Need Help With A 55 Chrysler Outboard

[amos715]

i've got a 1975 Chrysler 55 outboard, and i can't tell if it is pumping water or not. i know virtually nothing about boat motors, here is what i've done so far

dropped the lower unit, the water pump thingy looks like it is fine. i have the prop off and the motor is down in a barrel of water, it seems like there is some exhaust coming out under water, and/or the water is stirring really hard but i don't see any water shooting out anywhere (which i thought with all outboards you could see)

there is also an exhaust up high, and a clear tube on top of the head that does not seems to have a vacum or fuel, i don't know if it is suppose to have water?

anyone have any ideas or can point me in any direction will be greatly appreciated.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Need Help With A 55 Chrysler Outboard

If you can see the clear tube.When the motor runs you should see water in the tube and comming out the hole on the back of the motor.
If you have it apart:change the impeller.Make sure you put the pick-up tube from the waterpump housing back in the right place when re-installing.It might take a few seconds to pump out the back but the tube should have water right away. Jerry

 

[amos715]

Re: Need Help With A 55 Chrysler Outboard

the impeller looks fine, no dry rot, no broken pieces.

should i use an air hose or something and see if i can blow any blockage out via the clear tube?

should i try and disassemble anything?

 

[amos715]

Re: Need Help With A 55 Chrysler Outboard

If you can see the clear tube.When the motor runs you should see water in the tube and comming out the hole on the back of the motor.
If you have it apart:change the impeller.Make sure you put the pick-up tube from the waterpump housing back in the right place when re-installing.It might take a few seconds to pump out the back but the tube should have water right away. Jerry

and which hole in the back of the motor?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Need Help With A 55 Chrysler Outboard

Exhaust port. under motor .Look up the water intake that goes to the head and see if its blocked.Old impeller pieces might be in it.Is the impeller key in correct?Jerry

 

[amos715]

Re: Need Help With A 55 Chrysler Outboard

Exhaust port. under motor .Look up the water intake that goes to the head and see if its blocked.Old impeller pieces might be in it.Is the impeller key in correct?Jerry

i'll check that tomorrow, was preaching tonight

when this thing is running it almost looks like there is some exhaust coming out under water, is that possible?

there is a short pipe a couple of inches long that is about a foot below the main motor, points aft and has a lot of hot air coming out,is that exhaust or that suppose to be water?

and thanks a million for all the help

 

[amos715]

Re: Need Help With A 55 Chrysler Outboard

okay...............

nothing looks clogged anywhere.

i took the little side pan thing off and broke 4 bolts, does anyone know what size drill and tap i need to get those bolt pieces out??

i took the head off no clogs there, but i need to know how many pounds to torque it back to.

any other ideas !?!?

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Need Help With A 55 Chrysler Outboard

Cylinder head bolts are 270 inch pounds. The cover you mentioned is this the exhaust cover on the port side? If you broke them screws you are in for some trouble. Chances are they are corroded so an easy out wont work. Seems to me they were 1/4 20 x 2 1/8 inch. When I broke mine I had to use JB Weld to fill the hole then retap. Never did get a very good hold on that stuff. I was told if I mixed more hardener like say 25 to 75 percent it would take a thread better.

Did you ever try replacing the impeller. I have seen these look good and not work. If you have it apart now is a golden time to get all the carbon out. Mine it was caked in and I used Marvel mystery oil and chiseled at it with a wooden Popsicle stick.

 

[amos715]

Re: Need Help With A 55 Chrysler Outboard

Did you ever try replacing the impeller. I have seen these look good and not work. If you have it apart now is a golden time to get all the carbon out. Mine it was caked in and I used Marvel mystery oil and chiseled at it with a wooden Popsicle stick.

yeah i ordered a new impeller,but it was the wrong size. shaft size was wrong.
i can take it back and see if hes got another.

i figured the bolt thing was going to be fun to fix. i broke the first one and debated whether or not to break anymore. but i figured it was going to have to come out.

can i drill all the way through the hole when i drill the old bolt out?

and what carbon did you chisel out?

the plate on the back of the motor that the exhaust and water comes out of, ahs a bolt at top and bottom. when i removed that plate i notice a spot at the very bottom that water may suppose to comeout of? i took a little piece of wire and cleaned some oil gook out? is that where the water is suppose to come out?

 

[amos715]

Re: Need Help With A 55 Chrysler Outboard

oh

and does anyone have a source for parts, i think i am going to need a new gasket, for that port side pan.

edit: and those bolts where very corroded, by the looks of the paint they had never been off.

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Need Help With A 55 Chrysler Outboard

confirm the part I circled in red is what you removed

If so there should have been like stainless steel parts with two sets of gaskets and when you remove all that you should be able to see the pistons from the side. That is where all the carbon was on mine. Let me know if this is the part you removed and I will see If I can get you part numbers. Did you remove the head from the motor or is it still attached?

 

[amos715]

Re: Need Help With A 55 Chrysler Outboard

yeah that's the part.

i did take the head off to check the water port. that gasket looked great.

i got this boat on a trade: from a cousin for a van, they got it from his brother for a trade. everyone always said the same thing, "it runs great but needs an impeller and a starter" starter was already off

after checking everything this is what i think happened. first owner tried to fix with a new impeller, it still didn't pump water. starter fried so he got rid of the whole thing. told the new owner its just not pumping water, and it needs a starter. that story got passed through a couple of owners because no one ever wanted to spend the $150 buck on a starter.

i say that to ask this question, if the impeller has been changed out and is good (although i know it may not be) what above that should i check for clogs or bad seals?

 

[eurolarva]

Re: Need Help With A 55 Chrysler Outboard

First off you will need two gaskets both are called exhaust port plate gaskets and the part number is 27-F401544. They are about 6 dollars each and can be purchased from your merc dealer. The impeller you need can also be ordered from mercury and the part number is 47-F433065-2 and the cost is 15 bucks. When putting an impeller in you want to make sure the drive shaft pin for the impeller is in. If not the drive shaft will spin but the impeller wont. Also when installing the impeller you want to put the impeller on the drive shaft pin. Put the water pump over it then turn the drive shaft slowly clock wise while using firm downward pressure on the water pump till it is seated. This will make the vanes point in the correct position. After you get it all back together if it still seems to not pump water then you will want to take the thermostat out and try running without that to see if water flows. Water muffs do not work well on these motors and it is best to use a garbage pail filled to above the anti ventilation plate.

 

[amos715]

Re: Need Help With A 55 Chrysler Outboard

thanks

new parts are on the way, i don't know where the thermostat is. do yuo guys have a diagram or pic or something.

 

[byacey]

Re: Need Help With A 55 Chrysler Outboard

Thermostat is behind the little cast block where the water hose runs into the back of the cylinder head above the top spark plug. These machine screws are prone to seizing too. I replace them with a good grade of stainless bolt and cover the threads liberally with aviation gasket cement to prevent seizing.