1986 15 HP cooling issue

[Dale in MD]

Hi,

I fixed up a motor that had sat in a barn for years. Was full of mouse nest, insects, mud bees, etc. Got her running good, but I'm not getting any cooling to head and nothing comes out pee hole. Thermostat is good. Pump appeared to be good looking when I had lower unit off, but I never tore into it. I pulled the little hose off that runs from the exhaust cover to the pee hole and flushed water back through that way as well as pulled thermostat and tried flushing water back those areas. That little hose had been clogged and there was a decent amount of crushed "stuff" in thermostat area. Do not believe previous owner believed in flushing engine.... Anyhow, with thermostat cover off, as well as that little hose, I dont get any water out any port when I run it. I have it in a big trash barrel, so pump is flooded.

If I assume the pump is good, where are my likely clogging areas? Seals that could loose pump pressure? Any good way to flush out old debris? A chemical solution? Anyone know water routing pattern?

I tried cracking bolts loose on head and exhaust covers - not good - most dont want to budge. Afraid i'll snap them off if try to break them free.

Thanks much,

Dale

 

[Dale in MD]

Update: 1986 15 HP cooling issue

Update: 1986 15 HP cooling issue

I figured out my problem, but I have a question. As it turns out, the pick up tube that goes down into my water pump was not in the pump hole. It had shifted off to the side during assembly and I hadn't realized it.

Yesterday, before I realized this however, I had used some water pressure to back flush the engine via the pee hose that comes from the exhaust plate and the thermostat area. I'd run it between flushes in hopes that I dislodged something and would start to get some cooling flow. One thing I noticed was that, originally, no exhaust came out of those openings when I ran it. By the time I was done though, exhaust would pour out of those areas when I ran it.

Now that I fixed the pump (ran it with ports open and water poured out thermostat area and exhaust port) and bottoned it back up, I do not see a nice steady solid water stream out the pee hole like I thought I'd see, but rather a water / exhaust mix blowing out it.

Did I blow a gasket or something backflushing those areas or is it normal to see exhaust coming out the pee hole with the water????

Thanks for any insights.

Dale