New Larger Water Indicator (pee hole) for Honda

[opie]

Honda BF50A engine.

I have had problems with restrictions in my water indicator stream from the engine. (No peeing from the pee hole, using the popular language of outboard motoring.) Either the flow is small or gone altogether sometimes. I never take the chance to ignore the absence of the stream, but stop as soon as possible and clean out the water indicator circuit. At the least, this involves taking off the cowling and removing the small rubber hose and either cleaning the debris out of the hose or the plastic fitting on the bottom engine cover that is the water exit point. But, often, there is no debris there, and I am faced with the task of removing the "water indicator joint" which is Honda's words for the fitting that screws into the engine block where the plastic hose slips over. It takes a 12mm deep socket and nimble fingers and I find dirt or scale blocking the hole. A real pain. I wondered why the hole could not be larger.

I was reading my new Honda BF50A shop manual over and over, and finally looked at page three where it shows that in 2004 and after Honda modified the joint with a larger fitting internal diameter. Eureka! Just what I wanted. I went to my dealer and ordered the parts for a 2004 and later engine. 19312-ZW4-H00 for the joint, 91402-ZW4-H00 for the hose (with a large end and a small end), and 90603-ZV4-000 for the small clip.

As the pictures of the old fitting and the new fitting below show, the size of the hole went from 3/32 inch diameter to 3/16 diameter. That is a 400% increase (due to pi-r-squared). However the plastic fitting on the cowling remains the same 3/32 diameter. No problem. I guess Honda wants a small stream coming out for some reason. But the major problem of removing the fitting from the engine for me will probably be over in most cases. I just got the parts and have not installed them yet.

[Night Sailor]

I'm curious also for engineering and design reasons why they saw the need to enlarge the engine fitting, but not the outlet in the cowling. Other than costs of retooling a cowl mold vs the cost of cheap off the shelf tube fittings. I hope some one on this forum knows, though I don't own a Honda. I'm just curious about the many redos of any maker's mistakes caused by inadequate testing under real conditions because of the marketing department rushing things to the consumer.

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

i've seen mods where the fitting is completely removed in favor of a large(er) rubber hose which is extended thru the cowl opening.
that rubber hose serves as the new pee-hole which creates less pressure, but more allows volume of water to move thru system.

Bob T.
"DāBob"
'02X w/ '04 90-TLDI (14" x 11 pitch)
Dinghy Motor: '06 2.5-Suzuki

[opie]

BobbyT,
Thanks for the suggesstion. I will do it. The fitting has an inlet of 3/32 and an orifice of 2/32. With your idea I will take the 6/32 (or 3/16") joint opening and have similar output all the way to the ocean.......


Above is BobbyT's suggestion laid out on my dining room table....
(click for larger image)

[Hamin' X]

Just to play the devil's advocate; is it possible that the restriction is designed to create enough back pressure to ensure proper water circulation throughout the engine? Perhaps enlarging the outlet will reduce the internal pressure to such a degree that the upper parts of the engine do not get enough coolant at lower RPM's.

I don't pretend to be an outboard mechanic, but...

~Rich

[J.Teixeira]

Great post!

I also have a honda 50hp. An excellent engine!

All I know is that after problems with dirt in the pee hole...

I have done the mod to the fitting bi completely removing the pee hole in favor of a large(er) rubber hose which is extended thru the cowl opening. That rubber hose serves as the new pee-hole which creates less pressure, but more allows volume of water to move thru system.

Problems disappeared.

When I have problems with dirt I simply blow the pipe with the motor running and all the dirt comes out fast...

Anyway I will get that part and test it...

Jose

PS:One day mi 10 years old daughter decided to play with the pipe and pulled it out

[Night Sailor]

Opie, in the sketch you have above, I noticed a spring type wire clamp. Most authorities recommend an all stainless band and screw type clamp preferably TWO of them for the most security. When that type is tightened down, no one can pull it off on purpose, much less accidentally. Just make sure the screw is also stainless as some makers make the band stainless but not the screw!

[Ron]

I frequently have this problem on my Honda. I might also try this solution. As of now, I use the plastic line from a weed wacker to ream out the hole whenever it gets clogged. I remove the cowling, pull out the rubber hose and insert the plastic weed-wacker line from there. It works well, but always a nuisance to stop whatever your doing. For this reason, religiously always check my pee-hole whenever I start the engine, and periodically after that.

[opie]

Except, what if the obstruction is bigger than the hole and can not be broken up with the whacker line? That is why I increased my hole by 400% in size.

[c130king]

Pee Hole....

Whacker....

Increasing the size 400% ...

This is starting to get a PG-13 rating.

Jim (* my mind is always in the gutter *)

[robbarnes1965]

I have had the same problem with my Honda 50hp 2007. The Hondas being common out here, everyone I talked to gave the same advice when mine was clogged. Just put something up the hole from where it usually comes out (no cover removal needed) and wiggle. I used a bit of wire. Presto! Works like a charm. It turns out, at least in my area, 19 out of 20 times it's a spider/web and comes apart pretty easily with a poke.

And yes Jim, everything seems to work better after a good poke

[c130king]

Does "whacking" it cause the "increase in size"

Just wondering...and please no posting of pictures on this thread...thanks.

Jim