Saving Old Seagulls

Got a water blockage in my 102, no output from the pee hole. Can anyone tell me the drill for clearing water stoppages please.

I've got no hose to back flush it where I am, but I've got compressed air, and various wires to poke it with.

I know exactly what you mean with this. I've come across it many times with 102's.
Here's what you do:
The best way is to remove the cylinder from the crankcases which will mean a fairly hefty strip down in the first place.
Next, remove ALL the water fittings on the cylinder as this will give you better access into the waterjacket. (especially the one at the bottom) Dont be scared to get the blow torch out on some of the brass fittings. Then have a good poke around with some stiff wire anywhere the wire will reach. Give the cylinder a good soak in some caustic soda for a few days then rinse with plenty of water. Repeat the process as many times as you think is required until you are satisfied as much of the rust has been shifted from within.
Check carefully for cracks on the outside of the cylinder too, as this might hide something sinister.
Then re-assmble with a new base gasket and perhaps some new rings and a plug and away you go again!

Pics below might help with where the waterjacket begins and ends. (dont worry it's just for reference purposes that i still have this)

Jon

I haven't got time to strip the whole thing down, can't I flush it out ?

I was running along fine, but must have picked up some weed or leaves.

waterworks wrote:I haven't got time to strip the whole thing down, can't I flush it out ?.

Probably not, strip it, or buy a Honda.

H A

No, flushing will only move the rust flakes in the water jacket around, as there is nowhere for the debris to go as the pipes are too narrow. The only real way is to remove the top end at least and remove the water jacket fittings. Then as per previous advice you will have a hole at the top and bottom of the water jacket big enough for small chips and flakes of rusty cast iron to either drop out our be prised out with a small screw driver.

Basic maintenance for a 102. A lot easier on a century or forty where you can remove the head and clean out the water passages.

I have filled water jackets with boiler cleaner/de scaler in the past, not really sure if it has done any good though, a badly corroded water jacket will be on death row anyway, waiting for the inevitable cracks in the outer water jacket to cause it to be scrap.

You will be able to strip it down wash out the water jacket and back together in a couple of hours. All part of the fun, which a Honda won't provide

Have you checked to see if the blockage/fault lies in any other part of the coolant system?

Good though the 102's are, they still need that little tiny bit of yearly maintenence to keep them going for a lot longer. (stay out of saltwater too if you can, this will only speed up the death blows unless you're very strict at flushing the motor through after every use)
Honestly, i would strip the powerhead down and do the job properly.It's well worth it in the long run, trust me on that. (i can do this comfortably in an afternoon without rushing)
Oyster's advice is sound. No amount of blowing through the waterjacket with compressed air will shift anything like what MUST come out. Other than the obvious checks to the pumphousing and water inlets and pipes in/out, the rest really is down to internal corrosion and nothing else.
Use the pics as a guide to help you.

any pics?

Jon

Stripped it down today, and a nice lump of rust was blocking the water outlet in the block, I didn't have the time or tools to take the head off, but I will have to give it a proper clean out at some point.

Well worth doing the job properly from the start.
You might be surprised at just how much crud comes out with a good scrape/poke about with wire.



Jon

I couldn't get a 1.5 mm wire in there much. I was thinking acid would do a better job ?

Maybe electrolosis ?

When you can get round to spending quality time with this powerhead, remove ALL of the water fittings to give you much better access into the waterways. Find an old wire coat hanger (straightened out into a long enough length) and use this to poke around inside. The thicker the wire the better. Give everything a good shake to remove the flakes of rust as you go.
I promise you, you'll be amazed at what will come out. (use the pics at the start of this topic to help you find where the waterjacket runs from and to)

Acid will work (i have a preference to sulphuric as i have a ready supply of it at work) but be carefull. Leave the block unattended for too long and things can turn nasty quite quickly!
Alternatively you could use caustic soda solution over the course of a couple of days.
Whichever method you decide to employ, flush the block with plenty of fresh water afterwards.


Best of luck

Jon