It Runs!

[dctucker]

Nice warm Day here in the Boston, MA area, and so I opened up the garage to do some work on the boat. It was actually warm enough to run to the store with the top down on my convertible, where I picked up a few bits to finish up some wiring, prop wrench, engine flusher, etc. I've not had the old eBay 4 cylinder 80 hp Merc running yet, and today was a good day to try.<br /><br />Mounted tach & speedo, and tried on new eBay SS prop. Trudged through the foot of remaining snow to the garden hose, and rigged up the flusher. Fuel on, power on and cranked the outboard... nothing. Tried for a while then pulled and cleaned the plugs. Next crank bought an immediate roar of life. Wohooo!! It runs, and restarted instantly several times. I'm very happy! Even brought my wife out to hear it.<br /><br />HOWEVER, I definitely need to drop the lower unit. It doesn't appear the water pump is functioning well, if at all (therefor I didn't run it for more than 10 seconds at a time). No tattletale stream, and nothing from the upper exhaust outlets. So, the next major project is on... Late March I'll likely take it to Florida, so I have a deadline. Then it's boating season locally.

 

[Laddies]

Re: It Runs!

its alway good to change the impeller and to service a engine what your not familier with, but I think you have a pluged tell tale as an engine on a hose is pressurized and normally show water at the tell tail even when it not running---Bob

 

[dctucker]

Re: It Runs!

I'm suspecting the same thing, but it was getting late and dark, so I couldn't even look for where the tell tale outlet is. I'll have a better look today or tomorrow.<br /><br />I have been planning on changing the impeller and lower unit lube all along, but REALLY wanted to hear it run!

 

[rodbolt]

Re: It Runs!

dctucker<br /> before ya run out and buy parts drop the lower and dissasemble the pump. inspect the housing carefully for any signs of melt. look closly at the top of the housing where the shaft passes through. inspect the area where the cupmeets the housing. any signs of bubbling or melt is a caseto toss the housing. I reccomend tossing it to start with. the ypper kit is just to cheap.<br /> carefuly inspect the lower base for any signs of melt. any bubbling is cause to toss it as well. lower base kit is less than 30 dollars.<br /> most of this comes from while the motor is up for sale people just light them up for a bit with no water. the housings can and willstart melting in about 30 seconds if the pump was completely dry. 60 seconds if there was some water left. this will at least get ya started in the right direction. the upper kit will come with new oil drain/fill gaskets. I know your in a hurry tohear your new baby run. however do a compression test before anything else.<br /> on the flusher its doubtful you will get anything from the upper outlets however the horizontal slots just above the trim tab will have water flowing. good luck and hope your luck on an ebay motor is better than the rest I have seen.

 

[dctucker]

Re: It Runs!

Originally posted by rodbolt:<br /> most of this comes from while the motor is up for sale people just light them up for a bit with no water. the housings can and willstart melting in about 30 seconds if the pump was completely dry. 60 seconds if there was some water left.

I'm pretty sure this guy just threw the motor on eBay. He had to drag it out of his basement to deliver it. There was no evidence of a recent battery connection or the like. <br /><br />I will drop th LU, maybe this week, and have a close look at the pump. <br /><br />I checked the tell tale outlet, and found it clogged, possibly with dried mud? This was a fresh water unit, but this gave me a bit of concern. Is there a way to clear the tube? And more importantly, what about the cooling passages in the powerhead? I'll get a better sense of the overall condition of the cooling system once I drop the lower unit.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: It Runs!

"I checked the tell tale outlet, and found it clogged, possibly with dried mud?"<br /><br />Have seen the same thing happen to my motor a number of times. Mud wasps like to lay their eggs in small openings then plug the ends with mud. I remove the rubber hose connecting the outlet to the block and clean it with a piece of wire then rinse it with water. Now I keep a piece of duct tape over the hole when its not in use. Have to remember to take it off before startup though. Good luck with your motor.