Optimax water pick up question.

[eramos08]

HELLO ALL, I HAVE TWIN 09 OPTI 150s. I WANTED TO KNOW IF ANY OTHER OPTI OWNERS ARE USING THE HIGH SPEED WATER PICK UP PLATES( SMALL PLATED HELD ON WITH 3 SCREWS AT THE MOTORS WATER PICK UP ON EACH SIDE OF THE LOWER UNIT). CAN I TAKE THEM OFF? WILL IT AFFECT MY ENGINES COOLING? THE REASON WHY I ASK IS BECAUSE THEY TRAP ANY CRAP THE GOES BY THEM. THANKS! AND INPUT WOULD GREATLY HELP!

[Mr. Demeanor]

It sounds like someone covered the side water intake grills as my stock Opti doesnt have anything like you desribe. Is this an XS motor? Somtimes those side intales are blocked off if the engine is mounted very high to keep from sucking air. Got a pic?

[slief]

Just looked at my Opti 150's and I dont have anything covering my pickups that screwed on either. My water intake is cast into the lower unit. Take a picture and post it so we can see what your talking about. What ever it is, its probably aftermarket from the sounds of it.

[DryRot]

Neither do I.

[eramos08]

thanks for the input. after hearing that no one had these plate i called merc to see if this is a factory option and if it would afftect m engines in any way. merc advised that these are merc products that dealers have the option of installing on engines that are mounted high for increased speed to help direct as much water as possible into the inlet. my motors are mounted normal, or seems that way so im gonna remove them to see if it makes a difference. thanks for the help guys!!!!!

[aristocraft]

P.S. Welcome to the board. Show a pic as i would be interested in seeing them as well

[eramos08]

here they go. ever seen them?

[Back-in-Black]

Originally Posted by eramos08

here they go. ever seen them?

Yep. I had a 1996 Merc 225 on a previous boat that had itermitant overheat problems. Veeeery wierd. Could run all day at then all of a sudden, at cruise speeds the buzzer would go off. Stop, wait 5 minutes and it would go away. Might come back 10 minutes later, might not come back for 3 trips. Anyway, the Merc fix for it was installing those plates and drilling out a pee hole in the gearcase to a slightly larger size. Worked, 'cause once this was done I never had the problem again.

[Ghost Chaser]

Originally Posted by eramos08

here they go. ever seen them?

Don't mean to jack the thread but what is the small > like cut out on the

front of your lower unit? My opti has the same cutout. Is this a vent of some type?

at first it looks like a chip or break in the lower unit. Help is appreciated.

thanks

[jigger]

Originally Posted by Ghost Chaser

Don't mean to jack the thread but what is the small > like cut out on the

front of your lower unit? My opti has the same cutout. Is this a vent of some type?

at first it looks like a chip or break in the lower unit. Help is appreciated.

thanks

The little cut is called a pitcock. This is what makes analog speedometers work. I collects water which in tun creates pressure to make the guage go up and down.

[CJS]

Originally Posted by jigger

The little cut is called a pitcock. This is what makes analog speedometers work. I collects water which in tun creates pressure to make the guage go up and down.

Also known as a "crap collector". Any little piece of debris that gets
in there will render the speedo useless.

[eramos08]

that great to know! thanks for that info. if it does get clogged how do we clean it?

[CJS]

Originally Posted by eramos08

that great to know! thanks for that info. if it does get clogged how do we clean it?

A. Insert a small drill bit (by hand) and spin in reverse slowly in
hopes of grabbing a piece of the debris so you can pull it out.

B. Apply lips securely to hole and SUCK.

C. Remove tube from back of speedo, apply lips securely and BLOW.