1948 Sea King Wobbler Question

carolinaboy

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Joined
Nov 28, 2009
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I recently bought a 1948 sea king 5hp outboard and it is not pumping a stream of water out of it. I pulled the pump a part and it looks good and operates as i believe it should but no stream of water when assembled. So how much of a stream should I be looking for? Could I have a clog somewere? Should I lightly check with air pressure or water from a hose with the wobbler removed to see if it will flow though? :confused:
 

tmcalavy

Rear Admiral
Joined
Aug 29, 2001
Messages
4,005
Re: 1948 Sea King Wobbler Question

Hook a garden hose up to it and run water through it to make sure there is no obstruction between the pump and the water discharge. If not, you should probably replace the wobbler impeller...they swell up with age and don't pull much water. A fellow named Brian Wilcox makes them...do a web search for his name, I've lost the link. If the impeller is working, you'll get some water from the discharge, but not a strong stream like on later motors. It should stay cool enough running that you can touch the side of the water jackets with your hand. If not, you need to check the system.
 

steelespike

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Joined
Apr 26, 2002
Messages
19,069
Re: 1948 Sea King Wobbler Question

There are water inlets in the prop hub near the base of the blades and a slit in the leg that water exits in a mist.Wobbler needs to move freely in its housing.
Mud daubers sometimes build in the inlets not likely to in the exhaust slit.
I often wondered if you could shrink the wobbler by baking it in the sun or some other gentle warming.
 

carolinaboy

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Re: 1948 Sea King Wobbler Question

Thanks for the replies, All I see coming out of the slot is a mist of water with no stream of any kind. With the rotor removed I just tried using a water hose and no luck then i tried an air hose with low pressure and it seem to want to build pressure. Should I remove the entire foot to check for a blockage? I think I read somewere not to ever take the side water plates off unless absolutely needed. I am new to the vintage outboard hobbie and trying not to mess up a good engine. The engine in question is an unrestored original with very very low hours.
 

F_R

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Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
28,226
Re: 1948 Sea King Wobbler Question

Thanks for the replies, All I see coming out of the slot is a mist of water with no stream of any kind. With the rotor removed I just tried using a water hose and no luck then i tried an air hose with low pressure and it seem to want to build pressure. Should I remove the entire foot to check for a blockage? I think I read somewere not to ever take the side water plates off unless absolutely needed. I am new to the vintage outboard hobbie and trying not to mess up a good engine. The engine in question is an unrestored original with very very low hours.

Stop, back up, and reassess the situation here. It never has, wasn't meant to, and never will pee a stream. The cooling water goes through the powerhead and is dumped into the exhaust stream. Some of that exhaust and water goes out the slots in the backside (and everywhere else in the area). That is only part of it, and the rest goes out the underwater exhaust. It just blows or slobbers out, nothing resembling a stream at at all. If it is going through, it probably is not plugged up. You are correct, NEVER take the side covers off. They are almost impossible to reseal once removed.

On to the water pump: The impeller (properly called a "rotor") should be a close fit on the eccentric. At some point on the outer side of the rotor, it should just touch the housing. On the other side of the rotor, there should be a space between it and the housing. The thickness of the rotor should exactly match the depth of the housing, neither loose nor squeezed in there. As the shaft/eccentric wobbles the rotor, that space appears at the intake side of the housing and progresses around to the discharge side. Moving that space (full of water) from one side to the other is what makes it pump.

The rotors are notorious for swelling up from grease getting on it from the gearcase. If it is swollen, or in any doubt at all, replace it. Period.
 

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carolinaboy

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Joined
Nov 28, 2009
Messages
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Re: 1948 Sea King Wobbler Question

I have searched the web for the rotor and the name as stated above with no luck, does any one know were one can be found?
 

Jtaylor15

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Joined
Jul 22, 2024
Messages
1
Re: 1948 Sea King Wobbler Question



Stop, back up, and reassess the situation here. It never has, wasn't meant to, and never will pee a stream. The cooling water goes through the powerhead and is dumped into the exhaust stream. Some of that exhaust and water goes out the slots in the backside (and everywhere else in the area). That is only part of it, and the rest goes out the underwater exhaust. It just blows or slobbers out, nothing resembling a stream at at all. If it is going through, it probably is not plugged up. You are correct, NEVER take the side covers off. They are almost impossible to reseal once removed.

On to the water pump: The impeller (properly called a "rotor") should be a close fit on the eccentric. At some point on the outer side of the rotor, it should just touch the housing. On the other side of the rotor, there should be a space between it and the housing. The thickness of the rotor should exactly match the depth of the housing, neither loose nor squeezed in there. As the shaft/eccentric wobbles the rotor, that space appears at the intake side of the housing and progresses around to the discharge side. Moving that space (full of water) from one side to the other is what makes it pump.

The rotors are notorious for swelling up from grease getting on it from the gearcase. If it is swollen, or in any doubt at all, replace it. Period.
I have the same motor and trying to get access to replace the wobbler and very likely replace the prop seal. I am having difficulty to remove the splined part just behind the prop. This hub is located between the prop and the water pump
cap. I am trying to post a picture of this.
Please help.
Thank you,
 

F_R

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
28,226
I have the same motor and trying to get access to replace the wobbler and very likely replace the prop seal. I am having difficulty to remove the splined part just behind the prop. This hub is located between the prop and the water pump
cap. I am trying to post a picture of this.
Please help.
Thank you,

They do tend to corrode and stick on a bit. Try heat to expand it.





















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