Martin610
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2018
- Messages
- 504
- Fluid Motion Model
- C-28
- Vessel Name
- Venture
Had a close call with the dingy motor today so I thought I would share.
We had a Nor' Easter here in New Jersey overnight. I forgot to tie down my dingy which was sitting on the dock. Classic case of getting a call on the cell and losing track.
The marina guys called me this morning to tell me the dingy had flipped over and was sitting against the bulkhead. Oh god. I felt really bad as the motor had been purchased with retirement gift money from work. The guys hauled out the dingy for me, which I really appreciated.
This little motor is a 2.5 HP Mercury 4 stroke, actually made by Tohatsu.
Now the clock starts. If you ever have this problem time is of the essence. I grabbed the motor and headed for home. I set the motor up in my high tech test tank ( a garbage can) and filled it with water. I got the cowling off and rinsed the motor down with fresh water. Mud was everywhere. I removed the spark plug. I pulled the cord and had water gushing out the hole. I then grabbed a can of WD40 and sprayed the dickens out of the cylinder. I then worked the pull cord, gently, to work the oil over the cylinder. Rust forms really quick.
I removed the gas tank and drained out all the fuel. I refilled with fresh gas.
I sprayed the carburetor with carb cleaner. Then I thought to remove the carb and spray car cleaner into everything I could reach.
Then I drained the oil and refilled.
Fingers crossed, I was in position to attempt to start the motor. If you can start it, and let it run in the tank, the oil will flow and the heat will help the engine dra itself out.
Took a bit but it did eventually start.
Whew!
The Mercury has a little window for oil level and I could see it turn milky white. That means water in the oil. I stopped, and drained the oil. I did this twice more to make sure. Then I sprayed WD 40 on the wires.
If you can't do this yourself, its probably best to leave it submerged in fresh water until a mechanic can get to it.
With determination and a few tools you can rescue these motors. However, I hope you never have to.
-martin
We had a Nor' Easter here in New Jersey overnight. I forgot to tie down my dingy which was sitting on the dock. Classic case of getting a call on the cell and losing track.
The marina guys called me this morning to tell me the dingy had flipped over and was sitting against the bulkhead. Oh god. I felt really bad as the motor had been purchased with retirement gift money from work. The guys hauled out the dingy for me, which I really appreciated.
This little motor is a 2.5 HP Mercury 4 stroke, actually made by Tohatsu.
Now the clock starts. If you ever have this problem time is of the essence. I grabbed the motor and headed for home. I set the motor up in my high tech test tank ( a garbage can) and filled it with water. I got the cowling off and rinsed the motor down with fresh water. Mud was everywhere. I removed the spark plug. I pulled the cord and had water gushing out the hole. I then grabbed a can of WD40 and sprayed the dickens out of the cylinder. I then worked the pull cord, gently, to work the oil over the cylinder. Rust forms really quick.
I removed the gas tank and drained out all the fuel. I refilled with fresh gas.
I sprayed the carburetor with carb cleaner. Then I thought to remove the carb and spray car cleaner into everything I could reach.
Then I drained the oil and refilled.
Fingers crossed, I was in position to attempt to start the motor. If you can start it, and let it run in the tank, the oil will flow and the heat will help the engine dra itself out.
Took a bit but it did eventually start.
Whew!
The Mercury has a little window for oil level and I could see it turn milky white. That means water in the oil. I stopped, and drained the oil. I did this twice more to make sure. Then I sprayed WD 40 on the wires.
If you can't do this yourself, its probably best to leave it submerged in fresh water until a mechanic can get to it.
With determination and a few tools you can rescue these motors. However, I hope you never have to.
-martin