Experience with Moeller motor flusher? Aka Fake-a lake

[ZZZDR]

I want to run my Ski Nautique PCM engine in the driveway before going to the lake. Anyone used this contraption? It's basically a toilet plunger on an expandable rod with a hose inlet. Can you put too much water through it? How can you be sure you're flowing enough water? How long would you think you could run an engine with this device? Any warnings?

[DavidF]

RE: Experience with Moeller motor flusher? Aka Fake-a lake

I made a fake-a-lake out of a toilet plunger and galvanized pipe. It works well and flows plenty of water. You can run the engine on it indefinately. Only thing you cannot do is put the boat in gear.

[Fatboy206]

Fake a lake

Why don't you install a Tee piece and a ball valve between the fresh water flush valve and the raw water strainer so you can hook up your fresh water garden hose. Then you close off the raw water valve, open the garden hose side valve and turn on the water and fire up the motor the same time.

I always prime the lines and remove all the air in the lines before I fire up to ensure water gets to the motor water pump asap after it's started up.

Once you have turned the water on and the motor is running it should take about 5 seconds for the circulating water to find its way thru the motor and run out the exhaust.

When you have run this way for any length of time turn the garden water supply off and shut the motor off at the same time. Don't forget to turn off the garden water shut off ball valve and open you raw water valve before you drop your boat in the water.

Works perfectly, but keep an eye on the temp gauge.

Simple but effective setup.

[DanielC]

RE: Fake a lake

The "Fake-A-Lake" works OK. Make sure it is centered on the raw water pickup, do not put it in a ballast tank through fitting.
You cannot put too much water through it, it will just leak around the sides of the device.
Carefully put your finger on the back side of the raw water pump after starting the boat, and you should feel the pump cool off as the water moves through it. If the pump gets hotter, water is not flowing, and you may have damaged your raw water pump impeller. They need a constant flow of water through them, to lunbricate, and cool them.
You can run the engine at idle indefinitely with one. Do not run your engine at a high RPM with one, the engine will want more water than your house's plumbing can supply through a garden hose.
Do not leave the boat running unattended, the vibration can work the Fake-a-Lake loose, and leave your engine with out cooling water.
Here is a flushing adapter I made:
http://www.planetnautique.com/index....light=flushing
You can also get a female garden hose fitting, and a spare strainer bowl from your Nautique dealer, drill a hole in the center of the bottom of the strainer bowl, and attach the garden hose fitting.

[DavidF]

Re: Fake a lake

Why don't you install a Tee piece and a ball valve between the fresh water flush valve and the raw water strainer so you can hook up your fresh water garden hose. Then you close off the raw water valve, open the garden hose side valve and turn on the water and fire up the motor the same time.

I always prime the lines and remove all the air in the lines before I fire up to ensure water gets to the motor water pump asap after it's started up.

Once you have turned the water on and the motor is running it should take about 5 seconds for the circulating water to find its way thru the motor and run out the exhaust.

When you have run this way for any length of time turn the garden water supply off and shut the motor off at the same time. Don't forget to turn off the garden water shut off ball valve and open you raw water valve before you drop your boat in the water.

Works perfectly, but keep an eye on the temp gauge.

Simple but effective setup.

Although I agree that this approach will work, IMHO it leaves you suceptible to error and damage. Would be very easy to forget to open the raw water valve.

[mf01]

RE: Re: Fake a lake

I use the fake-a-lake in the driveway. It's good to have an extra set of eyes and hands. The hands to turn the water on before you crank the engine. The eyes to make sure it is still on there. One time I had mine fall off and no water was getting to the engine. You can typically tell when the water is going through. It will come out the exhaust in splashes even before it hits running temps.

[tadelfio]

RE: Re: Fake a lake

I went to the Dollar store and bought everything I needed to make a fake a lake for under $5. Works like a charm. I do like the extra strainer bowel idea. That could work. IMO the flush pro is crap. I'll never install one again. I really wish correct craft would add a factory installed engine flush as a standard feature.