Water leaking- power head area, '96 Erude 88 spl

[kman61]

Hi. I just replaced my water pump, exhaust cover gaskets & powerhead base gasket on my 1996 Evinrude 88 spl.Upon starting water seems to be pouring out of the area where the drive shaft engages the powerhead. At this point I'm not sure if the water is leaking from the powrhead / adaptor plate area (I see no evidence of a leak at the gasket area at the outside of the joint) or if possible it is shooting up the drive shaft from the water pump housing. As I have no desire to needlessly remove the powerhead would anyone know if there is a method where I can single out the water pump theory? Can I remove the lower unit, hook a garden hose to the water tube & start the motor? The thought is, if no water is leaking from up top than it must be shooting up the drive shaft? Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Water leaking- power head area, '96 Erude 88 spl

Can I remove the lower unit, hook a garden hose to the water tube & start the motor? The thought is, if no water is leaking from up top than it must be shooting up the drive shaft? Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Be careful, I am not a mechanic but one thing I do know is that your boat water pump probably produces about 25 PSI water pressure. Your water pressure in your house could be 80 PSI or more. You are libel to blow every gasket in your motor.....somebody correct me if I am wrong, like I said I am not an outboard mechanic.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Water leaking- power head area, '96 Erude 88 spl

My suggestion would be to T in a pressure gauge, then monitor that as you slowly open the water valve. Keep the pressure below 25 or 30 psi and you should be ok. Another thing, do you really need for the engine to be running when you do that? Seems like you'd be able to see what you need to with just the water pressure.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Water leaking- power head area, '96 Erude 88 spl

sounds like the water pipe going up to you engine block is leaking, you will probably have to pull the power head, or drop the foot and the mid section, which ever is easier. sounds like you messed up that power head base gasket. and yes you can hook a garden hose up to your water pipe to check for leaks, it will not blow any gaskets as the water will flow through the block and will not build up significant pressure. you will not have to crank the motor, but you could. I have flushed motors like that before, I remove the t-stats and hook a hose to the water pipe. 1/2" water hose fits perfectly or maybe it was a 5/8. cant remember now. but thats why I keep old hoses laying around.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: Water leaking- power head area, '96 Erude 88 spl

You have replaced to critical items-the powerhead base gasket and the water pump impeller. It's pretty hard to install the powerhead base gasket incorrectly. Two flat surfaces and a gasket that can only go on one way. Since you don't see any water leakage at that sealing seam, you probably have it installed correctly. It is possible to have problems with the water pump when reinstalling the lower unit. When refitting the lower unit, you have to be sure the water pipe is guided correctly into the top grommet of the water pump. If it's not, you can get water pumping directly into the midsection, and possibly up to the base of the powerhead. Before you go to the effort of pulling the powerhead (a 3 hour job,) the easier thing to do is drop the lower unit and double check the fit of the water tube (a one hour job) into the pump housing. Once apart, you can adapt a garden hose to that copper pipe and feed household water up the tube. That will be a good leak check at the powerhead without having to run the engine.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Water leaking- power head area, '96 Erude 88 spl

I thought "water seems to be pouring out of the area where the drive shaft engages the powerhead." meant it was leaking at the bottom of the power head..not sure, sometimes I misunderstand what people are trying to say.

 

[kman61]

Re: Water leaking- power head area, '96 Erude 88 spl

First off, thanks to all that previously replied to my dilemma. Used the garden hose to 5/8 ID hose trick with motor off. Turned on the water and low & behold same issue. Power head removal time! Here is what I learned...you can in fact install the base gasket upside down on this particular motor, and when you do there is nothing to prevent the water that is making its way from the water pump to the power head from pouring down your exhaust tube as well as into the cavity where your drive shaft engages the P-head.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Water leaking- power head area, '96 Erude 88 spl

so it is all fixed now??

 

[kman61]

Re: Water leaking- power head area, '96 Erude 88 spl

Not fixed yet, waiting for the new base gasket to come in. I'll post results once I put it back together.

 

[kman61]

Re: Water leaking- power head area, '96 Erude 88 spl

Finally got a chance toput it back together. Spent a good part of yesterday putting the power head back on along with new water pump kit. Started right up, no leaks! Once again, thanks for all the help.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Water leaking- power head area, '96 Erude 88 spl

great job.