My version
Watched the video multiple times..... then started work.
Port Engine= enough room to replace without removing intake out and in with replacement in like 45 minutes finished 3 days ago.
Starboard engine= almost enough room to replace if you wear small gloves....my hands wouldn't fit..... Cursed a lot, swore a lot, skinned my knuckles, bled on the engine. So I talked wife into getting it out after i was able to get the bolt out...... Getting it back in the screw started cross threading as there isn't a lot of room to maneuver on that side.... Pulled plug back out ran 8mmx1.25 tap in it to straighten threads out....... Then broke tap as I was taking it back out...... Now I had to take out intake.... which wasn't really that bad. I didn't remove throttle body or wiring just unclamped it from intake rubber tube with the hose clamp, disconnected all the connectors that were not part of intake (ended up cutting two zipties to get the sensor wires away from the intake) and only 4 screws and two nuts. Intake gasket is o rings against the machined surface of head and all of that was spotless.
For my Hail Mary(thank goodness it worked) I ended up tearing up 3 sets of precision pliers(HF precision so only $9 each) to be able to grab the tap part left in the hole. If this didn't work they have special broken tap removal tools but would have to order online and wait. Precision pliers don't do well with rotational forces and wasn't gonna use power tools as :
1. I didn't have any really hard bits to drill the tap with, need like cobalt bits to even put a dent in the taps as they are really hard....and brittle lol.
2. Not really enough room unless you have a 90 degree drill adapter + now had open fuel line from where I removed the intake.
So what should have taken 1 hour for this side has taken me 6 hours plus two trips to Harbor freight and two busted knuckles.
So moral to my FSH story...unless you have really small hands just remove the intake on the Starboard engine. Definitely needed it done. replaced the drive Anodes last year as they were looking a little worn.
I will post pictures of the engine anodes and thermostats I pulled tomorrow morning.
View attachment 203986
I flushed the engines on the hose without the thermostats before I install the new ones to make sure I get any loose sand/silt out. I used 3/4 clear line from Lowes to slip over the thermostat nipple on the back of each engine and run to a 5 gallon bucket on the aft platform. I closed off my bypass fitting on each engine(one at a time). I cut up one of the old thermostats so I still had something to seal the hose nipple fitting to the block. Gallon of vinegar for each for about an hour and then flushed with engines running.... first the normal way thru the flush ports and then reverse with a hose adapter attached running into thermostat housing. I got some sand/silt out...but not much. since my water pressure is only like 50psi once I opened the bypass valves observed water flowing back out thru the pump housing but no more pisser flow. When I installed new thermostats I replaced both hose connectors as the starboard one had bubbling of the plastic on the inside indicating a overheat which came close to melting plastic. hose was not damaged but the fitting was a little deformed and definitely made impact of how much water could flow thru.
From visual inspection of the thermostats look like the Starboard is the original and the Port looks like it has been replaced before. any deformities noted in the picture were the result of me prying the stuck T-Stat out of the engine head. As for the anodes they probably needed replacing 2 years ago lol. Since I'm in fresh water most of the time the new anodes should be good for a while.
I used a infrared heat gun to measure the water temps in all the hoses and exhaust. outside temp was like 90 water hose temp was 86( was in river water from edge of yard to this part of dock yeah it was that warm in the water today. All small hoses and exhaust /waterbox running 98-99 so everything seems to be running normal. This is a 2019 that I picked up in 2021 only has 140 hours now. PO spent all his time in Brackish /salt water and was religious about salt- away use. Me I just live where weeds are all around my dock ...no hard freeze this year so the weeds never really died in the Potomac.