22V with frost plug out.. how to re-install 2005

[wnytige]

Hello,
We just pulled our boat out of storage, hooked it up to the water hose.. cranked it.. and it started in about 5 seconds.. that's the good part. Unfortunately, I noticed water running down the starboard side of the motor.
Upon closer inspection I found that the frost/freeze plug that is right under the rear engine mount was spit out. I'm hoping that this is the only real problem.. Now for the hard part.. The plug is above the engine mount.. I can feel it.. but can see it. I don't see any easy way to remove the mount and drive a new plug in. If I need to lift the motor does anyone have the specific steps to complete the task? We don't have any local shops that have experience with v-drives.

Thanks all for your help.

[CP3]

did drain the motor before you stored it for the winter?

You might want to do a search. I think someone had a similar problem before.....

[TeamAllen]

Here are a couple of previous posts on the subject. It doesn't look like they were ever resolved, but you could ask the original poster(s) what happened.

http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/show...ht=freeze+plug
http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/show...ht=freeze+plug

Oh yeah, welcome to the site.

[wnytige]

I can't believe how little room there is between the motor mount and the block!! I can reach up and place the plug at the hole, but there is almost no room to fit anytools in .. I thought about trying to get something flat in there as a lever.. but no luck yet. Is there any way to support the motor and remove th starboard mount? If not.. does anyone have the steps to remove the motor? My searches so far haven't provided much help.
Thanks for any help

[chpthril]

In one of the links posted by teamallen, there is a pic of a freeze plug installer tool that may make it possible to reinstall the plug with out removing the mount. If not, you may be able to block the engine up with wood, but you will need to actually raise it slightly to get the weight off before removing.

[gman]

Does Tige have a special tool for this? Was the design changed on more recent models to eliminate this issue?

[chpthril]

Well, GM built the block, and it has not changed much in a 100 yrs. Freeze plugs are always going to be in not so easy to reach locations once the engine is assembled and installed. Numerous tool companies, Mac, Snap-On, Craftsman, etc, make a freeze-plug installer that makes it easier to install one in tight places, but some disassembly may be needed.

[R&T Babich]

If you need a temporary fix until it's a more convenient time to put in a brass plug you might try one of the rubber expansion plugs. NAPA can get them. It's a rubber plug sized to fit the hole with a bolt thru the center to expand it, very much like a style of transom drain plug. It's about 2" deep so getting it in there may not work and it needs wrench clearance to the side to tighten the bolt. I have one in a hard to get spot on our Explorer. Just tighten it a bit after the first couple of trips.

[wnytige]

After much searching... it appears that I may just have to 'suck it up' and take it to the dealer... which really kills me. I hate paying for something that I should be able to fix... Before that I'm going to try and fabricate/bend up a 1 1/2" wide bar that's about 3/8" thick and see if I can use the motor mount.. yeah the one that is blocking the plug hole.. as my fulcrum point and try to drive the plug in. Hopefully I can find some sturdy stock Monday or Tuesday. If anyone has any better ideas.. I'd love to hear any of them. I'll post my success or failure and any photos later.. thanks to all for your input..

[wnytige]

Well... I've tried everything to get a lever behind the motor mount and drive the plug back in.. no luck. We don't have any inboard/v-drive shops locally... does anyone have the steps documented to lift the motor high enough to hammer the plug back in? I'd rather not disconnect anything I don't need to.. or screw up the alignment.
Thanks for any help you can provide!!!

[KonaKing]

Did I miss it or what motor and v drive do you have? If it is a PCM I have might have some documentation that will help. Also contact SPBFAN

[wnytige]

Thanks for the quick reply.. it's an '05 22V with a Merc 315 EFI.. the original post had only a little of the info... hopefully this is enough to help

[Tanner]

Mine fell out on memorial day. Just got a wrench and wedged it in there. Takes quite a bit of muscle. But it's help since. I put a dab of jb weld around the edge to hold it, even though it was totally flush. There's only 3-5 lbs of pressure there so it doesn't take much to hold it in.