Intake cleaning tool

[BobJohnson]

been getting weeds clogging my intakes lately and looking for a tool to help me clean the grates out so I don't have to get in water. Hopefully the weeds in my lakes die off before the water gets to cold, but still like to have a tool as a back up. (reverse trick helps. but couple times even after doing reverse trick, I find wads of weeds hanging on for deer life)

So in my searching, I came across this item

It is a rake which is now discontinued from what I have gleamed in my google searching.
Mercury Part No 830116A 2

So, now I want to make my own.

Hoping the brain trust here can give me some ideas as to what to use for the business end of something like this. To prevent scratching, it has to be plastic or hard rubber. Any thoughts any one? There has to be something on the market that I can buy and re-purpose to the "rake" part of this.

here are some others I came across. These all have metal ends, which I don't want.

 

[swatski]

Sorry! I just couldn't help myself.

 

[sx998]

Don't have an answer for you but whatever you buy attach a float to it.

 

[tdonoughue]

I would look in the toy department for a plastic rake or cultivating tool...

 

[Bruce]

Sorry! I just couldn't help myself.

Swatski must be getting lonely!!!!

 

[Bruce]

been getting weeds clogging my intakes lately and looking for a tool to help me clean the grates out so I don't have to get in water.

Like @swatski, I can not help myself, I thought BRP drives had that magical sleeve over their shaft that prevented anything from getting stuck!

How about a back scratcher https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00NN6DCN0/ref=mp_s_a_1_9_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1471310255&sr=8-9&keywords=back+scratcher

 

[2nazt]

Well I guess the intake grate is before the shaft @Bruce He is losing performance prior to touching his shaft/and or sleeve...I think they have pills for that lol.

I think this thread took a turn for the worst lol

I would look at the soon to be clearance beach supplies and the make a PVC fitting set up the has locking pins to size that comfortably reaches the grate from the swim deck. I would link (2) 90s and (1) 45 would let it curve and angle up nicely with only using (1) 10' pvc tube maybe 1 or 1.5" would work for strength. Or use the pvc for the tines as well and coat with bunk carpet. (Home Depot) has free 4" square samples to use.

 

[Gym]

How about a tine from a bamboo lawn rake? They are about 18 inches long with a defined hook on each tine. You can remove just 1 tine and let your wife use the rest of the rake to pick up leaves on the lawn this fall.

 

[MrMoose]

Once you find the right tool, if it's made of metal and you're worried about scratching, just coat it with Plasti Dip.
https://plastidip.com/our-products/plasti-dip/

 

[BobJohnson]

......... I thought BRP drives had that magical sleeve over their shaft that prevented anything from getting stuck!

How about a back scratcher https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00NN6DCN0/ref=mp_s_a_1_9_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1471310255&sr=8-9&keywords=back+scratcher

Yeah, the weeds are not getting to my sleeve. Getting hung up on the grates. Would I like to have clean out plugs on my Chap? Sure. But, I was talking to a guy with a Yamaha at a sandbar recently about our lakes weed issue and he said he doesn't use his plugs to clear them from his grates. Said hard to reach to the grates through the plugs and his plugs get stuck and hard to deal with. That might be a maintenance/upkeep issue, I don't know. So, no magic bullet there I guess.

But - back scratcher is interesting. I'll look into that and the plastic rakes in the toy section.

 

[BobJohnson]

Once you find the right tool, if it's made of metal and you're worried about scratching, just coat it with Plasti Dip.
https://plastidip.com/our-products/plasti-dip/

Thanks! Great idea. Been meaning to get some of this anyway to fix a leak in my gutters at home. Will keep this in mind. Opens some other options....

 

[dan144k]

there is a company JETXCO they sell impeller jam removal tools. they have a website.

they look pretty simple, but some ideas for people.

 

[Cambo]

Goggles and a coat hanger to hook stuff and pull out debris, shorter length on the bend portion