Johnson 120TLET Water Pump Issues

[Bueller420th]

I just bought a boat and the motor is a 1993 Johnson J120TLET. I bought it really cheap knowing the boat has been sitting for almost 3 years. I got all the old gas out of the tank and put in new gas. Put the dog ears on it to test to see if she would start and if the Tell-Tale would spit out the water. We were able to get her to sputter for a while before she dies. If we keep the choke on she runs for about 5 seconds after the choke is off. I was told the water pump had never been replaced so I bought a kit which seemed to be missing new grommets but installed the rest of it new. Only won grommet looked to have wear and it was the big circle on the pump cover that screws on to the pump housing at the end.

The problem is that with the old and the new water pump we can never get any water to come out of the tell-tale. When the lower unit was off we could blow air up the water tube and it would come out the tell-tale, testing cranking the shaft and making sure the pump turned. At times we could turn the prop fast and it would seem the pump would slip cause the prop would turn really easy, then it would catch almost like the key they provided in the kit was too small and wasn't catching all the time. We tried putting it in a 70 gallon water tank instead of the ears but no result.

Does any one have any ideas as to why we arent getting any water coming out? Also why the motor won't idle by itself for more than 2-5 seconds, perhaps the carbs need cleaned since it sat so long?

Thanks.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Johnson 120TLET Water Pump Issues

Boring answer but you need to do a basic health check of your motor. You should get water flow if the pump is installed correctly. Start with the following and post your results for all to see.

Compression
Spark
Fuel delivery
Spark plug condition.
And in your case, re-visit the water pump.

 

[Bueller420th]

Re: Johnson 120TLET Water Pump Issues

I will start checking that stuff. Thanks.

The weird thing is that it used to spray out of the hole before it sat and after 3 years it wasnt and the pump I pulled from it wasn't in bad shape at all. When I replaced it I did it exactly the way that the Seloc book for my motor said so I woudn't think it is in wrong. Could it perhaps be the thermostats if its not the pump?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Johnson 120TLET Water Pump Issues

clogged tale tell hose, very common. kitters like to nest there,

 

[Bueller420th]

Re: Johnson 120TLET Water Pump Issues

We had already thought of that and took an air compressor and can blow in and it comes out steady from both directions.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Johnson 120TLET Water Pump Issues

Is the water tube actually on the water pump ????

 

[Bueller420th]

Re: Johnson 120TLET Water Pump Issues

Well there is a cover on top over the water pump housing and when we slide the lower unit back in it looks like it slides over a brass shaft/tube. But the tube is smaller than the pump cover which makes me wonder how enough pressure could happen to send water all the way up without it come out the side gap. Kind of like trying to stick a nickel sized tube in a quarter size tube, water would lead out the size pretty good I would think. It there supposed to be a grommet there? The kit didn't come with one and there wasn't one there when I removed it. I know it had to have been the first time the lower unit was removed because the original paint was solid and hadn't been cracked yet.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Johnson 120TLET Water Pump Issues

Check here. Make sure you have everything in place that should be there. Just plug in your model number and year.

http://shop2.evinrude.com/ext/index.aspx?s1=bf6ad09c53cead335fcfd8a6471c0f7f

 

[Bueller420th]

Re: Johnson 120TLET Water Pump Issues

That diagram helped out nice. But no, nothing missing from there. The seloc book did say to put an extra O-Ring right above the impeller that isn't in the diagram but it wasn't keeping it from spinning when I was testing it. I wouldnt think an O-ring would cause the problem.

 

[Bueller420th]

Re: Johnson 120TLET Water Pump Issues

It works!!! It finally pees out water. I was still thinking the key that came with the pump kit was wrong and it was slipping. I ordered the key that I get from the Evinrude side provided by Kenmyfam(Thanks man) and it was alot thicker and bigger then both that were given in the kit. I was beginning to worry. Now all is good.

How hot should the head covers get. The middle of the engine between the head covers is not hot but the head covers are getting pretty hot, too hot to touch for more than a second. Is there a chance I need to put in new thermostats? I figured the head covers would get hotter since thats where all the spark and such is happening but want to make sure before I take her out on the water and get her going.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Johnson 120TLET Water Pump Issues

Glad you are now pumping.
Heads are best tested with a temp gun, however you should be able to hold your hand on them at normal running temperature for around 3 to 4 seconds. If you can not do this then you are running hot.
Good idea to change the stats anyway as a matter of maintenance. You can test the ones you have with some hot water and a meat thermometer if you like. Should start to open around 140 degrees and be completely open around 160 degrees.

 

[Bueller420th]

Re: Johnson 120TLET Water Pump Issues

I was a little hesitant to leave my hand on longer, but i can leave it on 3 to 4 seconds. We took her out on the Missouri today for a short bit and she ran like a champ. I was very suprised. I will be replacing the stats tho.

Also I figured I need to change the lower unit oil. Is there any documentation online as to how much it takes for my model, or do i just keep squeezing the bottle til it comes out the top and then put the top screw in? The top drain screw is locked, is an impact screw driver safe to use?

Thanks.

 

[Bueller420th]

Re: Johnson 120TLET Water Pump Issues

Nevermind on the lower unit questions, i found the thread for it.

Thanks for all the help guys.