Can you run an outboard without water

[dnej]

Question, if you can run a two stroke mower motor without water, can you run an outboard motor, with the cover removed, at slow speed, to get out of trouble?
David

[bj]

Are you new to boating?

[blaze]

Hi David
The answer is NO
but in saying that, I was 200m from the beach in a 12 footer checking craypots when the pick of my old 4hp merc (no strainer) picked up a heap of crud, tried to clear but it had gone up the tube, and yes I idle back to shore and substaned no damage
You are taking an extreme risk though
Lawn mowers cool because they have fins on them and a fan forcing cool air over them (called air cooled) and outboards use water cooling
cheers
blaze

[basserman]

for short little burts (say 5-10 seconds) it will do nothing but the answer is no for longer times as the engine needs the water to cool down
if you do run it longer you run a great chance of cooking the engine and thats with cover on or off ;D

[SeaHunt]

If it is going to save your life.
You will probably get more like 2 or three minutes out of it from cold before it starts to get too hot.
My outboard cost about 9 grand and I would have to be going down for the forth time before I would run it without water. :P

[hoga]

you can but not for long it would would make a good anker

[clutter]

Just because your tell-tail isn't working doesn't particularly mean that the water pump is not working. As you said you ran through a heap of crud it is more likely that a bit of that has just blocked the tell-tail hole. In saying that though, I would advise against doing it on a regular basis and particularly if you knew you hadn't dug a chanel recently with the motor and filled it with crud.

Cheers,

Clutter

[blaze]

Hi Clutter
mine wasnt pumping water mate, there was no hope of any water getting up to the engine, after nearly a total dismantal with a shifter, pliers, pocket knife, and a couple of sockets, she was all ceaned out and got the craypot the next morning
cheers
blaze

[NQCairns]

Just keep testing the block with your hand, when it gets hot to the touch, like ouch after half a second, stop let it cool and go again. A person could concievably travel a good distance in a day doing it I guess.
5 minutes travel at idle then 10 minutes pouring buckets of water over it then travel again. Wouldnt ever want to test it though. 8)

[Big_Kev]

Did you get any crays Blaze?

[blaze]

couple of nice ones next morning
cheers
blaze

[aussiebasser]

A lawn mower motor, similar to some Motorcycle engines is designed to be air cooled, hence the fins on the cylinders which act as heat exchangers.
Most outboards, and all new ones, are designed to be water cooled.
The other problem with running them dry, is that you will accelerate the deterioration of the rubber water pump impeller, as it's only lubrication is water.

[dnej]

Well done bj. Are you new to this site?

For the rest of you many thanks for your comments.
This was a genuine question,and one that could come in handy one day
The reason for my question was based on a friend of mine who has an outboard ,that will only let the motor run a very low revs, when there is a water flow issue.
He was told that he could "limp back" without doing any damage, due to the control on the revs.

David

[blaze]

Hi David
A lot of modern engines have a limp home mode which enables you to get home at a vastely reduced rev range
cheers
blaze
ps no question is stupid if asked, when they are not asked then they are

[CQ_Fisher]

My 2002 Yammy 4 Stoke has that mode. If the engine gets too hot the remote throttle box has a built in buzzer that sounds and revs drop back to 2000RPM and will not go any higher. I have not had this happen but the outboard owner's manual tells me so. Isn't modern technology great.

Cheers
JD

[MulletMan]

I would piss into the intake holes before I ran it dry!

[aussiebasser]

I'd like to see that. :o

[Mad_Barry]

I'd like to see that. :o

You've chosen an interesting form of Saturday afternoon entertainment there Dale :o, I'd prefer to be fishing myself ;D

[aussiebasser]

Well it wasn't supposed to come out like that Dicko.
Only a sicko North Queenslander would take it that way.
$39 one way Brissy/Prossy. Faust it gettin' closer to Brissy every day mate!!!!(Check my new email addy too mate!!)