freeze plugs

« **on:** April 11, 2014, 05:47:38 AM »

I thought I had winterized my float and kept a heat source in the engine compartment, drained all the water etc....( as I had in the past) but after an unusually cold winter here in Mississippi I had 2 freeze plugs pop off when I started it yesterday.

I had looked the engine over before I fired it up, everything looked ok but.....

my question, should I just replace the 2 that came out, or should I go ahead and replace them all?

mobile

« **Reply #1 on:** April 11, 2014, 08:06:47 AM »

Visually look at the others to see if they started pushing out too. If they're good no need to replace them all, just pop the 2 in and hope nothing cracked.

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« **Reply #2 on:** April 11, 2014, 08:42:12 AM »

When I bought my boat, 2 freeze plugs were laying in the bilge area. Boat was sitting for over 10 years.

Thought about just replacing the 2, since the others looked ok, but ended up replacing them all. It was cheap insurance and a great peace of mind.

« **Reply #3 on:** April 11, 2014, 08:46:31 AM »

Sending good juju your way, you may need it.

Usually if it froze enough to push out the core plugs it has cracked something.

« **Reply #4 on:** April 11, 2014, 09:49:13 AM »

id block off the dump lines and pressurize the block to make sure thats not the only thing that "popped"

« **Reply #5 on:** April 11, 2014, 02:09:42 PM »

pulled the logs and inspecting..... I don't see any obvious signs of damage to the logs..... went over block and heads and don't see anything out of the ordinary.

oil is good.....no water.....

I do feel some sand in the water gallery when I poke my finger into the freeze plug opening..... I bought the boat in Parker so I'm thinking that's from there.

I'll flush what I can and install the new freeze plugs and then Pressure test it.

mobile

« **Reply #6 on:** April 11, 2014, 02:17:04 PM »

here's a different angle on the freeze plug hole...... hopefully no problems

mobile

« **Reply #7 on:** April 11, 2014, 02:34:04 PM »

30 bucks will save you thousands

http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS-Performance-Products/555/51123/10002/-1?parentProductId=752718

« **Reply #8 on:** April 11, 2014, 02:44:32 PM »

the old plugs that popped out

mobile

« **Reply #9 on:** April 11, 2014, 02:45:59 PM »

Quote from: ka0tyk on April 11, 2014, 02:34:04 PM

30 bucks will save you thousands

http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS-Performance-Products/555/51123/10002/-1?parentProductId=752718

that is my
next purchase ...... no doubt.

thx!!!!

mobile

« **Reply #10 on:** April 11, 2014, 02:52:45 PM »

ok, so the new freeze plugs are made by Clevite.... 1"3/4" OD

but they are like an 1/8th inch shorter than the ones that came out.....

the deeper originals would seat with
more surface area I know, but does it matter?

mobile

« **Reply #11 on:** April 11, 2014, 03:43:27 PM »

Quote from: muffbro on April 11, 2014, 02:52:45 PM

ok, so the new freeze plugs are made by Clevite.... 1"3/4" OD

but they are like an 1/8th inch shorter than the ones that came out.....

the deeper originals would seat with
more surface area I know, but does it matter?

mobile

No big deal... The mating surface is not important.

« **Reply #12 on:** April 11, 2014, 03:56:22 PM »

ok. thx GT

mobile

« **Reply #13 on:** April 11, 2014, 04:30:19 PM »

lol...... well, there is no room for me to be able to knock the damn things in.....

the stringer is exactly in the 'wrong' place to allow any kind of force to be applied in order to drive em home....

foooooook meeeeeee.... hahahaaaa

any ideas gentlemen..... other than pulling the motor?

mobile

« **Reply #14 on:** April 11, 2014, 04:38:45 PM »

Have a pic so we can see the angles we arr working with?

« **Reply #15 on:** April 11, 2014, 05:00:22 PM »

approx 5 -3/4"

thanking you; in advance for ideas ...

mobile

« **Reply #16 on:** April 11, 2014, 05:25:33 PM »

Use a short socket that's close to the inside diameter of the plug and the side of a small sledge. Little strokes but it'll get it there.

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« **Reply #17 on:** April 11, 2014, 06:10:32 PM »

sorry your going in. lol

« **Reply #18 on:** April 11, 2014, 06:37:19 PM »

I have an 1 -1/8 socket that fits perfectly, but it leaves virtually no room to strike it cleanly enough to hit it hard enough...... I guess I could cut the socket in half ......

mobile

« **Reply #19 on:** April 11, 2014, 06:46:49 PM »

Can you lay a towel over the stringer and get a scissor jack in between and press it in?

« **Reply #20 on:** April 11, 2014, 10:36:25 PM »

They make a rubber one that you could install to check motor and use untill you have time to lift motor and install proper one. I used one for a season and changed in the off season.

« **Reply #21 on:** April 11, 2014, 10:39:40 PM »

Quote from: tunnels on April 11, 2014, 10:36:25 PM

They make a rubber one that you could install to check motor and use untill you have time to lift motor and install proper one. I used one for a season and changed in the off season.

I keep one in the crash box.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/rnb-10231?seid=srese1&gclid=CLi4ycid2r0CFY6RfgodtokArg

You could also head down to a machine shop and see if they will pop in in for you... The tools would be helpful in this case, grab a case of beer and walk in looking sad..

Here is the tool... Might be worth the $50 http://www.toolpan.com/ATD-Tools-5270--Freeze-Plug-Installation-Tool-_p_295.html?gdftrk=gdfV27228_a_7c824_a_7c2023_a_7cATD5270

« **Reply #22 on:** April 12, 2014, 06:48:16 AM »

I'm going to try the expansion plug route to start with and see if I can't make that work.
if not, I'm gonna try the sad puppy eyes routine as GT suggested ..... if THAT doesn't work, I'll pull the motor.

thanks for all the suggestions.... it's appreciated.

pretty frustrating to think you have done a good job prepping yer boat for winter.....then getting fired up for the season and hit a wall because of pure dumbass mistakes....

mobile

« **Reply #23 on:** April 12, 2014, 01:54:26 PM »

freeze plugs installed .....

mobile

« **Reply #24 on:** April 12, 2014, 02:06:27 PM »

That will last as long as your rubber hoses last I wouldn't worry about it until you have to pull the engine

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