Melted tube and steam from the exhaust

[MurphysLaw]

After a fun day of replacing my shift spool, we had the prop sitting in a bin or water to try to put some load on it to see how it would shift. It turned out that I just splashed it all out which gave us a nice laugh to end the day. However I was not laughin about the steam I had coming out of the exhaust ports by the gimbal housing. I also melted the plastic tube from the water pump to the copper tube in the outdrive, so I know that its been getting HOT. My temp gauge isnt working but I believe that is fixed now. My dad, a former Merc mechanic, is thinkin that maybe I melted the fitting and/or gasket that the copper tube goes into, causing most of the water to fall out the prop because the pump was sucking the ear muffs closed to the outdrive. So that was just boiling the water inside the block. Or I may have an obstruction, which I plan to search for tomorrow. It did seem like there was a more than usual amount of water coming out of the prop. Does anyone have an experience like this? Or some input for me? I did run thru some weeds and found some in the pump, maybe they would have clogged something? Also, I pulled the temp sensor out today and a good amount of water came out, could that possibly cause some of the steam having a lack of water in the block? The water pump on the motor could be air-locked i guess

 

[ziggy]

Re: Melted tube and steam from the exhaust

did ya replace the impeller.......
ya musta took the drive back apart to know that the watertube guide was melted. hows the impeller? if yer talkin about the water pocket cover in the upper. ya better hope it's not melted or leaking. ya'll snap them 4 ss 1/4-20 bolts right off if ya touchem......if yer impeller is toast, ya need to flush out as much of the reminants as possible.

 

[MurphysLaw]

Re: Melted tube and steam from the exhaust

The impeller is fine. I dont know the name of the part, I just know that its at the top of the copper tube and that it has 4 ss bolts holding it in. Im really hopng to not snap em tho, but im prob gonna pull it tomorrow

 

[95yj]

Re: Melted tube and steam from the exhaust

Good luck. I've always heard it called a water pocket cover. Really work those bolts loose gently because if they break off, you're probably into a new upper housing.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Melted tube and steam from the exhaust

I dont know the name of the part, I just know that its at the top of the copper tube and that it has 4 ss bolts holding it in.

yep, that's a water pocket cover. and is the proper term for the part.

Really work those bolts loose gently because if they break off, you're probably into a new upper housing.

that is a possibility for sure, if ya break em off....

unless ya really have to remove that part don't touch them screws.......they break off.......

ya've been forwarned......ever drill ss in cast aluminum, in a 10" resess?

 

[MurphysLaw]

Re: Melted tube and steam from the exhaust

any ideas on the steam?

 

[95yj]

Re: Melted tube and steam from the exhaust

Umm, you overheated it enough to melt your water pump housing, that should make quite a bit of steam. One problem is that if it got hot enough for the hot exhaust to melt your pump housing, you might have also melted the seals in the outdrive. Make sure you do a pressure test or you may wind up needing a new outdrive.

 

[MurphysLaw]

Re: Melted tube and steam from the exhaust

I just ran it for about 5 minutes or so, got the temp up to about 105 and there was a normal amount of water coming out of the prop. The starboard exhaust port had more water falling out of it and the port side had more or a heavy mist coming out, but no more steam. I think that I just made an air pocket in there when I pulled the temp sensor and that allowed some water to boil.