FlushPro Installation location by boat dealer

[krich999]

I took my boat to a local well know and well respected dealership to install the Perko Flushpro. I have a Malibu Sunscape LSV 2007 Vdrive . For the installation, they put it inline with the water house before the impeller but after the transmission. In other words, the raw water intake comes in and goes through the oil cooler (?) in the transmission and then under the engine to the impeller which is located beneath the exhaust. They did a fine installation, but my question is about the location. I have seen many DIY photos in this site, and the installation is directly after the value on the intake from the hull, but before the transmission. Did they install it in an incorrect spot?

If I can get some pics, i will post.

Thank you.

[Pistol Pete]

Sounds correct to me. Flush pro's are usually installed after the tranny and vdrive.

[bigD]

Sounds correct to me. Flush pro's are usually installed after the tranny and vdrive.

It would probably work fine for running the engine but how would it flush brackish water out of the trans and V-Drive.

[Pistol Pete]

Good question.

That's why I don't drive in brackish water and use a fake lake to run my motor.

[scfdfireman]

I'm unsure how a "flushpro" works, but why can't you crack the ball valve at the raw water inlet to let the fresh water flush backwards through the transmission and out the raw water grate? I just have a tee on my raw water line with a ball valve and a hose bib fitting and it's installed after the transmission (since there's more room there) and I'm able to back-flush it as described above...

[Todd34]

I installed my flush pro on top of the ball valve at the raw water inlet because I wanted to flush the tranny/vdrive as well. It was a pain to put it there but it worked. Someone posted pics in a thread here and it really helped me out. I don't remember what the thread was called but it should pop up with a quick search.

Todd

[Pistol Pete]

I installed my flush pro on top of the ball valve at the raw water inlet because I wanted to flush the tranny/vdrive as well. It was a pain to put it there but it worked. Someone posted pics in a thread here and it really helped me out. I don't remember what the thread was called but it should pop up with a quick search.

Todd

Roger that.

The flush pro can be installed right after the intake grate but, it's a real PITA.

That's why most people put them in the nice, long, hose going to the impeller pump. Plenty of room there.

[Pistol Pete]

I'm unsure how a "flushpro" works

All a flush pro does is direct the water in one direction, to the motor. The advantage is you don't have to crawl under your boat to hook up a fake lake, just attach a garden hose to the F.P. Pic. with explanation.

[krich999]

Guys....thanks for all the response! Most of the pics on this site show the install right after the raw water intake. The way the flush pro works, is that it closes off the intake and takes the water from the hose and runs it in though. So, in my installation, it would not actually flush the trany and Vdrive, because water would not flow in that direction. It looks like the installation right after the intake woudl have been a pain, but if my installation does not flush everything, then did I kind of waste my time and money on the install? Where I live, there are not many fresh water boating options, so salt is what I will have to deal with. I was really trying to avoiding crawling under the boat all the time which is why I did the install.

So, does anyone know if it is a big deal or not if I am not flushing the trany and vdrive on a regular basis for salt purposes? Or, do I need to call these guys back and have them move the installation.

Thanks for all the response so far.

Keith

[Pistol Pete]

I think I'd have them move the installation point.

[JasonK]

When you guys say flush the tranny and v-drive you really mean flush the tranny cooler and v-drive cooler, right?

The flush pro has got to be before the impeller housing or the impeller would burn up. So how can it be before he impeller but not go thru the trans cooler? I'm confused. Damn v drives.

Sounds like your trans cooler is between the intake grill and the impeller housing? So the impeller has to suck water thru the trans cooler to get it from the lake?

[bigD]

When you guys say flush the tranny and v-drive you really mean flush the tranny cooler and v-drive cooler, right? Yes

Sounds like your trans cooler is between the intake grill and the impeller housing? Yes

So the impeller has to suck water thru the trans cooler to get it from the lake? And Yes

[krich999]

The "yeses" are correct. Through the trany then on to the impeller. The dealer is closed today (Monday), but I sent them an email questioning the placement. If suppose we could get into a beef is they say (hey....you said install....you didn't say where), but I am hoping that they will see the light and offer to move it for free. If not, I will pay someone to move it and chalk it up to a learning experience.

FYI, glad for this forum, otherwise I would not have even known about the FlushPro or the best place for an install.

[Bake's Marine]

That's where Bake's would install it (after the v-drive) unless it was a salt water application, then it should go before the v-drive so it flushes the salt water out of there as well.

-Paul

[Big Mac]

When you guys say flush the tranny and v-drive you really mean flush the tranny cooler and v-drive cooler, right?

The flush pro has got to be before the impeller housing or the impeller would burn up. So how can it be before he impeller but not go thru the trans cooler? I'm confused. Damn v drives.

Sounds like your trans cooler is between the intake grill and the impeller housing? So the impeller has to suck water thru the trans cooler to get it from the lake?

On these later model v-drive Malibus, they now use that separate "ZF Ski-Vee" v-drive unit. IIUC, they are water cooled, where intake water actually goes through the transmission (unlike previous models, and other boat brands, which use a ZF Hurth V-dive transmission that is cooled by a heat-exchanger transmission cooler located after the raw water pump). The intake water goes from the intake, through the Ski-Vee, then on to the raw water pump. I think he's saying that by putting the Flush Pro in the easy spot, the long hose between the Ski-Vee and the raw water pump, he can only flush the engine and not his Ski-Vee. Probably should have been located before the Ski-Vee if the OP wants to flush the Ski-Vee (which would be preferable in salt water use).

One solution is to skip the Flush Pro and assemble a new intake valve with garden hose fitting:

Edited June 30, 2009 by Big Mac

[krich999]

Exactly! I am running in Salt water, so for sure need to change the location. If I was in the NW, I would have Bakes re-do the install. Until I get it moved, ug, I will crawl under. Unfortunately, I didn't realize all of this until after using my boat and going home....so it has been sitting for a couple days without the trany flushed......breaks my heart. I will go down and flush it properly tonight.

Paul....why not just fly down to So Cal and do this install for me correctly?

Edited June 30, 2009 by krich999

[Big Mac]

IMHO, this looks like a better option

http://www.forespar.com/onlineCatalog/2009...shOut2009.shtml

[krich999]

Very cool. Maybe I do both.....

Actually, talked the the dealer that did the install. Nice job....just not the best location. Gave them pics of installs from this web (thanks to the malibucrew forum!). They were pretty busy with all the people trying to get their boats out of the shop for the 4th, so we will change the location sometime after the holiday.

Went wakeboarding and skiing early this morning to beat the holiday crowds and get some decent water. Very nice time, but still had to crawl under the boat for now. I am just too old for that, and after expending all my energy on the water, there is not much left for crawling around underneath. Next time I will invite a stranger to be the third and make them do it in exchange for the pull.

[Big Mac]

Yet another option that gets very high marks is the MST Guardian. I'm told it will flush the risers far better than the limited flow you can get with a Flush Pro, and also flushes the Ski Vee backwards and out through the intake. From what I hear, that's the unit at the top of the chain for flushing saltwater applications.

http://mstguardian.com/prod01.htm

[krich999]

Very cool! I am going to fill out their "quote request" and see what comes back since I noticed that the web site has not been updated since 05.

[Big Mac]

Very cool! I am going to fill out their "quote request" and see what comes back since I noticed that the web site has not been updated since 05.

Rumor has it that this is that same guy, same concept

http://www.superflushsales.com/product_3.html

Here's a quote from the other day on one of the other forums from a guy who used to live and boat in Hawaii. He had a Malibu at that time.

the way it works is there is a hose before the v-drive, hose after the v-drive (before the impeller), after the impeller, etc....... Whenever I flushed mine with this system I bought, it would back flush through the v-drive and out the bottom. Then it would fill the risers up and blow it all out the back of the exhaust. However, so it didn't blow any seals or anything, it had a pump regulator of some sort that all the hoses plugged into. It was awesome and I could still use "Salt Away" which is a product that west marine sells. It's almost like a soap and you put it in a dispenser when you hook your hose up.

Problem with the flush pros that everyone found out in Hawaii, is that it just flushes out the bottom of the risers. The top inside of the risers would cake up with salt crystals and start rusting. The water would only flow at a limited speed from the flush pro and still cause problems in the long run unless you had aluminum jacketed risers.

Edited July 4, 2009 by Big Mac

[the_dude]

Maybe you have it fixed already but in case you don't you can use the flush pro to run the motor for now and just disconnect the raw water hose off of one of the V-drive inlet/outlets. A garden hose nozzle fits in those nearly perfectly and it's how I flushed my boat for quite a while. Wastes more water and takes longer since you are doing two separate flushes but was better than getting under the boat.

[krich999]

Lucky for me, the shop is being response and I take it back on Thursday to have the flush pro moved. Of course, throwing them some additioanl little projects (install another battery and replace my paddle wheel), help the process. The did really nice work on the install. just not the best location and not sure what the mechanic was thinking? Oh well.....

[Soon2BV]

Lucky for me, the shop is being response and I take it back on Thursday to have the flush pro moved.

Just wondering what the final outcome was - where did they move the valve to?

I was looking tonight, and it seems like there is a lot of space just before the fitting into the v-drive.

That would allow flushing the drive and engine, and is also a workable space with the rear cushion out of the way.

[srock]

Has anyone every had one of these fail?