Johnson no water at the tell tale HELP!!

[Billy Bob]

Hi Everyone<br /><br />Waterpump was replaced on this motor. Brother bought it on the cheap and was told it needed a water pump. Replaced pump. Did not pee. Took assembly apart and checked and reinstalled. Did not pee. Repeated these steps several times. Had to keep checking that woodruff key was in place. <br /><br />Brother was convinced that the earmuffs were just not able to put the water where it was needed. The water inlet on this motor is a slot near another object. Could not get a great seal. Repeated the steps from above AGAIN and this time started motor in a tub of water. Did not pee. <br /><br />Passages would allow water through them when disassembled. Motor was apparently not ran for very long because of the fear of overheating. Is this the "problem" or could it be? Is there a thermostat in this motor? Would it prevent water from coming out the tell tale until it has reached operating temp?<br /><br />thank you so much in advance for your help<br /><br />Billy Bob

 

[almost retired again]

Re: Johnson no water at the tell tale HELP!!

Hello Billy Bob;<br />What year is your Johnson? If it's new enough it will have a pee hole on the port side of the lower engine cowling. Some times these things get plugwed up,try running a small piece of wire up in it, then blow through it with compressed air. Dirt daubers will plug any hole they can find.<br />Go ahead and run it for a while if the head gets so hot that you can't hold your hand on it for approx. 2 seconds then shut it down as it is probly running hot.<br />Hope this helps

 

[Billy Bob]

Re: Johnson no water at the tell tale HELP!!

Almost Retired<br /><br />Thanks for writing. The motor is a 1968 40hp Johnson. Sorry about that.<br /><br />Anyway, are you saying run it til you can't hold your hand on it for 2 seconds? Any idea how long will be? <br /><br />Thank you<br />Billy Bob

 

[ShafferNY]

Re: Johnson no water at the tell tale HELP!!

Even if it does have a thermastat there sould be a bypass, I believe.<br /><br />Try squirting WD-40 in the tell tale if there is one on the cowl. Most of the older engines have a hole on the back the leg.

 

[RandyJ]

Re: Johnson no water at the tell tale HELP!!

There's alot I don't know about outboards. However, I happen to own 5 Johnson's and 1 Evinrude. None of them have a pee hole as the Mercury's do. All exhaust water and the exhaust thru an exhaust tube or the prop. If you are running it with ear muffs note the different places and the amount of water and where it comes from before and after starting the engine. If you can run the motor for more than 5 minutes and hold your hand on the motor, especially the water jacket or exhaust cover then it is cooling fine.

 

[Franki]

Re: Johnson no water at the tell tale HELP!!

The old evinrude does not have a pee hole like you'd expect, the big hole exits mostly exhaust,, and occasionally a bit of spray, the majority of outlet water comes out near the bottom of the leg.<br /><br />start the puppy, warm it up and see if you can't keep your finger on the head for 2-5 seconds without burning yourself, if you can, then its not overheating.<br /><br />Also, check that the overheat warning is workin.<br /><br />look on the heads, you will see a tan colored wire coming from one of them, there is a connector on that wire just off the head, disconnect it there, and touch the wire to the powerhead with the ignition on (not the end going to the head, the other end)... a horn in your controller should sound, thats your overheat warning, if it doesnt' work, the horn is probably dead, mine was, I replaced it with a relay and a car horn. very hard to miss now as it hurts your ears, the original horn was about 1.5 inchs in diameter and not very loud. but its great that even 60's model outboards had these warnings.<br /><br />rgds<br /><br />Frank

 

[Billy Bob]

Re: Johnson no water at the tell tale HELP!!

Hey Guys<br /><br />Don't know if you'll see this or not but want to thank you. I told my Dad what you have told me here. He could not get himself to believe it. Sorry about that. That got to me checking a couple different Johnson manuals. Finally got an answer from a book that was not even all Johnson. The book had Merc and some oddball manu. Anyway, got the answer from that book that confirmed what you said. <br /><br />There is a thermostat. Water just recirculates through the pump til water is warm enough to open therm. and then it goes out the exhaust. Looks like a portion may go out the inch diameter hole that I was calling a tell tale.<br /><br />Anyway, thank you again.<br />Billy Bob

 

[Billy Bob]

Re: Johnson no water at the tell tale HELP!!

Hey Gang<br /><br />Wanted to say thanks for the help. I went out of town over the weekend. I'm logged in here with Gator. Out of town, I could not remember my password etc. <br /><br />Billy Bob