Accessing MD2030B exhaust pipe elbow

[Emouchet]

Hi all,

The exhaust elbow is about 20 years old, and albeit the engine has mostly been used in fresh water, I am suspecting it is fairly corroded. I would like to inspect it.
Also, last season, thermostat was locked in the open position, so the engine runs for about a 100 hours at lower temp, around 65c rather than 82-85c. This is resulting in incomplete combustion, so more residues have probably accumulated into the elbow.

Because the space in the engine locker is so tight, I cannot fit a proper metric 12 wrench to unscrew the 4 nuts attaching the exhaust pipe elbow on the Md2030B. Especially, the 4 o'clock nut is unreachable.

I am thinking as an alternate solution to rather remove the heat exchanger housing where the elbow is attached. This will eventually get me access to the elbow. I can then work on a bench with much more space.

Here is an exploded view of the parts, where elbow is part #11, and housing is part #6
https://www.marinepartseurope.com/en...0-25-2427.aspx

Did someone already did that ? Is this easy to do ? Do you have any hint ?

[belizesailor]

Have removed MD series exhaust elbows and dont recall having difficultly. Can you reach the 4 o'clock with a socket on an extension?

[Emouchet]

I can’t fit a regular socket. It fits, but then there is no space for the ratchet arm.
I can try to fit a flex socket.