1971 Johnson electric shift 50 no cooling water

[Newindustar]

Hi, I'm new here and my first outboard. It came with a 1968 Crestline Dane. I worked through not starting, not shifting do I can run the motor for a minute before the alarm goes off. I am using water muffs not a tank. I pulled the lower unit, removed and reinstalled the sea water pump, the impeller has some wear but should pump. I applied the muffs and was able to push water through the pump so not obstructed. I reinstalled the leg, still no water. I removed the water jacket witb the 14 bolts on the left side with difficulty because I read here there is a thermostat under. Well, there is no thermostat or place for one. I ran for a moment with the jacket off, no water coming from anywhere. Now I'm stumped.
1. Is there a thermostat somewhere else, not under the water jacket?

Could the problem be using muffs instead of a tank?

3. Where does the water go after it goes up the tube from the Sea water pump?

By the way the water jacket passages were clear.

Thanks

 

[racerone]

Cover on the cylinder head needs to be removed to get to a thermostat !

 

[jbuote]

(EDIT: racerone beat me to it... ^^^ - He knows his stuff, so definitely listen to his advice for sure! I got some GREAT help from him on mine...)

Thermostat is on the head, under the bottom spark plug. (to the left If I remember right).
​Just got my 71 Johnson 50 Hydro running, and literally heading out in a few minutes for first lake test...

​You said you removed and reinstalled the impellor... Did you replace it with a new one??
​If not, That's the FIRST thing to do now., Install a NEW one.

​It is possible that the impellor is pumping faster than your hose can supply, and that would collapse the hose...
​I haven't had that happen on mine yet, but it's a possibility..

​My 2 cents from one newbie to this engine, to another.. LOL

 

[F_R]

Go ahead and check the thermostat as long as you have gone this far, but that probably isn't the problem. You said you ran it with the exhaust cover off (wow!) and no water came out. That is the first place the water goes, so the problem is ahead of that. The water hasn't even gotten to the thermostat yet at that point.

EDIT: Did you check that impeller for a spun hub? That would cause it to completely block the flow.

 

[F_R]

I hope you plan to install new gaskets on that exhaust cover. A leak there can cause total powerhead destruction.

 

[Newindustar]

Ugg, I had a feeling I took off the wrong water jacket,/exhaust cover. Don't tell me they both coincidentally have 14 bolts! Can I assume I have to drop the shell to get at the thermostat cover, does it drop right down with the motor on the transom? I'm working out in front if the garage. What sealant can I use that I could buy at a auto parts store to reinstall the left side water jacket and thermostat housing. I can't​ buy gaskets today but I can wait if I need new gaskets everywhere.
I reinstalled the old impeller because I thought it may be wiser to buy a whole new pump and no parts places open. The hub didn't appear to be spun but I didn't try to turn it. The key was fine
Thanks

 

[Newindustar]

I removed the left side motor mount screws to get those lower bolts out of the exhaust jacket. Does the motor base drop down?

You think the thermostat is unlikely because no water came from the exhaust jacket. Is it important to keep a thermostat in with these motors? I'm not sure which set if screws to remove to get at the thermostat and I don't want that job! Where does the water go from the tube off the pump?

 

[Newindustar]

So I'm really unsure if I should take off the thermostat. What if I pulled the leg, put a hose on the pump discharge tube, should water come out the exhaust jacket which is still off?

 

[Newindustar]

No Title

Ok, I decided to pull the leg not the thermostat. I ran water up the discharge tube and it bubbled freely out the water jacket port. So I got some value from pulling it. I don't know why the pump is not pumping.

 

[racerone]

Impeller is installed wrong !

 

[Newindustar]

How so, flipped? There's quite a bit if wear in the housing so I ordered a complete rebuild kit. I assume the drive shaft turns clockwise same as the flywheel looking from above? For the photo I set the impeller in the housing, could have flipped it then. Am pretty sure it was installed to run clockwise viewed from above.

 

[F_R]

Rule of thumb: The shaft rotates clockwise (looking down from above). The vanes trail back, not stick out forward. They'll usually flip over, but don't count on it.

It's your call on pulling the thermostat. But there is no reason to suspect it is bad at this point.

 

[Newindustar]

Thanks for the replies, I'm on hold waiting for parts to arrive. The pump kit us the plastic housing with stainless liner style, hope that's a good thing.

I won't mess with the thermostat until I have the new pump in and exhaust jacket back in. I've got gaskets coming for that and a can of Johnson ONC gasket sealant.

That outer shell really makes the exhaust jacket and apparently the thermostat jacket a challenge. Can it be lowered? It has no split seam, one piece.

 

[Newindustar]

Also the aluminum houstng was shiny on the compressed side but not on other side as if the vanes were not reaching the housing. Also there was axial wear up inside the housing. The picture if the impeller in the kit I'm getting looks lighter vanes than the one coming out whick are quite thick.

 

[Newindustar]

I got the new style plastic and stainless pump installed and new gaskets with OMC sealer for the exhaust jacket. I ran if for 10 min, exhaust jacket cold, head just slightly warm. I'd like to verify with pics if water is coming out the right places

 

[Newindustar]

Ok there's pee holes front and sides peeing. Up the leg on both sides there's two retacangular covers with screws, us water supposed to come out from under them? Also right above the prop there's finned ports with water coming out. Also coming out through the prop I think. I expect Ed to see water coming out the two upper slits but there is not.

 

[jbuote]

Well, again I'm new to this, but on my 71, the muff hose pressure was enough to get some water out the side holes of the LU, but not the front. When running, then I got the water out the front, thru prop, and a fine mist occasionally from the 2 upper slits you called them.
​As I understand it, those "upper slits" are the exhaust relief slots..
​I didn't get much if any water out of those on muffs. When I was on the lake though, Had plenty of water coming out there.
​Has to do with the backpressure on the exhaust so water then comes out the slits.. Or something like that..

​Figured I'd share that, because if I'm wrong, I'd like to know too, but that's what I had for my 71' 50hp, for what it's worth.. lol..

 

[Newindustar]

Thanks for the feedback.. I guess muffs don't necessarily match actually operation. I'm working on the tow vehicle, 1985 Land Cruiser, so can't go to the lake yet. I am most concerned about the pic from the rear, below the slits on both sides, the rectangular plates with the two screws. Should water come out there, seems odd.

 

[jbuote]

LOL..
​No, Muffs are nowhere near actual conditions. They're generally only used to flush out the motor after use, to help rid of salt water, silt etc...
(As far as I know anyway...)

​Can't even rev up the engine on them.

​I can't say I've ever seen water coming out of those plates with 2 screws on mine when on muffs, but I'll watch next time I run it and see if I really do or not.
​At least while we wait for the real pro's to chime in.. LOL

 

[Newindustar]

Yes I hope they do chime in on that. Do you have a thermostat in yours, can you hold your hand on the head. Mine is just slightly warm but it's not really doing anything work. Boy it sounds good , really rips, I wonder what the compression ratio is on these.