No Water from Pee Hole...

Joined
Oct 19, 2006
Messages
50
Hi,

I have a 1979 70HP Mercury. I'm having issues lining up the copper water tube with the water intake hole. Is there some trick to lining it up as I tried running the motor and there is no water coming out of the pee hole so I shut it down after about 20 seconds.

I'm not sure if I'm in or beside the hole. I really wish there was a guide. I tried putting the copper water pipe parallel to the drive shaft with the same spacing as can be seen between the crankshaft "with a flashlight" and the water intake hole in the upper casing.

I took it apart and put it back together 3 times still no luck. Also was able to blow air through the head to make sure there was no blockage. I also checked the impeller to make sure it turns with the drivesaft so I know the key is in place.

I'm using mufflers.
Thanks.
 

Chris1956

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
28,074
Re: No Water from Pee Hole...

Charlie, The copper water tube runs from the top of the water pump in the lower unit into the casting called the exhaust extension, which sits under the powerhead. it fits into a rubber seal in the exhaust extension. Make sure it is seated in the seal. You can put a garden hose on the end of the water tube and run the water on LOW pressure to make sure it circulates correctly. If so, then you need to reinstall the LU. Make sure you use the plastic guide tube that fits into the waterpump outlet. it allows you to mate the pump with the water tube correctly.
 
Joined
Oct 19, 2006
Messages
50
Re: No Water from Pee Hole...

Thanks for the info. I don't have a plastic guide tube. I only have a copper water tube which comes out the top of the water pump, has a bend in it, and can be turned clockwise our counter clockwise "with some resistance due to the rubber bushing it fits onto on the inside of the pump". If there's a plastic guide tube missing then that would explain why I can't line it up with the exhaust extension as the copper tube moves around too much for an accurate fit.

I'm starting to wonder if the place I brought it to for initial inspection forgot to put it back on when they lowered the foot for inspection. When I got it back the foot was not fully assembled and I did not have a guide tube. Strangly nobody mentioned anything.

Thanks for your advice.
 
Joined
Oct 19, 2006
Messages
50
Re: No Water from Pee Hole...

Just a quick update for anyone experiencing the same problem. It's much easier "actually the right way to do it" if you install the copper water tube in the exhaust housing first and then install the foot.

Once the foot is almost on you can just guide the copper water tube into the water pump housing.

I had the copper water tube installed in the water pump first and then tried to line it up with the exhaust housing while installing the foot which is pretty much impossible to do.
 
Joined
Oct 19, 2006
Messages
50
Re: No Water from Pee Hole...

Please replace "exhaust housing" with "exhaust extension" in my reply as per Chris 1956's explanation.

Thx....
 

emckelvy

Commander
Joined
Jan 16, 2004
Messages
2,506
Re: No Water from Pee Hole...

Exactly, never going to be able to get it back together with the copper water tube in the pump and trying to engage the upper water tube gromment.

Check with a strong lite up the center section to make sure the upper water tube grommet is intact. Then, put a little grease (or Permatex #3) around the outside of the water tube and insert into the upper grommet.

Position the tube such that it'll be guided by the top of the water pump when you install the lower unit. As you're raising the unit up, you can shine a lite in there to see when the tube engages the pump body. Some of these don't have a guide tube, the top of the pump is kinda raised and has a chamfered area that will 'catch' the tube and help guide it in. If that area is perfectly round all the way in, without a chamfered area, it is probably made to accept a guide tube.

If so, you'd want to get one as it's quite difficult to install otherwise.

BTW, make sure you have the water tube grommet in the pump properly positioned. Put a thin coating of grease around the water tube where it'll engage the grommet, this'll help it slide into place freely.

Keep in mind that at about the same time the water tube is engaging the pump, the shift shaft is about ready to engage the shift rod, and the driveshaft should already have slid home into the crankshaft. Lots of fun!

HTH...........ed
 
Top