Johnson 50 hp. 2cyl questions

[ssportsmfg]

Last year I purchased a Lowe 17 SE with a 2001 Johnson outboard, and trailer all factory. All 2001.

Today I blew the Seafoam out of the cylinders for spring startup and started it up. While starting it and before it started it started peeing water, then once it started up it stopped. I shut it down of course. I had put a cut down 50 gal poly barrel under it and filled it with water rather than cuffs. I drained it out and took the screens off the lower unit and checked them, they were clear and the holes going to the water pump were clear. I put it back together and refilled the barrel, and started it back up, it started peeing and continued to pee for 10 minutes while I let the motor idle. It was our first warm early spring/ late winter day. The water in the barrel was cold coming out of the hose. I have no idea why it would stop the first time and then be ok an hour later nothing changed except changing the water in the barrel. As I said there were no obstructions to the screens and no dirt or leaves or any kind of trash in the water.

I am thinking that the rotor is getting hard and I need to change the water pump impeller? I worked just fine last year, but the person I bought it from couldn't tell me how long it had been since it was changed, most probably several years.

So am I correct in my reading on this motor that you must disconnect the shift linkage before you drop the lower unit? I read the description about it being under the carbs, but there is nothing under the carbs on this 2001 50 hp at all. The linkage is quite a bit further back toward the middle of the power head. Anyway, do I have to take the linkage loose and if so why? There is no spline or slip drive union of some kind in the lower unit? What does taking the linkage loose under the power head do? Does the linkage shaft come all the way out along with the driveshaft

 

[racerone]

The shift rod goes right up to just underneath the carburetors.---A screw MUST be taken out there.-----Removing the starter will help you see this screw.-----The shift rod stays attached to the lower unit.----If you do not know how old the impeller is then you MUST install a new one.

 

[Bosunsmate]

The water must be quite high up the leg when in a barrel or else it wont pump especially if you put it into gear

 

[ssportsmfg]

Changed out my water pump completely. New everything, bought the kit. Also bought a lower unit seal kit. Can't say as I am impressed with the quality of Sierra products.

The impeller cup where it had been stamped out was left just like it was before forming it into a cup, the edges were all razor sharp, and where the sides were formed and where the cup had the cutout portion for the outlet it had rolled over razor sharp edges. It would had I not de-burred it completely sliced my new impeller to pieces. The center of the impeller is a synthetic material instead of brass like the original Johnson impeller. And it only came the the O ring for the top under the impeller cup O ring. There was no O ring to replace the bottom O ring under the impeller. While it looked OK, I didn't want to put a 14 year old O ring back under the impeller. I also had some Nitrile O ring kits and found one that matched and put that in.

The bottom seal kit was missing or had the wrong size O rings for the shift shaft. The correct O ring was there for the shaft itself under the squeeze screw, but no O ring for the nylon body going into the lower unit. And I checked the part numbers to make sure they were correct for my motor. The lower unit screw seals were also missing.

The quality was really disappointing in these aftermarket kits. At $68 for the water pump and $25 for the lower unit seal kit there is no excuse for this poor quality.

 

[boobie]

If I was you I'd contact Sierra customer service and tell them this. You never know, you might get some kind of a rebate.

 

[ssportsmfg]

Thanks Boobie, but can you tell me how to contact them? I got a lot of hits on a web lookup but not sure it is the right place.

 

[ssportsmfg]

Never mind, found them, tried to do a web submission email but it wouldn't send the form. Called them, I think they are going to send me two new kits.

We will see.

 

[boobie]

Let us know what happens.

 

[ssportsmfg]

They are sending new kits.