Hi all, I am replacing a freeze plug on my 54 3100 which has a 283. While I'm at it I'm replacing the crankshaft pulley, water pump and water pump pulley. When I removed the weeping freeze plug (passenger side rear) there is the standard junk below the freeze plug opening in the block. Not a ton since it was rebuilt 7 years ago but some. My question is should I try and flush it out? If so I have the water pump off already and I've seen on other threads the general info but would someone mind giving me the proper/detailed way to go about this? What problems might trying to flush the stuff out cause? I just want to make sure before I put it back together. Thanks in advance, Brian ________ strain index
Flush it ! Use an old coat hanger in the open hole to reach back where you cannot see and scrape loose as much silt & crud as you can , keep at it until no more chunks / rust / crud comes out . Consider reading my old " Citric Acid Flush " post and doing that .
Thanks Nate, I read some of your earlier posts and I will use the citric powder once it's all back together. For now, with one freeze plug open and the water pump off would I use the coat hanger to loosen up and use the hose in the water pump hole? Is there a risk of clogging anything up from doing it this way? Brian ________ Yamaha YZF-600R
Water Jacket Cleaning Typically no , you'll find vast amounts of reddish silt coming out , keep at it until the water comes out clear and don't forget to reverse the water flow too ~ it's laborious but well worth the effort . Also , when it's all done , remove the lower radiator hose from the radiator and peer inside , work your finger in as there's usually a lot of big rust flakes and scale , you can usually flush it out but if not , dismount the radiator and lay it flat (CAREFULY , dig ?) , replace the cap and fill it with water , shake and pour out until thete's no more crud/silt/flakes in either top or bottom tanks . I assume you'll be using a brass freeze plug ? . never use steel ones .
I am using brass, the other plugs look great, this one just developed a weep. Hopefully the plugs under the bell housing are good. When you say reverse the water flow do you mean to use the hose at the freeze plug hole and push water through the water pump opening? ________ vapor genie
Back Flushing Yes , just that ~ I know it's a PIA as the open hole is larger than the garden hose's end but use your hands and persavere . Remove the drain petcock too , flush it 6 ways to Sunday , you'll find after it sits & dries out a while , more red silt will come out .
Oh yea, the petcock. Just to make sure, you are referring to the drain in the bottom of the block correct? Sorry for all the questions this is new territory! I appreciate all your help! brian ________ full melt hash
No Worries ! Yep , that's the one . Once you've unscrewed it (brass so be delicate) you can fish in with the unbent coat hanger and scrape loose lots more rusty scale and silt... I'm sure you've allready firgured out you can bend the coat hanger thisa-way and that to better reach the far corners of the water jacket , most of the silt will be along the bottom , near or in the corners . Use a heavy , stiff coat hanger , it works beter for me .
Thanks! Just wanted to say thanks to Nate! I appreciate your help, the truck is back together and everything is great. No more leak from the dust cover and the running temp is perfect. Brian ________ CD125
