1978 - 55hp Evinrude...no water exiting

[brother chris]

Hi All,
It's been a while since I've been on here...
I have an issue with my outboard. It's a 1978 - 55hp Evinrude...model number 55875s
I got lazy and let it sit for a couple years, but recently I cleaned out the carbs and got it running but no water was coming out through the p-hole. I bought a new impellor and when I took a look at the impellor inside the leg (the one that's been in there for 3 years), it looks fine with no cracks whatsoever. And when I tried to take it off to change it, it seems like it is stuck there...I tried with two screwdrivers (one on each side) to pry it up to no avail. So I decided to leave it in and just clean out all the wasp nests and spider webs that were inside the side openings in the leg.
Up top in the engine, I removed the small black p-hole hose and cleaned that out (spider webs and dirt clogged it).
So, I fired up the motor and even with the water ears on the motor, no water is coming out the p-hole.
Thermostat is new (I installed it 3-4 years ago and only used the boat for one season after installing it).
Unless I'm missing something, the only other thing I can think of is using compressed air to blow out the lines that run down the leg (which I have to wait until tomorrow to do that).
If anyone could offer any other ideas, I would grateful.
Thanks,
B.C.

 

[gm280]

Re: 1978 - 55hp Evinrude...no water exiting

If wasps and spiders were in the Tale Tell hose at the engine, then there is no telling how far in the engine they went. So I would at least remove the thermostat cover and run air through the entire cooling system to make sure all the insects were removed. Around here where I live, dirt-dabbers will build their nests in any little hole and plug up lots of things like that. So until you can get air flowing through, I won't run the engine. And one other issue, just because you haven't run the engine for a year or three, does not mean the parts you changed back then are in new condition anymore. Any engine that sits is worst off than one used regularly. So your impellor AND thermostat may seem or even look like new yet, but they certainly are not...especially the water impellor!

 

[brother chris]

Re: 1978 - 55hp Evinrude...no water exiting

Hey gm280...thanks for the input.
Over the weekend, I dropped the leg and changed the impellor (what a pita that was..see attached pic), removed the water jacket and blew compressed air through to clean it out. I checked the thermostat and it is working fine....flushed it with water and it seems all okay now.
I couldn't fire it up though...I noticed a couple wires were corroded near the solenoid so I have to replace them first.

 

[brother chris]

Re: 1978 - 55hp Evinrude...no water exiting

I have another question regarding changing of the impellor. When I dropped the leg, the shift rod is screwed in at the bottom. I am not sure if it got turned while the impellor was being changed. I have the manual for the motor but cannot find out what the proper length the rod should be at. I've read and read and read, but I can't find it. Does anyone know?
Thanks again,
BC