www.iFourWinns.com

Hello folks...first time in the forum. I have an '04 Funship w/ the 5.0L Volvo, SX outdrive. I use the standard ears to flush the stren drive after recovering. The last two times, however, it doesn't pick up water; if I use the hose fitting on the stern, no problem - water flushes through the engine...but nothing out the port side hole. I'm afraid my stern drive is not picking up water....but while afloat, everything seems to work fine - engine temp is normal, etc...it runs fine....but again, nothing out the port side discharge hole. How do I troubleshoot the sterndrive? Thx

Make sure you don't have a leak from the gaskets on your risers/manifolds. When is the last time the impeller was changed? My have ave missing veins this not allowing good water flow.

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-Tony
2016 Robalo R200 w/Yahama 200!

Previous boats:
2003 Four Winns 248 Vista - sold
1994 Sunbird Corsair 200 - sold
1980 Checkmate Predictor - sold

Impeller changed a year ago. No sign of leaking. Engine temp runs normal during operation - that's the hardest thing to figure out: If it's not picking up water during flushing, how is water getting to the engine during operation? Funny how it worked great - every time - until the last two times. Can't figure out what happened overnight.

Water gets in during operations because of it sits in the water. The water goes in thru the intake on the outdrive since it's fully submerged.

_________________
-Tony
2016 Robalo R200 w/Yahama 200!

Previous boats:
2003 Four Winns 248 Vista - sold
1994 Sunbird Corsair 200 - sold
1980 Checkmate Predictor - sold

That makes sense. Sorry I'm relatively new at boating mechanics, although several decades with cars. I guess my first step, at this point, should be to crack open the outdrive and check the tubes going in? Still not sure I understand the operation of the port side discharge tube. Thanks again....

Before you "crack open the outdrive" make sure you have an alignment tool. I think you're referring to removing the outdrive to inspect he bellows. Since you're new to this, I recommend a marine mechanic for your first go round.

_________________
-Tony
2016 Robalo R200 w/Yahama 200!

Previous boats:
2003 Four Winns 248 Vista - sold
1994 Sunbird Corsair 200 - sold
1980 Checkmate Predictor - sold

First thing I would do is check the impeller. Yes, it's only a year old, but if you had sucked up some sand, it might be worn. It also might be damaged if it was ever run dry (and if it's "not sucking up water" that qualifies as running dry). When running on the cups, the impeller has to be in good enough shape that it can suck some air through before it sucks up the water...requires good impeller.

Still works in the water because the raw water pump is below the water line when sitting idle.

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"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

It is a bit harder for the pump on a Volvo to prime on the muffs, because the water has to travel all the way from the lower unit to the front of the engine. Make sure the muffs fit well, I use the Merc ones that have a wire that goes through the water intake and it clamps the 2 halves of the muffs together. I use a bigger diameter heater hose instead of a garden hose to get as much flow as possible. When its in the water the hydrostatic pressure of the water forces it up through the drive to the impeller.

Removing the drive itself is not going to help with water flow issues, except it the little gasket by the water passage is not good. If your engine runs at normal temp in the water, then you probably don't have a problem.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II