140 raw water pump

[lonemust]

Hey ya'! If I were to put the outdrive (Also a 140) in a plastic barrel with 16" slit cut in the side for the drive with water. Could I remove the inlet hose at the termastat housing to see if it is pumping water. If not how can I tell if the raw pump is working without putting it on the lake. I would like to test it at home so if it needs replaced I can do it at home. 15+ miles to the nearest body of water. My boat is a '70 starcraft with a merc 140 and a 140 outdrive

 

[tschmidty]

Re: 140 raw water pump

Use mufflers off a garden hose. After that yes you can remove the hose at the thermostat.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: 140 raw water pump

I wouldn't do a barrel, just use muffs on the garden hose. But, that will only show you it it's pumping water, not the condition of the impeller. The impeller has to be pretty hosed up, or have a blockage, not to pump water at all. The impeller could be missing a blade or 2 and still pump water, though not at the right capacity.

If you are worried about the condition of the water pump, just replace it, especially if it hasn't been done in 2 years. You could need a complete water pump kit though, instead of just the impeller. Impeller $10-15, Water pump kit $30-40

 

[lonemust]

Re: 140 raw water pump

Doesn't the hose kind of push the water past the pump? I have ran it on muffs and get water out the hub. That's why I was wondering about a barrel layed on its side with a 16" wide slit cut in the side filled with water. To see if the pump will pick up the water on its own. With a garden hose being under pressure I don't see how that will give me a positive result as to if the raw pump in the lower unit works.

 

[lonemust]

Re: 140 raw water pump?

Re: 140 raw water pump?

Anyone else have a comment on this, PLEASE. I thought the hose would force the water to thee engine. I want to see if the pump will pick it up on its own.

 

[ziggy]

Re: 140 raw water pump

i think just use the hose and muffs too.

or

15+ miles to the nearest body of water

drive it to the lake. if i really wanted to know, i'd take mine to the lake which is 20+ miles away. not that long a drive...

or

if your suspicious of your impeller, replace it. i think the alpha1 style impeller is somewhat fragile and since i gotta inspect it every year, i replace it every year. then ya know what ya got. not that large of an expense when ya consider what it does and must do. ever notice that most overheat threads the first question ask in the replys is. have ya replaced the impeller?

I thought the hose would force the water to thee engine.

may not be as much force as ya think. i've personally overheated on the hose because of low water flow from the hose (sweety stated filling the washer in the hose and caused me low water flow) i would also guess that when your running at the lake. water is forced into the cavity that feeds the pump via them little vanes on the lower where the water comes in at. so a hose may not be all that different in that respect.


imho, that's my 2 cent worth...

 

[lonemust]

Re: 140 raw water pump

I just got this boat May 15th at an auction. It was winterized then allowed to sit for about ten years. I have been running with the muffs. It seems to be pumping but don't know how much water should be coming out at idle. I thought it was getting flow because of the hose. I am on well not city and the house pump is set at about 50lbs. The outside faucet is fed by a 3/4" line and my garden hose is also a 3/4" hose. So I get volume and pressure. That is why I wondered about the barrel(tank) To be sure the raw pump was working right. I haven't licensed this boat yet as I have interior work to do on it. That's why I don't want to take it to the lake. Just slightly illegal to do here without plates and registation. I can find a plastic barrel with no problem.
On the hose my temp does not move much. It barely reaches the bottom of the green area (normal area, I hate guages without numbers). The water coming out the hub it hot but not hot enough I can put my hand in it. about 120 degrees just a guess. It's hot water but not hot enough you couldn't wash your hands.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: 140 raw water pump

Boat engines have a low temp thermostat so the water won't be really hot 140-150*. If the boat has been sitting for 10 years, don't even think about the not replacing the impeller, just replace it and be done with it. That impeller is about 8 years over due.

Also, 10 year old bellows are very suspect as the should be replaced every 5 years or so. Since this boat sat for 10 years there will be a lot of maintenance items that need to be completed

 

[tschmidty]

Re: 140 raw water pump

Yeah, forgot about the bellows part. The exhaust below is not a critical failure, but if that is cracked I'd be highly suspect of the shift an ujoint bellows and those can sink your boat and destroy your outdrive so worh looking at.

The hose may force some amount of water but like others said, just replace it and be done with it, not really worth taking a chance.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: 140 raw water pump

I agree the impeller is 8yrs overdue for replacement. Replace it, the engine you save may be your own!

 

[lonemust]

Re: 140 raw water pump

I'm planning on replacing it anyway. I do have to put a shift boot on mine's torn. U-joint bellow and exhaust are fine looks like they were replaced not to long ago. This boat was kapt in a building the hole time. The PO was redoing it when he got cancer, so work slowed way down on it.


As far as I know they could have replaced the pump last year.(he passed away in Dec'10). I know the man's youngest boy, he is friends with my son. But he cannot remember what his dad did to it. My plan is to replace it and anything else I find in questionable shape. Thanks for everyone's thought about making a water tank though. I figured it would work. Why not works for my o/b why not the i/o.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: 140 raw water pump

My impression is, some outboards have to be submerged to pump water so that's how it's done with OB's. Where as an I/O doesn't have to be submerged to pump water, so muffs are used.