Hot Tell Tail

[peterpagnott]

I have a 2003 Merc saltwater 2 stroke. My tell tail stream is hot, to hot to hold your hand under. I have replaced both thermostats, the impeller and the poppet. Last night I took off the poppet to find blockage in the line and built up in the housing. I then checked all of the water lines up top and found no other clogs. When I started her back up the tell tale was still hot and was not cooling off. She is out of the water and I was only using muffs. Should I water test before more trouble shooting? Whats next for trouble shooting? As a side question, does the poppet casing have a weep hole?

 

[quantumleap]

Re: Hot Tell Tail

What size engine?

 

[Merc90HPnewbie]

Re: Hot Tell Tail

Some people say take the poppet valve out alltogether (makes water run thru all the time). Others say that defeats the purpose of temperature regulation. I'd try pulling the poppets and seeing if the stream cools down.<br /><br />One time my tell tale was so hot that it was turning directly to steam, turned out to be just the impeller. You sure you put it in the right direction? Some won't push water if you put it in backwards...

 

[profish00]

Re: Hot Tell Tail

How hot is hot the T stats are 143 deg and 143 is hot.

 

[bluebyyou]

Re: Hot Tell Tail

Isn't it supposed to be hot? I know mine is on a 1988 135...

 

[Merc90HPnewbie]

Re: Hot Tell Tail

Yeah, make sure it's within spec before you go chasing it down. Stick a cooking thermometer in the stream for a while if you don't have a gauge.

 

[Mercury140-I6]

Re: Hot Tell Tail

My 79 140 never gets warmeer than (I'm Guessing) 100. But my motor doesn't have the poppets or thermostat either.<br /><br /> http://www.myfishingpictures.com/showphoto.php?photo=13004&sort=7&thecat=500&password= <br /><br />Craig

 

[peterpagnott]

Re: Hot Tell Tail

Engine size is 150HP. Last night I back flushed the whole thing and found no blockage. Upon restart I found that she wouldn't pee untill the thermostats opened. When I replaced the impeller I mirrored the old one and after that she ran fine. This is a recent problem... About a month after the replaced impeller. as a side note I did replace the plugs using "better" ones sold to me by a Merc dealer would this case anything?<br />My temp gauge (on Metal) topped out at about 200F.

 

[JohnnyS]

Re: Hot Tell Tail

You should really check the temp of the water coming out the pee hole - not the metal.<br /><br />The water will not pee until the t-stats open - by design. However, if you increase the revs up to about 1800 the poppet should open and you will/should get water out the pee hole - even before the t-stats kick in.

 

[peterpagnott]

Re: Hot Tell Tail

Thanks, I think you answered my question. The poppet was stuck on its housing and therefore was giving a balloon effect. I'll put it on the water tommorrow and check it out. It sounds like I may have this on licked.

 

[AndyL]

Re: Hot Tell Tail

Running it on muffs unless you have a huge anount of water flow is not truly indicative as the water pump has huge capacity and the water ways in the block are also cavernous. A lot of water is lost in the exhaust. Whenever I have run my 135 up on Muffs there is hardly any pee stream as the hose cannot keep up with the demand, but she works fine in the water. If all else checks out ashore regarding poppet, thermostat and water pump then try it afloat before doing anything drastic.

 

[peterpagnott]

Re: Hot Tell Tail

OK I measured the temp las night and it was 150F coming out of the tell tail. I let it idle on muffs for about 15 minutes and it didn't move. This apears to be alright. Just looking for anyone who can concur that 150 is acceptable.<br />Thanks

 

[Dead Eye]

Re: Hot Tell Tail

1988 150 black max<br /> I had a problem with over heating also. Replaced water pump, Poppet, And therms. Stoped the over heating. Temp of tell-tale was 128 after the work was done. Still hot to the touch . After reading many posts the tell-tale stream is always HOT on mercs. Hope this helps.<br /> Dead Eye