Fisherman 5.5 Not Pumping any Water

[atimm693]

I recently bought a 14ft aluminum Ouachita with a trailer and this Evinrude motor. Got hosed on the boat but this little motor is in good mechanical shape and I got it to run pretty good. Anyway it wasn't pumping any water when I started it up and seemed to get warm pretty fast. Seemed like it might have been pumping some oily sludge but no water. Motor is a 64 Model.

I disassembled it yesterday without much of an issue. I assumed after sitting for 13 years (last registered in 01) the impeller would be in pieces. When I got it apart the impeller was fine, fins had some curve to them but it still fit snugly in the housing and was pliable with no cracking.

I threw the lower unit back together and stuck it in a bucket of water and spun it with a drill. It pumps a pretty good stream (1-2 inches high) out of the spout. I stuck the leg on it and tried it in the bucket of water. For whatever reason, I cannot get water to pump up to powerhead. I have verified the passage is clear (blowing air from the powerhead passage makes bubbles in the water out of the WP inlet) and the copper tube is aligned.

I took it the leg back off and put it back in the water, and noticed that when I plug the WP outlet, water bypasses around where the shaft goes into the pump. Is this normal? Could the housing be worn to the point that it won't pump higher anymore?

My last plan of action is to have another pair of eyes look down the leg with a flashlight and see if I can see the water bypassing around the shaft or whatever is going on.

 

[nwcove]

Re: Fisherman 5.5 Not Pumping any Water

At what rpm were you spinning the ds, anything more than a few hundred rpm should have shot water alot more than a couple of inches high.
Id guess that the impeller has taken a set and will no longer work correctly.

 

[atimm693]

Re: Fisherman 5.5 Not Pumping any Water

At what rpm were you spinning the ds, anything more than a few hundred rpm should have shot water alot more than a couple of inches high.
Id guess that the impeller has taken a set and will no longer work correctly.

I was using my Craftsman 19.2v drill, website says 650 rpm.

I'm no expert in outboards, but I think the impeller, although a little worn, is working like it should. Is the housing supposed to bypass around the driveshaft like it does? Is the impeller supposed to seal that?

 

[racerone]

Re: Fisherman 5.5 Not Pumping any Water

You need a new impeller and a new housing !

 

[atimm693]

Re: Fisherman 5.5 Not Pumping any Water

You guys are good.


I took it all back apart this morning. Upon further inspection the impellers fins were curved too much, and not contacting the outside of the housing.

I also saw a tiny hole in the upper housing. Must be a bypass hole, and the reason why it bypasses around the shaft.

Thank you for the replies. I will get a new impeller and see what happens.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Fisherman 5.5 Not Pumping any Water

If the housing and wear plates are in good shape, think I would reuse them -- big price difference from buying the whole kit. Clean (400 grit sandpaper) and grease the contact points when putting in the new impeller. I think the hole up on top is an air vent which prevents a form of hydrolock when the impeller revolves. It's a feature, not a mistake.

 

[racerone]

Re: Fisherman 5.5 Not Pumping any Water

The vent hole gets rid of air , sprays cooling water into the exhaust!------No need to lubricate an impeller , not even for assembly on that motor.-Water is the lubricant for an outboard impeller.

 

[racerone]

Re: Fisherman 5.5 Not Pumping any Water

Not sure what equipment you have , I have used lathe and 4 jaw chuck to remachine pump housings to factory dimensions.---Your options / results may be different.

 

[atimm693]

Re: Fisherman 5.5 Not Pumping any Water

The wear plate had some slight wear but I don't think it's enough to matter.

If I have any more problems I will buy the updated plastic housing/impeller. But from what I can tell, a new impeller should get it pumping again.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Fisherman 5.5 Not Pumping any Water

wearplate normally has a shine, but should not show pitting. Use your finger to spread a little grease on the wearplate and the inside of the housing. Before the water gets to it, it's good to have some lubricant. I usually put a little on the housing bolts as well just to help prevent corrosion. There is always loctite for the bolts. A little film of grease helps everything go together, including getting the impeller back under the housing.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Fisherman 5.5 Not Pumping any Water

I don't put anything on the impeller. As stated, water is the lubricant. The water pump is submerged upon startup. It has to be as it is not self priming.

Use OMC Gasket Sealing Compound on the housing bold threads, or the like. I seal the impeller plate to the casting using my 3M 847. That is all. Also, oil the copper water line, and the grommet on top of the housing before reinstalling to prevent the water line from jamming into the grommet. The only grease needed is on the drive shaft splines, no on top of the drive shaft though, only splines. Another critical area of the 5.5hp is the carbon seal assembly on top of the drive shaft. This keeps water out of the powerhead. Pay close attention to it upon reinstallation, and ensure that all components are present and working. Ensure vent on top of impeller housing is clear and not covered. Ensure gearcase cavities and drains are not clogged, or the gearcase will crack in the winter if left in the cold. I use a long thin drill bit to bore out the drain holes.

Most important, ALWAYS change the impeller after pulling it when sitting for 12 years as you stated, lol.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Fisherman 5.5 Not Pumping any Water

maybe spitting on the impeller before rotating it into the housing, just to ease the friction. That might work.

 

[atimm693]

Re: Fisherman 5.5 Not Pumping any Water

Thank you for your input.

My wear plate has a slight groove worn in it around the outer edge. I will try to replace it. I used a little pipe sealant/lube on the water pipe so it would seal good, I didn't use any sealer anywhere else.

I also need a powerhead gasket and the little cork washer that goes on top of the cone shaped washer that goes on the very top of the crank/driveshaft water seal. Whoever put the last impeller in must have left it out. Anybody know if Iboats carries these?

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Fisherman 5.5 Not Pumping any Water

Here is the cork gasket

Filter Bowl Gasket for Johnson, Evinrude 303355, GLM 34050 - Sierra 18-2892-9 - iboats

Here is the base gasket

http://www.iboats.com/5-5-5-6-HP-Ex...4125397--session_id.032366885--view_id.173859

 

[atimm693]

Re: Fisherman 5.5 Not Pumping any Water

Thanks.

Edit: Soliciting is against the rules. iboats is a company that sells parts, not a classified ad section ...

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Fisherman 5.5 Not Pumping any Water

Post a free wanted ad at aomci.org in the webvertize section.