month. I also rinse the entire exterior of the motor with fresh water after each time out. See the attached link for the flushing adapters. Brent Columbia 26mkII #1234
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Ed
Flushing
I flush after each use at the end of the day. Use one of those cup things that attaches to a hose. The motor is on a bracket so it lifts out of the water. Can't think of any reason you can't get to it frequently unless your boat is moored.
I flush after each use at the end of the day. Use one of those cup things that attaches to a hose. The motor is on a bracket so it lifts out of the water. Can't think of any reason you can't get to it frequently unless your boat is moored.
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Gord May
Has anyone
used the flushing adaptoers (earmuffs) while the engine's still in the water? If not, why not? Gord
used the flushing adaptoers (earmuffs) while the engine's still in the water? If not, why not? Gord
G
Gord May
Has anyone
used the flushing adaptoers (earmuffs) while the engine's still in the water? If not, why not? Gord
used the flushing adaptoers (earmuffs) while the engine's still in the water? If not, why not? Gord
B
bill
yes
you can attach the 'engine ears' to the ob and flush. (after lowering back into salt water) just turn water on high. I know several people who live in keys who never flush the ob. but they also use the boat 4 days a week. salt will build up in water jacket, eventually. (which clogs water circulation, and thus higher temps, and over heating) on most 2 strokes, the head can be easilly removed, and some of the water jacket can be cleaned out. -you'll neeed a new head gasket, and retorque. dont forget about the impeller, they should be changed annually regardless. Sand and dry rot is the problem with impellers. OB's not used for months often have dry rotted impellers. and sand chews them quickly. -sounds like you keep boat in salt water. Try some corosion X spray. leaves a sticky oily film. (inside of engine cover & moving parts).
you can attach the 'engine ears' to the ob and flush. (after lowering back into salt water) just turn water on high. I know several people who live in keys who never flush the ob. but they also use the boat 4 days a week. salt will build up in water jacket, eventually. (which clogs water circulation, and thus higher temps, and over heating) on most 2 strokes, the head can be easilly removed, and some of the water jacket can be cleaned out. -you'll neeed a new head gasket, and retorque. dont forget about the impeller, they should be changed annually regardless. Sand and dry rot is the problem with impellers. OB's not used for months often have dry rotted impellers. and sand chews them quickly. -sounds like you keep boat in salt water. Try some corosion X spray. leaves a sticky oily film. (inside of engine cover & moving parts).
J
Jon
To Flush or Not to Flush
I had a 10-yr. old Honda 8 that, had to be, a fresh water engine. I took it on a long, long, trip that migrated into salt water. After running it daily in the salt water, I began a regiment of fresh water flushing it every 2-to3-weeks. (By the way, the older Honda 8's don't use "ear muffs." There's a special "bootie" that came with the motor that clips on the inlet, directly above the prop.) To make a long story short; after 9-weeks in salt, even with the flushing routene, the old kicker overheated and stopped dead in the ICW. $300 and a new impeller later, we were underway. But the motor was never the same -- hard to start, died often. Sold it and bought a brand new one, just like it. Great Engine! Much thrust. Good Fuel economy! Bottom Line: Flush it after salt water. Probably every week that you run it.
I had a 10-yr. old Honda 8 that, had to be, a fresh water engine. I took it on a long, long, trip that migrated into salt water. After running it daily in the salt water, I began a regiment of fresh water flushing it every 2-to3-weeks. (By the way, the older Honda 8's don't use "ear muffs." There's a special "bootie" that came with the motor that clips on the inlet, directly above the prop.) To make a long story short; after 9-weeks in salt, even with the flushing routene, the old kicker overheated and stopped dead in the ICW. $300 and a new impeller later, we were underway. But the motor was never the same -- hard to start, died often. Sold it and bought a brand new one, just like it. Great Engine! Much thrust. Good Fuel economy! Bottom Line: Flush it after salt water. Probably every week that you run it.
A
Alan
Jon
Your old impeller simply needed replacement. The salt water had nothing to do with failure, age did. However, I flush my 10 year old 4hp Yamaha every time I use it. Put on the muffs and run the carb dry. Takes a couple minutes. Engine gets a thorough servicing at end of season. Looks and runs like new after 10 years.
Your old impeller simply needed replacement. The salt water had nothing to do with failure, age did. However, I flush my 10 year old 4hp Yamaha every time I use it. Put on the muffs and run the carb dry. Takes a couple minutes. Engine gets a thorough servicing at end of season. Looks and runs like new after 10 years.
J
Jim LeBlanc
Hardly ever
I have a 1989 Yamaha 9.9 4 cycle ouboard on my 1983 S2 7.3. Came with the boat, I appear to be the third owner. Boat was on a fresh water lake when I bought it and had been there for 5 years. Brought the boat down to Galveston Bay three years ago, water is really brackish, but gets saltier when there is dry weather. In three years, have flushed the motor with fresh water only once or twice. I do tip the motor out of the water when it is at the dock (too heavy to lift it up and out). I assumed that if the tell tale is showing water when running, that there is water moving through the passages. Only problem has been a sticking thermostat, which caused the motor to cut itself back and refuse to run above 2000 RPM (this is by design, it is a smart motor!)until I fixed the thermostat. The passages looked good when I removed the thermostat and looked in.
I have a 1989 Yamaha 9.9 4 cycle ouboard on my 1983 S2 7.3. Came with the boat, I appear to be the third owner. Boat was on a fresh water lake when I bought it and had been there for 5 years. Brought the boat down to Galveston Bay three years ago, water is really brackish, but gets saltier when there is dry weather. In three years, have flushed the motor with fresh water only once or twice. I do tip the motor out of the water when it is at the dock (too heavy to lift it up and out). I assumed that if the tell tale is showing water when running, that there is water moving through the passages. Only problem has been a sticking thermostat, which caused the motor to cut itself back and refuse to run above 2000 RPM (this is by design, it is a smart motor!)until I fixed the thermostat. The passages looked good when I removed the thermostat and looked in.
L
Les
Adapter
I have a small brass adapter that threads into a screw hole on the side of my 5 hp Honda. Very easy to flush in or out of the water. It came with the motor.
I have a small brass adapter that threads into a screw hole on the side of my 5 hp Honda. Very easy to flush in or out of the water. It came with the motor.
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