'83 Ward's 9.9hp not pumping water

[KevinK27]

I have been working on a 9.9 hp Chrysler outboard from Montgomery Wards this weekend and cannot figure out why it is overheating. I had this motor in storage for about 3 seasons and decided to get it back out. It has only been in fresh water to the best of my knowledge. I dropped the lower unit and inspected the impeller and the thing looks almost new. I tried compressed air up the supply tube and almost all the air comes back down inside the motor body. I think I might be getting some out the exhaust port, but very little if any. Does anyone have any idea? I hate to scrap this thing because it seems to run alright. It doesn't have a tell tale hole to know if there is water getting in the jacket. Thank you for any input.

 

[MickLovin]

Re: '83 Ward's 9.9hp not pumping water

It may look ok but the impeller is probably perished, without taking it out you won't notice the cracking in between the fins, for the sake of a $20 impeller I would change it out after leaving for 3 seasons.

 

[KevinK27]

Re: '83 Ward's 9.9hp not pumping water

Thanks for the reply, I have one on order to to try anyway. But I am almost 100% sure it is ok. I know on my Merc I had to replace the housing at one time, but even that looks alright. I did have the impeller out and examined it closely. I don't have a manual for this motor and was unsure if there might be gasket or o-rings from the supply tube to the motor or something that would allow the water to just bypass the the water jacket. I can't see anything really from the inside of the motor housing, just getting air though a pinhole and from beneath the block when air was supplied to the tube.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: '83 Ward's 9.9hp not pumping water

Use a flashlight to look up the lower unit under the powerhead. It's a great place for mud wasp nets and other stuff. Rather than air, I would backflush up the water tube using some water under pressure (not too much pressure). A pump is good if you have one, otherwise a garden hose with some kind of fitting for the smaller diameter water tube. If overheating suspected after the new impeller is in place, may want to remove the head cover and backflush some more. When running the motor in a tank, make sure the lower uniit is dipped six inches or so above the impeller. It's running at temp if top of the head is warm but not so hot that you can't hold the side of your hand on it for a few seconds.

 

[MickLovin]

Re: '83 Ward's 9.9hp not pumping water

May I ask, how do you know it is overheating, do you have water spitting out the back of the motor where the 2 exhaust holes are?
As oldboat1 mentions, cause he's old like me :lol: run your garden hose with attachment up the water tube. Let us know your results, it could also be a failing exhaust port gasket but let's not go there yet.
,

 

[oldboat1]

Re: '83 Ward's 9.9hp not pumping water

shoot, I ain't even 67 yet. this month. what month are we, again?

 

[KevinK27]

Re: '83 Ward's 9.9hp not pumping water

Thanks for the replies, guys, and the parts breakdown MickLovin. I haven't had time to work on it since I posted. I will try to pump water into the supply tube but I figured 120 psi of compressed air would tell me for sure. The motor gets to hot to put your hands on it after about 20 or 30 seconds of running and I can see no visible water signs coming from the exhaust port. I know you guys deal with people from all walks of life but your starting to hurt my feelings. I have been doing some minor work on several motors for the past couple of years, with quite a bit of help from this site, I might add a big Thank You. I just never had to tear any of these motors down, yet. I was just hoping it would be a quick fix. After searching though the forum on this topic I thought all I could do was ask. Feelings aside I really do appreciate the help.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: '83 Ward's 9.9hp not pumping water

Hi Kevin. not sure whether water flushing is any better than air (could even be less effective). I like to see where the water is exiting, and where it is circulating (or not) if the head is removed. It sounds like the motor is overheating, based on your description. Does your motor have a t.stat? Could be as simple as a stuck or blocked thermostat.

 

[KevinK27]

Re: '83 Ward's 9.9hp not pumping water

Sorry to get back to you so late oldboat1, just got off work. To the best of my knowledge there is no thermostat in this motor. Not even sure where to look. This motor being so small, I took for granted it didn't have one. This used to be my fathers until he upgraded. I inherited it, and get to work on his motors as well. I would buy a manual, but I got a 20 horse Merc I use on my boat. Was gonna see if I could sell this if could get it running again. Only now I have the water issue. For what I figured this motor is worth, I'm honestly not sure it is worth my time.

 

[MickLovin]

Re: '83 Ward's 9.9hp not pumping water

I had a look at the parts for this motor and it doesn't have a thermo, I reckon if you squirt water up the water tube with the LU off, you may just be lucky and dislodge some sand gone hard or compacted up it, if you start playing with the exhaust gasket and head gaskets, it is going to cost you money.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: '83 Ward's 9.9hp not pumping water

Put it up on Craigs List for $40 or $50 as a parts motor. Can tell buyers it's not stuck, but hasn't been run for three(?) years. Post a pic in your CL ad. Include the tank, or at least the hose and quick release(s).

 

[KevinK27]

Re: '83 Ward's 9.9hp not pumping water

Finally got back to working on this today a little. As MickLovin suggested I hooked the garden hose up and low and behold I got a little bit of water coming out the exhaust ports. Much of the water came back down the inside of the housing. Put the lower unit back on and still nothing when I ran it. I ran it longer than I ran it in the past but didn't feel comfortable running it too long. I am tempted to put an o-ring on the supply tube and see if that may direct more water up into the tube coming out of the impeller housing. It seems like the tube goes in the housing fairly easy, but all the motors I've worked on seem to be that way. I haven't tried to measure the fit yet, just thought about this. Other than that I'll wait for the impeller that I ordered and try that, If that doesn't fix it somebody will get a nice parts motor. Thanks again for the help.

 

[MickLovin]

Re: '83 Ward's 9.9hp not pumping water

Wish I lived in the states,I would be buying up big on the old Chryslers. May I ask Kev, did your impeller sit on a small steel shaft on the main shaft? Also with the LU off try putting the muffs on and blow water to the pump, to make sure it isn't blocked in the water intake.

 

[KevinK27]

Re: '83 Ward's 9.9hp not pumping water

Not clear on what you are asking about a small shaft. It is pinned on the main driveshaft coming down off the motor block. It is intact and rotates when the shaft is turned. I blew air in the inlets on the lower unit a few days ago and got plenty of air going up past the water pump so I guess now that it actually is the impeller or it is the housing itself. It just doesn't sit right with me looking at this stuff. It appeared to work 3 years ago and if nothing dry rotted and fell off. Gosh darn it, it ought to work.

 

[MickLovin]

Re: '83 Ward's 9.9hp not pumping water

Well not sure about what I am about to say here, but I have heard that if the exhaust port is full of crud it can stop water flow.