Tell-tale okay?

[b22smith]

1980, 25hp Johnson. Just bought used and it runs excellent on the water. Put on muffs and no tell-tale water stream. Shut off fast so water impellar not burned up. Put in tub and tell-tale started after about 10 seconds. (1) Is this cause the engine is cold and the thermostat takes time to heat and open? (2) Is it safe for me to use the muffs only? (3) Do the muffs HAVE to have good seal to work if the water hose is turned all the way on? Still learning about outboards.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: Tell-tale okay?

Hi Smithy,<br /><br />The internal water circuit gives maximum pee-hole flow when the stat is shut, and reduced flow when the stat opens, but there should be SOME flow all the time. <br /><br />If running in a barrel gives you good flow, and running on the boat doesn't overheat the motor, then it looks like the pump's working fine. <br /><br />Something's amiss somewhere, but I can't see exactly what. The muffs should have a good seal on the intakes, but a bit of leakage is nearly always there. Have you tried running water through the muffs with the motor off and seeing where it exits? Did you leave it long enough on the muffs before you started and ran the motor?

 

[b22smith]

Re: Tell-tale okay?

The muffs I have are round and don't seal good, so I thought maybe too much air might be getting sucked in, but I had the water hose on HIGH to saturate the intake good. I'll check to see if water comes out somewhere, but with these muffs it's hard to tell. Might get some better ones. I've just been worried about running it too long if not enough water is getting through to the pump with the muffs. There's no other way for water to get to the pump except through the side intake is there???

 

[OBJ]

Re: Tell-tale okay?

You don't really need the water on high or all the way open b22.....I find that a couple turns open on the faucet gives more than enough water. Make sure the muffs are centered over the water intake.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Tell-tale okay?

If the motor is new to you put in a new water pump unless you know for sure that it was changed within the past year.

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: Tell-tale okay?

Just one question ..... where is the water intake on a 1980 25 hp Johnson ?<br /><br />DHP

 

[OBJ]

Re: Tell-tale okay?

UH-OH....DHP on the scene.... The 25's were split gear cases and the 35's were not. The intake on the 25's are under the anti-cav plate just in front of the exhaust port.....that's that thing hanging down on the bottom of the cav plate just over the prop. No wonder we can't get water through it with the muffs..... B22....keep it in the water when you run it.<br /><br />EDIT: Also...look on the port side of the lower unit just over the anti-cav plate and you will see and additional intake. It's got a narrow cover over it held on by two screws. Muffs won't work here either.

 

[b22smith]

Re: Tell-tale okay?

Problem is I can't get the longshaft extension off of the motor to get to the water pump to rebuild it. Corrossion has the extension housing locked on the stud bolt. Anyway, been through all that discussion already. Just making do with what I have and if it ain't broke then I ain't gonna fix it... until later when it probably breaks other stuff. Just curious as to why I can't get flow with the round muffs. Bought me a set of rectangular muffs last night so I'll try those and see what happens.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Tell-tale okay?

Hi B22smith,<br /> Round, square, octagonal - they're not going to work. The primary water intake is underneath the cavitation plate, in the leading edge of the exhaust outlet. None of the typical earmuff type devices will work with that type of lower unit. Run it in a bucket or not at all...<br /> If the long bolt in the rear is the one you're having trouble with, consider cutting it. A new impeller is less than $20.00 and relatively easy to replace...<br />- Scott

 

[b22smith]

Re: Tell-tale okay?

So, the pencil size tube with the screen on the lower unit is the primary water intake and the side intake is not? I've been using a tub, but it's such a pain in the #$$ to deal with compared to muffs. Oh, well. No problem.