Tell-Tell Woes

[ratherfish]

I have a 1981 Mercury 140 outboard. I haven ran it for several years, the boat has set outside. This last fall I threw a new battery in it and lo-and-behold, it fired right up with little effort. I noticed it was not peeing very well, this old dude has always had a good flow to it, so I figured the water-pump had hardened from sitting. I ordered a new kit and replaced it. To my surprise the old one seemed just fine and had good flexibility, but I replaced it anyway. I fired it up, last fall, and it did pee, but not like the good old days it used to do. I got busy with other stuff and then winter came. I fired it up this evening, using muffs, and it started to pee a little bit and then just dribbled... any good ideas what is going on?

 

[GA_Boater]

Clean the bugs out of the hose or tell-tell port for starters.

 

[ratherfish]

Do I need to drop the lower unit to do that - I guess, what is the best way to do that?

 

[racerone]

Find the hose from the block to the tell-tale.----Blow it out with compresses air.

 

[GA_Boater]

Shove some weed whacker line or heavy fishing line up the tell-tell port on the side of the lower cowl.

 

[ratherfish]

Will do - thank you!

 

[The Force power]

I had them plug-up at both ends and had to;

Disconnect the hose from the power-head and with stiff wire (picture cable-wire) bore through the debris into power-head and drain-tube with the help of compressed air. spend at least 1/2 hour on getting completely cleared.

 

[ratherfish]

Finally had a chance to mess with it today.... disconnected the hose from the top of the block and blew it out. Wasn't really expecting much because hardly blew jack-crap out; but lo-and-behold that sucker peed like the good old days. I am happy.

 

[ratherfish]

Now in just need to buy some spark plug wires - off to the "shop" tab...