Has this happened to you?

[riverkid]

I got my '70 85 horse 'Rude running like a watch.Carb kits,new plugs,new fuel lines,etc...I installed a tell-tale from the top of starbd' cylinder to lower pan via an 1/8" hose.It ran and pumped water on muffs in my driveway for the past week.Perfect!Yesterday I mounted the 'Rude on my boat and found an unfrozen ramp where I could back down and adjust carbs and idle in gear.It fired right up but,it didn't pump any water.I've got a feeling that water was left in water pump cavity and two nights of tempatures in the 20's may have frozen something up? Sound reasonable? If the impeller was frozen or had ice in the housing.when it cranked over could it of sheared off the impeller blades? Anybody have this problem? I had engine cover off so it did not overheat too badly.I was able to touch both cylinder heads.There was only steam coming out of my tell tale though.Any input? C.C.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Has this happened to you?

if your water drains for the pump are clogged, its possible.

 

[riverkid]

Re: Has this happened to you?

Good morning,Rodbolt.Water drains in the pump you think? It must be something like that,right?I keep the engine vertical at all times I figured any water would drain below the level of the water pump housing,but apparently not.It was 14 degrees last night.Makes it kinda' tough to drop the lower and investigate.I did read in the Seloc manual to make sure all water drains out in freezing tempatures.I think they meant to keep engine vertical and maybe spin the engine by hand to un-trap any water that settles inside.Oh well,live and learn.Guess I'll have to learn a little paitence.Thanks,Rod.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Has this happened to you?

I had a customer with a Force that had a similar situation. But that impeller had a plastic hub that broke. He used his boat on occasion on a section of river that's always open (and a huge draw for Bald Eagles, lots of them). He kept his motor tilted which is what I think caused the failure. There's a drain hole in the pump. But if it's tilted, water can puddle in the front of the pump and freeze. That wouldn't be enough to damage the pump ... until it's started. I suspect a similar thing happened to you and ripped the vanes off the hub, or loosened the rubber from the hub and the vanes aren't turning.

 

[riverkid]

Re: Has this happened to you?

Hello,WillyB. I think it must be my spring fever acting up.Down here they push all the snow right onto the launch ramps figurin' no one in their right mind will be trying to launch a boat.That's the part that really gets me.I drove 15 miles to a cleared ramp and the motor wouldn't pump water.I think this ol' V4 will be fine on my skiff though,new retainers for the carb needles and the set of plugs really smoothed it out.Runs perfectly.Oh well,wish me luck,Thanks,Will,C.C.

 

[riverkid]

Re: Has this happened to you?

OK,here's the update: I put my woolies on and went and yanked the lower off.Ya' know the two water tubes on top of the pump? One was collapsed and frozen to the pump body.I took the lower inside and let it thaw a bit.When I removed the upper pump housing I was surprised at the condition of the impeller.The vanes are locked into a 90 degree position,the cup,or,housing liner has about an 1/8" of impeller rubber melted around it,it has obviously suffered a serious meltdown in it's previous life.Well,time for a few new parts.The moral of this story is: check any used engines thoroughly,remember this engine ran nice and cool on muffs.Luckily I was just playing around and had the engine cover off.It got a bit hot but I don't think it did any cylinder/piston damage.OK,now all you outboard veterans can chastise me for being so eager or rambunctious.Live and learn,right? C.C.