Re: A No Water Tell Tale ? again
By "Impeller didn't turn on the shaft" I'm assuming you mean that the key was engaged in the propeller so that when you turned the driveshaft it moved the impeller, ?yes?
One common theme is not getting the copper water supply tube in the pump housing. Also there should have been a rubber grommet inserted into the hole in the upper plastic pump housing, where the water tube engages.
Something else, it's virtually impossible to get the water tube in the pump if there is no plastic guide tube in the pump. This tube has a slip-fit into the pump. First goes in the rubber grommet, then the tube slip-fits onto that. The only purpose of this tube is to "catch" the copper water supply tube when the lower unit is "on its way up".
It does help to shine a lite in there when you're assembling, so you can make sure the guide tube catches the water tube. Just about the time this happens is when the gap between lower unit casing and the exhaust tower is getting so small that you can just barely see in there.
Sometimes, you'll see the copper tube pull out of the upper end of the motor, and get stuck in the pump. Although it handily comes apart this way, you'll never get it back together. You have to pull the tube out of the pump and re-insert into the upper water tube grommet, under the powerhead. With a strong light you can see where this goes. Spread a thin coating of waterproof grease or Permatex #3 Aviation-type gasket dressing on the tube where it contacts the grommet.
Anyway, those are a few things to check out. Something else you can do to prove to yourself that water will actually flow thru the motor, is to hook up an external source of water to the supply tube and see what happens. I'm thinkin' that since you can flow air thru the motor, water should do the same.
That being the case, I'm suspecting the problem lies with the bottom end or an assembly problem. Don't forget to check the suction side of the pump for blockages.
HTH.........ed