HONDA BD-15D OUTBOARD - HELP NEEDED WITH COOLANT BLOCKAGE

[Alan de Enfield]

7 minutes ago, Mad Harold said:

No, simply pushed the strimmer cord into the tell tale untill I felt resistance, and pulled back and forth a few times.

I did have to do this twice, as it didn't work the first time.

 

Apologies, I was thinking you meant clearing the 'critters' from the water intake rather than the tell tale.

 

How do 'critters' get into the tell tale ?

[magnetman]

Tiny spiders perhaps. 

[stevevp]

32 minutes ago, Mad Harold said:

From the top.

On my outboard (Tohatsu) I needed to insert about 18 inches whatever that is in foreign capurtallers.

Very many thanks. I'll give it a go.

[magnetman]

Do it with the engine running so the water has a chance to push out any debris which may be inside the telltale. 

 

Strimmer cord is a good idea. I've never had a strimmer but its the right thing. 

 

 

[Tony Brooks]

I would suggest that you hold one end in a match flame for a second, so it melts and forms a rounded end, rather than one with sharp edges.

[stevevp]

24 minutes ago, magnetman said:

Do it with the engine running so the water has a chance to push out any debris which may be inside the telltale. 

 

Strimmer cord is a good idea. I've never had a strimmer but its the right thing. 

 

 

Will do, many thanks.

 

21 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

I would suggest that you hold one end in a match flame for a second, so it melts and forms a rounded end, rather than one with sharp edges.

 

Will do, many thanks. I'm hoping this is an easy fix.

Edited August 22, 2023 by stevevp

[stevevp]

Just to say very many thanks for all the advice received through this site.

 

I tried the strimmer cord (having rounded the end off first) and can report it cleared the blockage and I was able to enjoy my first run out of the year. A good £3.50 fix!

[Alan de Enfield]

9 minutes ago, stevevp said:

Just to say very many thanks for all the advice received through this site.

 

I tried the strimmer cord (having rounded the end off first) and can report it cleared the blockage and I was able to enjoy my first run out of the year. A good £3.50 fix!

 

Thanks for reporting back - so it was a simple blockage.

[stevevp]

Seems to have been. She ran for almost 4 hours yesterday with no problem. Fingers crossed for the next run - I'm leaving the strimmer cord onboard just in case!

Edited August 28, 2023 by stevevp

[1st ade]

1 hour ago, stevevp said:

I tried the strimmer cord (having rounded the end off first) and can report it cleared the blockage and I was able to enjoy my first run out of the year. A good £3.50 fix!

Thanks for reporting back - you'd be amazed how many people don't...

[magnetman]

It is a very common problem with these outboards.