running with a water hose/ear muffs

midwest mariah · 07-18-2009, 03:08 AM

Just needing some verification on this one please. When I'm running out of water with the hose. I have the earmuffs hooked up and good water pressure. The water is coming out the exhaust ports on the alpha 1, but no weep hole to speak of that I can find, is this correct?

WetWilly · 07-18-2009, 07:20 AM

Hi midwest mariah,

Not sure what you mean by the "weep hole" but if the outdrive is in the down position, the water should be coming out the prop and if the water temperature is OK, you're doing fine.

WetWilly

midwest mariah · 07-18-2009, 01:52 PM

Not sure what it was called but weep hole was the best I could think of. it is the spray stream that is on outboards that verify's that there is water circulating through the engine.

I have a little water coming out of the prop, but the majority is coming out of the exhaust port, which is real close to the hull, one on either side of the outdrive. Temperature was running about 120 for 30 minutes idling.

Its only a high of 77 today and 79 tomorrow, too chilly to get it out for the first time again

grommett · 07-18-2009, 07:27 PM

Hi Midwest

On outboard motors there is a small jet of water that comes out to indicate that the engine is drawing water for cooling. Your outleg does not have one of these. What you have described indicates that everything is cool!

midwest mariah · 07-18-2009, 08:45 PM

GREAT NEWS, Awesome and very cool, thanks for your advice!!

:wi nk_thumbup:

SEMIJim · 07-19-2009, 04:16 AM

How does water "come out of the prop" when you're on muffs? I would've thought it would go in the raw water intakes on the bottom of the drive, circulate through the engine and exit with the exhaust. ISTM any water appearing from the vicinity of the prop would just be water that leaked from about the imperfect seal the muffs have around the raw water intake.

Or do I completely misunderstand how these systems work?

JIm

WetWilly · 07-19-2009, 08:06 AM

Hi Jim,

The Mercruiser I/O's use a thru prop exhaust system. There is a rubber exhaust coupler from the transom to the outdrive and when you put the drive down the exhaust is routed through the leg and out the prop. Click here and take a look at the second picture of post #12 and you'll see the exhaust inlet for the outdrive and this leads down to the prop.

Next time you have the muffs on, lower your outdrive down and put your hand on the back of the prop opening (Of course the shifter is in neutral, right?) and you'll feel the exhaust and water. You see, after the water is circulated through the motor it's routed into the exhaust manifolds to cool the manifolds, exhaust gases and the shutters down. It's a great design as it uses the back pressure area behind the prop to help scavenge the exhaust and uses the exhaust at the same time to fill in the pressure area all the while using the water as a muffler.

WetWilly