1981 Johnson 9.9 hp Water pump problem

[pecheux]

Good day. The water impeller was the original up until a few weeks ago and was replaced by mecanic to be on the safe side. So far I could always check water coming out of the 2 exhaust outlets in the upper back part of the motor base while running wot. Now with new impeller there is plenty of water coming out of these 2 holes when running low to medium speed but at wot there is very little and there is several water discharge from the top part of the motor leg, just below the cowling cover. No water inside. Plenty of water coming out of the normal tale hole at all time. Motor does not overheat (I hope) What could cause that water overflow at top of base ? Thank you.

 

[Vic.S]

There should not be water coming out of that joint. it should be sealed with a gasket.

Did your mechanic separate the "leg" from the power head for some reason and reuse the old gasket or fail to clean the joint faces properly? Perhaps the joint faces are damaged.
Depending on exactly what is wrong up there you could be losing water from the top of the water tube which in time might result in a poor cooling water flow.
Exhaust gas may also leak and if the seal with the lower cover is poor could get into the cowing and cause bad running.

If it runs OK and cools OK you do not have a problem as such. Just water leaking out.
I'd not be happy though if this was caused by the mechanic.
AFAIK it should not be necessary to disturb this joint to replace the water pump impeller

 

[pecheux]

Took motor to my mecanic today. He says he did not have to remove top leg to change impeller. Actualy I had asked for a pressure test on LU after doing LU damage from hitting rock so he took advantage of the fact the LU was off to change the impeller. He confirmed the top gasket was worn and leaking (just as you mentioned), but since the tell-tale discharges good water pressure he tells me to to worry about it. He tells me It's a fairly expensive job since power head has to come off in order to change that gasket. Perhaps I'll consider it a winter project if I can find how to do the job. Thank you for your help and feedback.

 

[Vic.S]

Ah you hit a rock... you did not say that in the first post. Probably the cause. Hopefully no serious damage not yet detected.


Best avoided but easily done