1985 Johnson 9.9hp

[BoatingCop]

I just got a 1985 Johnson 9.9 (Model #j10rc0m). It had not been run for 3 months when I picked it up. I pulled the cord and it fired up on the 3rd time. I noticed a weak stream from the tell-tale. As I reved the engine, which was running in a trash can, I saw that the stream stopped to just a drip and water was now coming out of the exhaust relief just below the cowling. As I backed to idle, it stopped spitting water out of the exhaust relief and the tell-tale stream never came back. At this point, I stopped the engine. I ordered a complete water pump kit aas I found the impeller to be cupped but not cracked. I'm guessing the problem is the water pump but just wanted to run it by yall to make sure there's nothing else, such as a thermostat, that would cause this problem. Thanks for the help.

 

[mnmx3]

Re: 1985 Johnson 9.9hp

Good idea to change the pump, the tell-tale may just be stopped up. Try some compressed air back through the TT or just run some weed eater line up as far as you can while the engine is running and see if that will clear out the line.

 

[BoatingCop]

Re: 1985 Johnson 9.9hp

Ok I changed the entire water pump and still havethe same problem. At idle and just above idle it will not pump water. Water does not spit out from anywhere. Once I get to mid range rpms it will start to trickle out the tell tale and spit water out of the exhaust relief and above the cavitation plate. The water is blazing hot coming out also when it does come out. Why am I not pumping water at lower rpms?? Please help thank you

 

[Will Bark]

Re: 1985 Johnson 9.9hp

Make sure you have the leg deep enough in the trash can ; must be way above the level of the water pump.

 

[BoatingCop]

Re: 1985 Johnson 9.9hp

I'm well aware of this. The water almost comes to the exhaust relief. Anyone else know what's going on?

 

[BoatingCop]

Re: 1985 Johnson 9.9hp

The reason I know that water isn't flowing out of the holes above the cavitation plate is because I ran it on the flusher one to verify

 

[mnmx3]

Re: 1985 Johnson 9.9hp

It sounds to me if the new water pump is installed correctly, that the water passages are partially blocked. I would pull the side cover and thermostat cover and check that out. The water pump circulates to the starboard side cover 1st and the tell-tale flows off of that, so I would think there must be build-up. Check out this website: http://www.sschapterpsa.com/ramblings/OMC/OMC info.htm

 

[the machinist]

Re: 1985 Johnson 9.9hp

As mx3 says. recheck the water tube grommet coming out of the water pump. Other than that you could have a corroded/stuck thermostat which would not let enough water circulate.

If it was not getting hot but no water comoniug outn of the tell-tale hole, then I would say the tell tale tube was plugged.

 

[BoatingCop]

Re: 1985 Johnson 9.9hp

Ok thanks. Now please tell me I can get the thermostat cover off without pulling the power head or anything else

 

[Daviet]

Re: 1985 Johnson 9.9hp

Should not need to remove the powerhead to remove the thermostat.

 

[BoatingCop]

Re: 1985 Johnson 9.9hp

Ok thank you. Those two bottom bolts just looked like it didn't have a lot of room to come out. I'll try changing the thermostat. Would that cause a restriction if it's not working properly?

 

[mnmx3]

Re: 1985 Johnson 9.9hp

If I remember correctly the tell-tale is upstream of the thermostat, so if the t'stat was stopped up you would still have flow out of the TT. It wouldn't hurt to check the stat, just a few bolts on the back of the engine. But I think you have other troubles either with the water pump installation or the passages in the block are restricted. If you end up taking the lower unit back off, hook a hose up to the copper tube going into the power head and see if water will flow easily through it. Also need to check that the upper and lower grommets are correct. I had similar issues with my 78 9.9 and had to remove the head and chisel the salt out of the passages and change the thermostat, after that pumps water like new.

 

[BoatingCop]

Re: 1985 Johnson 9.9hp

I think I may have salt build up because I tried to blow air up the tell tale and tasted salt, very strongly. This was after running it in fresh water. I think there is a lot of salt build up. Were you able to chisel all of it out at the passeges in the head without removing anything else?

It makes sense that I only get water coming out at high rpms if I have a blockage, meaning it take a lot of pressure to get it circulating through the motor. Thanks for the help

 

[clanton]

Re: 1985 Johnson 9.9hp

Replace the watertube grommet under the powerhead, powerhead must be removed. After you check the thermostat.

 

[jmendoza]

Re: 1985 Johnson 9.9hp

First off, a little humor:

Lets get terminology right: If outboards were like Jesus Christ, they would have legs and could walk on water.
Lets refer to those parts as the lower unit(gear case) and the mid-section(exhaust housing) to avoid confusion.

Anyway, pull the cylinder head and get a new gasket. You can then clear out all the water passages with a drill bit and re-assemble the head with a new gasket, BTW, lap the head flat using 220 grit on a flat surface. Replace the T-stat and cover gasket if it's corroded as well. I would pull the power head as suggested and replace the upper water tube grommet, and buy a pump rebuild kit and replace all the rubber parts too. If you do this, get a new power head to exhaust housing gasket, because they will not have a "leg" gasket listed in the parts lists.

 

[BoatingCop]

Re: 1985 Johnson 9.9hp

Alright, heres a little update in case anyone else is encountering this issue. I went ahead and pulled the head off and found quite a bit of calcium build up. I cleared all of this out and repaced the thermostat. The old t-stat looked TERRIBLE with build up all over it. I then pulled the lower unit with the head still off I hooked a rubber hose to the water tube and tuned the hose on. When I turned the hose on I saw very little water coming out of the block. Very soon after, my rubber hose blew off with a lot of force. I was certian my grommet was bad just underneath the power head. I don't have the time or know how really to pull the powerhead (yes I know, shortcuts are not good) so I straightened out a coat hanger and made a small loop at the end. I soved this up the water tube and twisted it around. I then tried the water hose again and this time I got a lot of water out of the block and my hose didn't blow off.

Tomorrow I'll put it back together when my head gasket comes in the mail and run it in the trash can. Hopefully this was a band aid of sorts. I know its not permanant but its much much better than it was.

 

[jsimmons1970]

Re: 1985 Johnson 9.9hp

Interesting coat hanger trick. I thought they were only used for hanging mufflers on cars!LOL Glad to hear you got it straitened out.