1996 tracker 25 hp water pumping issues

[mercrider27]

I just bought a boat and noticed on a couple trips out that the water pumping (the stream coming out of the motor) tends to stop a few seconds sometimes. When it does pump its not very forceful. I consider the owner trustworthy and he showed me the old impeller, he replaced it recently. He said the motor has done that since hes owned it. Is this normal or should I take it in somewhere? On a side note the motor isn't kicking up when we've hit small logs and snags, the latch seems ok. IS it ok to run without the pin that holds the motor to the boat so it can kick up? thanks so much this is my first boat!

 

[Texasmark]

No pin means it will rear up when backing. The latch has some resistance to it and the reason is so that it will hold while backing rather than releasing and the engine rearing up.

 

[mercrider27]

it seems to have to much resistance though, we hit a couple logs and it didn't come up at all. My fear is that it will wreck the transom if it hits hard. Any idea on the water pumping issues? thanks for the response!

 

[flyingscott]

Is this a tiller or remote . When they changed the water pump they probably forgot the washer on the shift shaft or they missed the hook completely. That allows the shifter to pull the release up in forward so it will kick up. That motor locks down in neutral and reverse and releases in forward or when the shallow water drive is engaged, if you have one. As far as how the water flows does it happen all the time or just when you start it and it is warming up.

 

[mercrider27]

its a remote steer (steering wheel).

 

[mercrider27]

the water flow changes constantly even when running fast, it will pump water for awhile then stop for a few seconds. long after warm up it still does it

 

[mercrider27]

looking through the manual I'm not seeing anything about a shallow water drive for the remote steering motors only tiller handles.

 

[flyingscott]

No shallowater drive on remote steer models. Look on the shift shaft under the lower cowling there are 2 ears on it should be a washer on the shaft. In the same spot should be the hook for the tilt release the shift rod needs to run through that.The washer needs to be UNDER the hook to pull up n it. For water flow make sure you have the correct thermostat in that motor a 120 deg is correct not a 140 deg. A 140 will cause the water flow problems you are having, the thermostat directly controls the tattletale.

One of 4 things is happening for the tilt release.
#1 no washer on the shift shaft.
#2 they missed the hook completely when they reassembled the lower unit.
#3 the hook for the shift release is bent to far up and is not being pulled up the way it should.
#4 any combination of the above.