Bleeder hose valves-two are plugged from the factory?

[WATERWINGS]

Got a 5 petal front 1/2 from here on S&F, and while starting to rig a new motor, found that two of the bleeder hose valves were missing, and plugged from the factory. (in other words, three fittings on one side, and only one on the other)

Don't know what year motor it came off of, but the block I am gonna run, (think its an '89) has six bleeder fittings on the block.

What do I do with the other two fittings? (on the block, that would normally go to 3 fittings on EACH side of the front 1/2 ?)

Doesn't each cyl. need to be hooked into the front half?

Also can anybody get me new fittings to go in the other holes that aren't plugged on the front 1/2 ? (its missing a few)

[transomstand]

The press-in check valves for a 2.4 should be Merc p/n 426982. I haven't seen a manifold with the holes plugged, so we'll have to get that answer from one of the engine gurus.

Pete

[gambler183gt]

I did a front half swap on a 175. The new front had the 6 fittings for the reeds,but the block only had 5 fittings to attach to. I connected the lines by the diagram and plugged the left over one. Havent had a problem. Lee NJ

[WATERWINGS]

At first, I thought that they were set screws that were plugging the bleed valve holes, but looking closer, they are NOT set screws.

I wonder if they are driven in, (like freeze plugs), and they can be knocked out and repalced with the bleed valves?

What do these bleeders do?

Aren't they to suck out the excess pooled fuel that occurs in the intake during prolong idle, (like idleing through no wake zones) ?

[steve]

You can eliminate your dilema AND improve your motors idle and holeshot performance by running all your bleed lines straight back to your boats fuel tank. Block off the fittings ( better yet epoxy them ) on the block itself. You want 6 fittings on the front 1/2 , but if you only have 3, then you can add a small slot with a file from #1to2, 3to4, 5to6. Many of the 260 and drag motors use a slot or tiny holes drilled to connect them just as mentioned. The idea of the bleed system is to collect puddled fuel . At low speed, the fuel & oil drops out of suspension in the mixture and collects behind the reeds. Upon opening the throttle you get a bog if you do not collect the raw fuel. Merc in all their wisdom dumps the raw fuel right back into the engine into the boost port. Unfortunately the fuel STILL does not burn very well as its STILL not mixed with oxygen and you STILL get a loaded up motor if it idles very long. So either install 3 more check valves on the front 1/2 or add 3 slots and in any case run the puddled fuel back to the fuel tank or into the vent line so it can return to the tank. You'll get a much crisper motor with less loading up , less smoke , etc. There are 3 press in fittings BTW. One allows fuel to go out only and its the one you need, one allows in only , and one is just open. You will want to verify the part numbers to be sure you have the right one.

[WATERWINGS]

cool.

I think my first try will be to knock out the plugs and go back with all six bleeder valves.

If that doesn't work, I will have to try the "slot" method.

I assume that you mean to take a file and make a groove on the front 1/2 mateing surface, (where the gasket would go), so the pooled fuel would drain to the next chamber below?

The other method you mentioned (running the pooled fuel back to the tank) is interesting.

Will the pooled fuel have enough "pressure" to feed itself back to the tank?

....or does it just "gravity feed" back to tank?

Also, how would you manage this, (six bleeder hoses into one hose, then into the tank?)

I would think that you would have to make some kind of manifold to manage this?

[WATERWINGS]

While I wait for some answers to my above questions, I will ask this one too............

Does anybody know if the "factory" bleeder valve plugs can be knocked out?

Not the valves, but the "plugs" that the factory, (for some reason) put in the front 1/2.

[WATERWINGS]

To answer my own question about the "freeze plugs" that were covering the bleed valves, (check vavles), YES, they can be knocked out, and I will steal some vavles out of anothe front 1/2 I have, and use them.

[steve]

You are correct about the slots. Actually some of the ProMax's have the slots from Mercury.
You want to either get the T's from Merc for the fishing motors and T all 6 into 1 line and back to the tank or order a set of the more durable ones we carry to do the job. We have colored Tygon as well. All colors of the rainbow. Yes, the motors primary compression will easily push the raw fuel back to the tank. Merc could probably have done better on their EPA testing had they done this right . :rolleyes:

[WATERWINGS]

Cool Steve,

Thanks.

Do you have a pic of the "manifold" that you use, or even a better idea of how you use the "T's" to get all 6 into 1 ?


thanks again,

John