Another DUMB outboard question. Cold Weather

Dave Shady Larsen

Dave Shady Larsen

Well-known member
Mud motor guy 15 years ish, Havent had this 40hp to long and first time in colder weather. was about 29 this am and launched the boat and nosed it up on shore. as normal cause im still not comfortable I fired the engine up to let it warm up. Well it has always started and ran fine and the water comes out the peeee hole ASAP. This am it did not so I shut it down. tilted it out of the water no obstructions on the screen "thats where my knowledge stops"

I put her back in let her set for a minute or 2 its cold its
breezy and I start her again and no liquid out the hole.
Waterpump was replaced this spring when motor was
overhauled. I let the motor in the down position after
last use and some more water did come out.

I let her run about 30 seconds and she started shooting
water out like normal about 3 feet and good stream.

Do motors have like a thermostat that stops the flow of the coolant
"water" or was it possibly iced up cause I had been told
that I might want to tip it out of the water when done
running and let the stream just stop before killng the motor?

Need some advice on this please.

1987 40hp Evinrude Tiller
 
Dave

Not sure about that particular motor but many do have a thermostat. I bet yours does. In cold weather it just takes longer to open up and let water start moving through the system. Removing the thermostat is usually a simple job if you want to automatically see the pee stream. I've never seen a motor stop peeing after starting because of the thermostat so I really question of they are needed. Once the motor warms up, which only takes a few minutes, it's going to stay open, so the utility seems limited. Running the motor a little cold for a few minutes won't do any damage. I've been told they run less efficiently but who really cares, it's only a couple of minutes.

Eric
 
it could be ice,mod grass or something else,thermostats do not stop the pee.this is just a visuale indicator and really doesn't mean the motor is not cooling.there should be 2 exhaust outlets about 1/2 way down the back when the thermostats open water should come out even if the pee tube is not.try sticking a piece of wire,or blowing it out with a compressor.
 
Dave,
Most likely water in the line just ahead of the nozzle froze and blocked the flow thu the pee nozzle. A lack of a stream coming from the pee nozzle is not a reliable indicator that the motor is not cooling.

[font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica][/font]
[font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]I had been told
that I might want to tip it out of the water when done
running and let the stream just stop before killing the motor? [/font]
Click to expand...


NO! bad advice. The motor and water pump will drain naturally if the motor is allowed to sit in a true vertical position (not tipped up in shallow drive, not tipped up for trailering) As long as the water pump and motor drains you will be fine. The little bit which may freeze in the tattletale nozzle will not affect engine cooling.
 
Dave,
Most likely water in the line just ahead of the nozzle froze and blocked the flow thu the pee nozzle. A lack of a stream coming from the pee nozzle is not a reliable indicator that the motor is not cooling.

[font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica][/font]
[font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]I had been told
that I might want to tip it out of the water when done
running and let the stream just stop before killing the motor? [/font]
Click to expand...


NO! bad advice. The motor and water pump will drain naturally if the motor is allowed to sit in a true vertical position (not tipped up in shallow drive, not tipped up for trailering) As long as the water pump and motor drains you will be fine. The little bit which may freeze in the tattletale nozzle will not affect engine cooling.
Click to expand...


Dave, non burping advice from an Iowan?!?!? Mr. Davies the greatest goldeneye killer in Iowa would disagree.

BTW, you are right in your advice, but does that really matter!?!?!

My F40 drains best if I leave it down and then put it up and then down again. The water would probably make its way out, but a bunch comes out if I tip it up. I also blow out the tell-tale with my mouth - it looks like I'm making out with my motor, but I've kissed my motor before, so what.
 
A lot of motors have a small restricter on the tell tale "pee" hose. It only take a grain on sand to block it. We normally remove the hose and restricter and run a slightly larger hose straight out through cowling. Now on the off chance something blocks it, I've used the pin on a liscence holder to clear it.

And as stated, having water coming out of the tell tale doesn't mean the thermostat is open. The thermostat will open and close to regulate the engine temp, just like on a vehicle.
 
The peephole is nearly an indicator and is not part of the cooling system. It is not regulated by a thermostat. Odds are you had a little water left in the line and it froze. Keep track of the ambient air temps when you launch and retrailer. You could probably start drawing correlations between your freeze ups. Make sure you lower your motor after every use when in freezing weather. Also, like posted before don't be afraid of raising and relowering to ensure all the water is out.
 
A lot of motors have a small restricter on the tell tale "pee" hose. It only take a grain on sand to block it. We normally remove the hose and restricter and run a slightly larger hose straight out through cowling. Now on the off chance something blocks it, I've used the pin on a liscence holder to clear it.

And as stated, having water coming out of the tell tale doesn't mean the thermostat is open. The thermostat will open and close to regulate the engine temp, just like on a vehicle.
Click to expand...

Ditto. Had the same thing happen on our 15 horse. Removed the little plastic piece from the hoe, put the hose through the hole and it has been good ever since.

Mark
 
Im gona go home and check my PEE TUBE lol

Also someone mentioned check for a low spot in the tube
to check for area that might prevent draining. I can handle
that one.

THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP GUYS!
 
lot of times you can use a piece of marsh grass to break up the blockage, when in the marsh. yamaha pee holes get clogged very quickly in my experience
 
I believe it was on here a few year back or so that someone mentioned that they used a piece of heavy mono...like weed whacker stuff?..that they would shove up the pee hole (not sure how far?) and leave there after they loaded the boat. When they went on the next trip they pulled the mono out and the tube remained open. I can't remember the specifics.... like how they fastened the mono to the motor ( seems to me they left it mounted there all the time maybe?, etc but it solved their problem of frozen pee tube.

When it's really cold, below 15 or so, I try to get to the ramp with enough time to start and run the motor for 5 to 10 minutes even if the pee hole is frozen. Then shut the motor off while I get things completely ready. After the motor sets for a little the heat off the block under the motor hood will usually thaw the pee tube, etc so that when I'm ready to go everything works.

Maybe some will remember the whole story of the mono trick?
 
I keep a piece of weed-whacker line on my boat; it worked well to clear out my telltale line once.
 
My problem is never on the ride out to the hunting spot, it is on the ride in. The boat and motor sit in a garage warm enough during the week to thaw anything frozen. It is after geting to the hunting spot, and sitting for a few hours, and then starting up the motor,. This is when I ahve had things freeze. Never a good thing to happen when it's below zero with ice forming on the lake.

What is nice then is the air cooled motors. Nothing to worry about thern.

Mark w
 
Hi Dave, I love all your dumb questions! I'm in my first season with a 28hp 1986 evenrude and
have many of the same questions and concerns. Mine is not a tiller but I made a tiller handle
and mounted the throttle/shifter and it works well for me. My only problem has been the choke
is actuated by pushing in the key and I wish I had a choke khob to adjust.
Thanks for the post!! John
 
yeah john I didnt even know it had a choke button when i bought it... I thought it was a kill button or sumthin. It sure started easier once I was told that was the choke.
 
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