Flushing Question

[cvsa78]

I just purchased a 1986 Sundancer 250, Mercruiser 260 IO FWC. There is a raw water pickup on the bottom on the hull, and that goes in the the exchanger, there is also the water pickup on the outdrive.

Now my question, If I pull off the hose on the inside of the boat and attach a fresh water supply to flush. Do I also have to attach the "muffs" on the lower unit while running?

My thinking is that the lower unit also needs water to be cooled?

 

[Captain Crispy]

I had the exact same setup in my 1979. I never used the flusher on the lower unit, never had any problems with it. That said, it can't hurt until you are sure.

 

[Chris Dauth]

When posting questions about cooling water systems, it is advisable to state what outdrive you have. Alphas have the raw water pump in the outdrive and Bravos have none. Bravos have the RW pump on the engine on the lower starboard side.
Also it is a good idea to say weather you have thru the hull cooling or thru the leg which is usually only applicable to Bravo outdrives. :thumbsup:

 

[cvsa78]

its an Alpha 1 drive and the rw pump is on the starboard side of the motor.

 

[cvsa78]

Anybody? I would like to flush this motor out but don't want to do any damage.

Thanks

 

[Lazy Daze]

I'm going to take a stab and say that the hose that would normally come from the drive has been blocked off. Can you verify that?

Does the intake side of that raw-water pump come only from the thru-hull?

How is your power steering cooled? This may sound un-related, but it is. Albeit, I'm not as familiar with the older ones, but typically the power steering cooler is the first thing in line after the hose comes through the transom.

 

[cvsa78]

i'm out of town till friday. i'll check saturday am

thx

 

[fjosephs]

I have the same setup as you.

I have a hose with a Y fitting with two ball valves at the out flow part of the fitting.
I have a salt terminator before flushing kit before the Y. I connected to the engine flush in the boat near the transom gate on one side and water flushing rabbit ears for the out drive portion on the other side (with hoses in between of course).

I do the flushing for both areas at the same time so there is no risk of damage due to inadequate cooling.

 

[cvsa78]

Thanks for everybodys help