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BF 45 - scale buildup - H2O in oil question?

P

Piratejason

New member
Thanks in advance for any help!

I purchased a BF45 last week - knowing that the PO left some maintenance unattended. Motor runs great on hose at fast idle - strong flow of water out of tell-tale. While on hose if I put motor in gear and throttle up - scale breaks loose and clogs tale tale - I pull the hose off - try running wire to no avail. As a last resort - I pulled the thermostat off and made a seal to garden hose - removed tale-tell nipple - water pressure blows scale out. I have done the above three or four times - last time treating with a small amount of CLR. I am still trying to get motor to come to full throttle without stopping up.

After doing the above I notice the oil was now milky - obviously has water in it. Is this a function of a pressure relief from the water hose or did I break something? Forgot to add - water from tale-tell was ponding in motor housing - could this have leaked in?

I just want to eliminate the obvious before I drop off at dealer-shop.

Thanks for any help. I have two little boys counting on me to get this thing going!

PJ
 
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It may be possible that you induced water into the oil with the backwashing, although I can not explain how...you can change the oil and see if most of the water goes away. It is possible that there may be more issues. The 45 was produced between 1990 and 1993. Depending on how it was maintained, it could be most anything. Let's hope you induced it with the backflush.

As for the clogged telltale...follow the telltale tube to where it connects to the block . You should see a nipple there. It is probably getting clogged just inside that nipple. Remove the nipple and you should be able to clean out the opening. Some of the guys on the site have replaced the nipple with one with a larger hole size so it would not clog so easily. Then they run a slightly larger diameter hose through the hole where the indicator nipple (removing the nipple) goes through the cowling.

Run the engine for a short time without the nipple in it and try to free up any debris with a paperclip or whatever. You man get a bath, but it is one way be assure you get the most of the debris out. Hopefully, the larger hose will handle anything into the future.

Mike
 
Thanks for the reply. I did the above - kept stopping up used compressed air to break up the debris. Ran on fast throttle for 30 minutes on the muffs. Oil was milky when finished.

I will probably take it to the shop. I feel I could change the headgasket but if it was something else I might be over my head.

Thanks,
PJ
 
Yep! It sounds like you are making the right decision...taking it in. If it does turn out to be a head gasket, they can probably do a good clean out job while it is off.

Mike
 
Mike - ballpark figure what should I expect to be charged for replacing headgasket if that is the issue? Anything else to have done while in there?

Dropped her off at the shop today.

Thanks a ton in advance.
PJ
 
It is a minimum of 2.5 to 3 hours just the change the head gasket. So 3 hours times their labor rate.

The headgasket itself is around $66. There may be a couple of other o rings etc to change too...like on the oil passage from the block to the head.

They should spend additional time (compression testing, leakdown testing, etc )analyzing the problem before they pull the head. The answer to the problem may turn out to be something else.

They will also be spending extra time to clean out your system...that may include removing your lower unit. If they remove the lower unit, they should change the impeller unless it has just been changed.

Unfortunately, it is really hard to say what the problem is until you go through a lot of that....even then many times it is a calculated guess.

Normally, most dealers will give you an estimate and description of what they are going to do after the initial analysis is finished unless you said "just fix it".

I generally call the customer anyway...just so we are on the same page.

Mike
 
Thanks for the guidance, but this is what I was trying to avoid.

Took to certified Honda dealer - boat has been there since my last post over 1 month. Still not fixed. Performed leakdown test - all signs pointing to headgasket. I should have tried to replace myself. Leaving for family vacation, a week at Nags Head without the boat. Shop Mgr. promised it would be fixed a week ago - pulled in the shop this past Friday afternoon.

Not happy.
 
Hondadude - we finally found out there was significant corrosion in the top end and water was getting through the jacket into the oil. We are trying to get a bare cylinder head - and I have been told that they are all on backorder.

Since we are replacing the cylinder head anyway - is there anything I can do to increase performance? I know the 40 - 60 all share the same block. Lower end is in great shape. PO just must have never flushed and lucky me it perforated withing 30 days of purchase!

Thanks again in advance for any info. or suggestions.

PJ
 
Still waiting for replacement cylinder head - saga started Mid May.

This is getting old. How hard is it to weld up a BF45 head? Any ideas on obtaining a replacement?

Thanks,
PJ
 
Resolved !

Replaced head - head gasket and all is well. These engines are great when they run :) !

Electrolysis had made a hole in the combustion chamber. Water was getting in the cylinder and then into the oil.

Thanks to HondaDude for all the info.!
PJ
 
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