Looking for alittle help

[Spicer]

I just bought a fake-a-lake and was wondering how long it should take before seeing any water come out of the exhaust? I tried using it once already and never saw any water exit the exhaust. I know I had what sounded like a belt squealing but I'm not sure if it could be that or a what a bad pulley would sound like. Any help would be appreciated

[dj2]

Did you start the water before you started the engine? If not, that squealing could have been your impeller eating itself at startup

[Spicer]

No I had the water going before I started the engine

[dj2]

I usually have water coming out of the exhaust within 10 seconds

[mikemcclain8]

hull vent.jpghull vent.jpg

I just bought a fake-a-lake and was wondering how long it should take before seeing any water come out of the exhaust? I tried using it once already and never saw any water exit the exhaust. I know I had what sounded like a belt squealing but I'm not sure if it could be that or a what a bad pulley would sound like. Any help would be appreciated

I've maybe waited 20 seconds. Is there water coming out around the intake? Not to be rude, but are you sure it's over the engine intake?

[chpthril]

Sounds like you need an impeller now. Did you put the F-a-L to the correct intake? Sometimes you need to put the trans in neutral and bring the engine rpm up to like 1200 for a few seconds.

[Spicer]

FaL.jpg
So i attached it right there in the picture and that's the only intake i see underneath. I didn't try to rev it.

[chpthril]

If you've got a Merc engine, im betting the impeller has flipped the wrong way, resulting in the squealing noise and not water from the exhaust. If it has the composite housing and never had the impeller housing changed or you dont know, get the whole housing assembly not just change impeller

[Thegerman618]

after the engine was running how much water was still getting out of the F-a-L? As stated above, were not trying to insult your knowledge just trying to diagnose. Fake Lakes are a royal pain to get positioned just right so you don't starve them for water and eventually burn through an impeller in 30 seconds.

[Spicer]

If you've got a Merc engine, im betting the impeller has flipped the wrong way, resulting in the squealing noise and not water from the exhaust. If it has the composite housing and never had the impeller housing changed or you dont know, get the whole housing assembly not just change impeller

What issues does the composite housing have? The last time I was on the lake I know I never had any sort of cooling/overheating problems it ran fine. I've only owned the boat for a year and a half now and have taken it to a shop to do the fluids and to have it winterized and dewinterized and they should have put a new impeller in. But I think I'll pull the housing off and take a look inside and check the impeller.

[Spicer]

after the engine was running how much water was still getting out of the F-a-L? As stated above, were not trying to insult your knowledge just trying to diagnose. Fake Lakes are a royal pain to get positioned just right so you don't starve them for water and eventually burn through an impeller in 30 seconds.

No insult taken I here to learn and get as much knowledge as I can. From what I saw it didn't look like the water coming out from between the f-a-l and hull changed after i started it. Which is weird since I haven't had any issues with cooling while on the lake

[chpthril]

Those composite Merc housing are known to get out of round over time of if the impeller runs dry and gets hot. This leads to repeated impeller failure over short periods or priming issues.

[tigemech]

I would start with making sure you have the fake a lake sealed all the way around the through hull. if off a little bit it will have a hard time sucking up water

[Spicer]

Runs.jpg

I do appreciate all of the input. I decided I would check to make sure i had a nice good seal on the f-a-l and sure enough as you can see from the pic the impeller is good. Gave me some good ideas to look for in the future with any issues that may come up.

[tigemech]

i would just make sure your temps stay good once you get it in the water, but im guessing youll be fine! Id still replace the impeller at the beginning of next season especially if you dont know when the last time it was replaced!