IRDaleBracey
New Member
- Sep 20, 2020
- 27
- Boat Info
- 280 Sundancer 2005, Twin Mercruiser 305
- Engines
- Twin Mercruiser 305
Howdy... My friend Phil is usually the one posting here, but here I am with all the details.
We finally finished dropping in the two new engines (previous owner didn't winterize before the big freeze). A bit perplexed at the simplest of things...
Here's the scene...
2003 Sundancer with dual 305 Mercruiser TBI Bravo
Boat been sitting for three years. Had some stabilizer. Fuel not pumped out; used this fuel.
Port engine fired right up and flows water with muffs just fine. So, we can determine the fuel is ok and not too far gone. (Stabilizer did its job?)
Starboard engine was at first struggling to start. Replaced water separator and pre-filled it with new fuel and some stabilizer/cleaner. Still rough to start, but eventually it fired up. Muffs were on and flowing water into sterndrive. ENGINE STARTED TO GET HOT and hit the alert beep. Shut it off, and checked things after it cooled off. Took seawater pump apart; rubber impeller was TRASHED. Missing pieces and cracked. Dry as a bone too. So, obviously, it didn't get any water to cool/lubricate it. Hmmm... Bought a new impeller and installed with some soapy water to pre-lube; noting to twist the flaps for clockwise rotation with the crank. Fired her up again... overheated again. Pull pump apart again; same deal. Dry and shredded.
Now... here's the weird bits. I 3D printed an adapter to shoot water and air pressure into the lines to try and blow things out...
Completely at a loss... it's such a simple system, and we've blown backward everywhere to make sure there is nothing in there. And yes, we did initially find bits of rubber in the check valve; that was removed too.
Anyone ever experience this? Have any strange thoughts on things to check, that I may be overlooking?
Most appreciated.
We finally finished dropping in the two new engines (previous owner didn't winterize before the big freeze). A bit perplexed at the simplest of things...
Here's the scene...
2003 Sundancer with dual 305 Mercruiser TBI Bravo
Boat been sitting for three years. Had some stabilizer. Fuel not pumped out; used this fuel.
Port engine fired right up and flows water with muffs just fine. So, we can determine the fuel is ok and not too far gone. (Stabilizer did its job?)
Starboard engine was at first struggling to start. Replaced water separator and pre-filled it with new fuel and some stabilizer/cleaner. Still rough to start, but eventually it fired up. Muffs were on and flowing water into sterndrive. ENGINE STARTED TO GET HOT and hit the alert beep. Shut it off, and checked things after it cooled off. Took seawater pump apart; rubber impeller was TRASHED. Missing pieces and cracked. Dry as a bone too. So, obviously, it didn't get any water to cool/lubricate it. Hmmm... Bought a new impeller and installed with some soapy water to pre-lube; noting to twist the flaps for clockwise rotation with the crank. Fired her up again... overheated again. Pull pump apart again; same deal. Dry and shredded.
Now... here's the weird bits. I 3D printed an adapter to shoot water and air pressure into the lines to try and blow things out...
- Shot from seawater pump inlet hose out the outboard inlets (water flowed)
- Shot from before check valve, through fuel cooler, through hydraulic cooler, and out the seawater pump outlet hose into the bilge (water flowed)
- Shot water through both exhaust riders and out the rear (water flowed)
- circulation pump replaced
- seawater pump impeller replaced (twice)
- thermostat replace (with 160F same)
Completely at a loss... it's such a simple system, and we've blown backward everywhere to make sure there is nothing in there. And yes, we did initially find bits of rubber in the check valve; that was removed too.
Anyone ever experience this? Have any strange thoughts on things to check, that I may be overlooking?
Most appreciated.