Engine not getting water

studders

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 9, 2014
Messages
142
Good morning people. I have a se106 lower unit and I was getting it ready for the summer a couple weeks ago and hooked the muffs up to the lower unit and for some reason it wasn’t getting water to the engine. Started getting hot so I turned it off. The muffs were a cheap pair so I got a different and better pair of muffs. I took a wire and stuck in the ports that the muffs go around to make sure they weren’t clogged. I have not tried again to see if it was getting water just because I’ve been so busy. I also opened the block again to see if water as getting up there and only a little trickled our. Then I took the small hose off and it was still pretty much dry. Like I’ve said I haven’t seen if the new muffs or running a wire through the ports helped yet. Just wondering if there are other things I need to check as to why no water got to the engine to keep it at temperature. If you need any more info please let me know and thank you in advance for the responses.
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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Jul 23, 2011
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50,276
start following the flow path.....

you will find the issue.

water flows from the inlet strainer in the casting to the raw water pump. from the raw water pump, up the tube to the upper unit, to the gimbal bearing, from there into the boat, to the power steering cooler. from there to your motor.

the hint is the power steering cooler and the raw water pump....... look there.

also, make sure your hose is on full. as in you can fill a 5 gallon bucket in 15-20 seconds full... with the muffs, you should have a spray coming out of the muffs about 8 feet until the motor starts.
 

studders

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 9, 2014
Messages
142
start following the flow path.....

you will find the issue.

water flows from the inlet strainer in the casting to the raw water pump. from the raw water pump, up the tube to the upper unit, to the gimbal bearing, from there into the boat, to the power steering cooler. from there to your motor.

the hint is the power steering cooler and the raw water pump....... look there.

also, make sure your hose is on full. as in you can fill a 5 gallon bucket in 15-20 seconds full... with the muffs, you should have a spray coming out of the muffs about 8 feet until the motor starts.

I pulled the hose off behind the engine coming from the gimbal bearing and there was no water. So I’m going to look down there now.
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
50,276
Either the power steering cooler is plugged, or your impeller is shot.
 

studders

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 9, 2014
Messages
142
Must be that the impeller is shot because mine doesn’t have power steering. The engine is a 1989 mercruiser 3.0.

If it is the impeller I don’t know how it would go bad just like that when it was fine when I winterized it a few months ago
 

studders

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 9, 2014
Messages
142
First off it took me forever to get the impeller off. Secondly I can’t seem to get it back on and this is prob why. Seems to be scored or something. Am I able to ever so gently grind or sand this ring off. The impeller will not go past this point. It’s so tight when I turn the shaft the impeller turns with it so I can’t even align the key up. Any suggestions. Thanks
 

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Chris1956

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
28,099
That looks like some sort of repair to the driveshaft. Have you ever changed the impeller before? Did you buy the gearcase from SEI, or did it come with the motor?

Clearly that needs to come off. Will sandpaper work? Try not to sand the area where the impeller sits, or it will be loose.
 

Faztbullet

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 2, 2008
Messages
15,930
Engine was ran with low/no water and the upper water pump housing has warped. The S/S liner has rubbed and transferred material to driveshaft. File it off and get a new upper and lower housing ,wear plate and gaskets. You can see the plastic cooked on lower base in picture...
 

studders

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 9, 2014
Messages
142
Engine was ran with low/no water and the upper water pump housing has warped. The S/S liner has rubbed and transferred material to driveshaft. File it off and get a new upper and lower housing ,wear plate and gaskets. You can see the plastic cooked on lower base in picture...

Thanks for the response. I have the kit but only came with the top housing. I’ll look for the bottom and get one. You wouldn’t by any chance have a part number for the bottom piece would you.
 
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studders

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 9, 2014
Messages
142
Got it all back together. Good news is that it’s not overheating anymore. The only thing that I have noticed that I didn’t notice before is that water is coming out a little where the gears connect the 2 units at. Is there water supposed to be coming out there? Even in past years I never really paid attention to If water came out there as well so I’m not to sure if it matters or not.
 
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