1981 wellcraft nova ll twin 260 mercruisers alpha l outdrives

[buzzm19]

I have a question about the outdrives, I replaced both water pumps as I do every year. I just fired both up on ears and I have s a pretty good stream coming out of the lower starbord rear of both outdrives it is the drain hole that is in the cavity below the shift rod I don't remember that happening before. Last year I put the rubber o ring into the top of the water pump housing this year I put them on top against the plastic housing as I found out that the impeller seals the upper and lower inside the water pump housing and thats the only thing I remember different this year. Any help will be greatly appreciated Thanks Buz

 

[achris]

Water running out of the drain hole is normal and necessary. The rubber slinger goes on top of the pump housing, not and never in it. Some people thing it goes in the cavity between the stainless steel cup and the housing, it does not. If you put it there you will overheat the housing and start melting it. Have a look at my video on Alpha style water pump service, at about the 13 minute mark....

Chris.........

 

[buzzm19]

Thanks Chris, I have mostly run my motors in a drum and have not run my boats on ears in a long time and since I have forgot I wanted to know why thinking something was wrong since I just put both new water pumps in this year.. After redoing these water pumps I remembered that there is a small bleed hole in the base plate of the water pump. Thanks Buz

 

[achris]

No, it's actually a drain for the front of the drive. On many drives that hole blocks up. Then the corrosion starts and pushes a 'plug' of casting out. Not good. Whenever I do one of these drives I open the hole up to 1/4" and make very sure the cavity is nice and clean. Then tell the owner to also make sure he/she sees water coming from that hole when they run the engine on muffs...

Chris........

 

[buzzm19]

Chris, on the plastic plate that goes against the housing you will see a small pin hole in the plate by the back bolt and that comes off the pressure side of the impeller. Thats what I am talking about Buz

 

[achris]

That hole is just to allow water to drain out of the pump itself (winter and freezing and all that stuff). The water from there would drop back down to the intakes on the side of the drive. There is (or shouldn't be) any direct connection between the water pump and the cavity at the front of the drive...