Hello, I am new to this board and also new to boating. I just recentley bought a 1984 merc 60hp (ser #7212734). Went and started it up yesterday on the muffs, and there was no water coming out the telltale. Took the water pump apart, and the impeller is shot. Also, the bottom housing on the water pump seems to have melted slightly on top. Have parts on the way, but have a few questions. First, when I disconnect the water line at the water jacket and blow through it, air seems to come not only from the pick-up tube the pump hooks onto, it also seems to come from around it. Is that normal? Can I just hold a garden hose against that pick-up and see if water runs out the telltale? I checked and there is no water in the gearcase, so I think that little bit of melting was caused by the pump overheating (read no water). Then engine started and idled fine, however, since there was no water coming out, I shut it down after about 30 seconds or so. I am going to run a compression test after I get the pump all back together. Is there anything else I should look for? I am really hoping the previous owner did not run the engine without water coming out the telltale, but It starts and idled to well for me to think the engine is no good. Also, I am assuming the this serial number is a Canadian one, I have been looking at parts places online, but cannot seem to cross-reference with any other serial numbers. Can anyone help me with this?<br /><br />Thanks in advance
<br /><br />Fix the water pump first and hope for the best. You may find that a cylinder has cracked from overheating. Another common problem is the water jacket cover sprouting leaks from overheating. Wait to do anything expensive until your'e sure you don't have a cracked block. The leaking gasket is no biggie except for scraping the old one off ... I mean chiseling. If you do, it'll show-up on the sparkplugs as lotsa little gray specks instead of a fairly even deposit pattern. Or it may be bad enough to not allow any burn at all in that cylinder. But hopefully that's not why the previous owner decided to sell. You wouldn't be the first to inherit someone else's migraine.<br /><br />Try running it with a hose connected straight to the pipe. When you blew into it, air would've been coming out of that pipe and the exhaust passage of the powerhead.