Please Help? 115 Mercury Blowing Water Out

[hjsmith00843]

Motor seems to run well when under power. I know the carbs are not adjusted correctly. But I noticed a large amount of water coming from the bottom 6 cylinder. I assumed it was the block but after reading I found out it could be a few more simple things.

I posted a video to help diagnose the problem. I will also add a few other videos to show you how it runs when idle on the hose.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7zVuaU2hcI&feature=youtu.be

 

[hjsmith00843]

Re: Please Help? 115 Mercury Blowing Water Out

Here is the running video and a few photos. Can you tell me what that tan wire is. It is not hooked up. I also notice a starter bolt is missing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWAwLPNb7Xg

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Please Help? 115 Mercury Blowing Water Out

Looks like a crack at the outer cylinder head water jacket. If you put your finger over the plug hole does it still leak?
You might be able to plug it with some epoxy steel weld. Depending on what year it is you might be able to take off the back cover if its just a water cover and patch it from the inside.Itd run nice with that extra cylinder working, the water is probably shorting it
Wheres the tan wire originate from?

 

[hjsmith00843]

Re: Please Help? 115 Mercury Blowing Water Out

Looks like a crack at the outer cylinder head water jacket. If you put your finger over the plug hole does it still leak?
You might be able to plug it with some epoxy steel weld. Depending on what year it is you might be able to take off the back cover if its just a water cover and patch it from the inside.Itd run nice with that extra cylinder working, the water is probably shorting it
Wheres the tan wire originate from?

Just pulled the waterjacket plate and I did not find a crack. But I did find a place that appears to be erroded. It is the area that seals with the water jacket plate and the boss located around the spark plug. To me it appears that it can not seal because the area that the plate seals to is not there.

I will take some pictures and post soon. I am thinking about taking it and getting the area built up with some weld to give the gasket a place to seal against. Thanks for the help so far. I will get more info on the tan wire as well. I am on a tight budget so major repairs will put me out of boating. Veterans Affairs does not pay well and it takes forever to get a raise.

 

[hjsmith00843]

Re: Please Help? 115 Mercury Blowing Water Out

 

[hjsmith00843]

Re: Please Help? 115 Mercury Blowing Water Out

Could I use JB weld on the area that needs to be built up? I have never had great luck with that product.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Please Help? 115 Mercury Blowing Water Out

Ive never tried JB Weld. What i would do is to sand it back a touch and get some high temperature steel weld epoxy that you mix in your hand and then apply that. You can then sand it back after about two hours to make it a nice flange surface. Some of that can be purchased for about $US15.
I wouldnt do the main bit thats eroded, id only do the area where the water has tunnelled through so the water pressure is pressing into it rather than across it
Hows the water jacket plate look, is the gasket ok?

 

[hjsmith00843]

Re: Please Help? 115 Mercury Blowing Water Out

The gasket tore and I will replace the gasket. I am so relieved that the water was not actually going into the cylinder. Will this leaking situation cause a miss in the engine. The motor was strong but sometimes stumbled mostly after a cool down. I am thinking the water shorted out the plug wire maybe.

I was really upset when I thought my motor was destroyed.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Please Help? 115 Mercury Blowing Water Out

Yes the water will often short things out so can easily cause a miss.
You can buy some gasket sealants that will repair gaskets so keep that in mind while you look up the price of a new one.
I wouldnt be happy if i had water running out of a cylinder too

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Please Help? 115 Mercury Blowing Water Out

You should also tape up that tan wire until you can work out what its about so its not shorting itself out at times

 

[hjsmith00843]

Re: Please Help? 115 Mercury Blowing Water Out

You should also tape up that tan wire until you can work out what its about so its not shorting itself out at times

Yes I taped it up. I also will be adding a fuse to the main power wire to the motor. The seller told me he took it out because it was corroded up.

What is the exact name of the gasket I will be replacing. I hope my local marine shop has it in stock. I plan to do the metal relaip tomorrow then let it cure for a day then assemble it with a new gasket and a liberal amount of sealant.

Should I coat the threads of the hardware when I reassemble the unit?

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Please Help? 115 Mercury Blowing Water Out

whats the serial number and year? You can often get the part online much cheaper.

I dont think you have to coat the threads, you dont want anything spilling into and ruffling the new gasket
Is the tan wire coming from under the flywheel?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Please Help? 115 Mercury Blowing Water Out

Tan wire is normally a temp sender. I did not see a year of the motor in your post, so it is a guess. I cannot tell from the pictures how much metal is eroded on the cylinder or cylinder water jacket cover. If enough that a new gasket won't seal it, use some Marine-Tex to build it up. Be real careful not to overdo it. Those areas are machined to a tight tolerance.

 

[hjsmith00843]

Re: Please Help? 115 Mercury Blowing Water Out

It is a 1987 115 elp 6480153

The wire appears to go to the connector that goes to the boat itself.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Please Help? 115 Mercury Blowing Water Out

I have it down as part #22 on this http://www.marineengine.com/parts/mercury_marine_parts/sn/06480153/ 1115624/278_15
Price $11
Chris 1956 is most likely right, as the tan wire is probably the wire that goes to your temperature dial on the dash, controller high temp alarm, Check your fuses up front too

 

[hjsmith00843]

Re: Please Help? 115 Mercury Blowing Water Out

I orderd that part. I hope it fixes the problem. my local shop wanted $75 for that gasket.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Please Help? 115 Mercury Blowing Water Out

Ha ha thatd be right. My local shop increased the price between me ringing up and then walking there an hour later, ive taken a lot of work from him for that by retelling that story to others

 

[hjsmith00843]

Re: Please Help? 115 Mercury Blowing Water Out

Parts arrived today. I went ahead and ordered a new impeller kit and a rectifier. My old one I think was causing problems with my tach.

I will be using a epoxy to build up the sealing area and post some pictures and see if you think my repair will suffice. Will I need all of the components of the impeller kit or is it more of a universal set?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Please Help? 115 Mercury Blowing Water Out

You need to use the new impeller, wearplate and two gaskets, as a minimum. If you pull the waterpump base, use the pump base gasket and correct size Oring. You will have a left-over gasket or two, plus some Orings.