Weak tell tale, plenty out of exhaust relief

[renegade15]

I have a 1990 70hp johnson that has a very weak tell tale, but I just did the impeller and housing about 10 hours ago. Lots of water comes out of the exhaust relief ports just above waterline on the middle section of the motor and water at the prop. Is this something I should worry about? I replaced the impeller because I thought the tell tale was weak and I had just bought the boat and didn't want to blow it up. Seems to run about the same but the old water pump housing did have a crack in it.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Weak tell tale, plenty out of exhaust relief

That small plastic water telltale outlet clogs easily. Run a piece of single strand steel wire, or something of your choosing up that fitting when the engine is running. That usually clears it out.

 

[brownridge]

Re: Weak tell tale, plenty out of exhaust relief

Is it possible that during your impeller installation you caused debris to enter water system and is blocking your thermostat. If I understand correctly you can still get plenty good flow from lower unit exaust ports but not to the heads due to bad or blocked thermostat and telltales usually come from the water system around the heads.

 

[renegade15]

Re: Weak tell tale, plenty out of exhaust relief

I actually did away with the little plastic fitting where the tell tale was connected because in the waterpump kit I got it had a note to use a grommet and get rid of the little plastic outlet. I tried to flush anything that might have been clogging the passages, but water seemed to flow everywhere just fine. The impeller I took out looked just fine but the thermostat was ugly. The first time I went out I checked the engine several times ant it seemed to run perfectly cool, so I'm not sure what else it could be.

 

[brownridge]

Re: Weak tell tale, plenty out of exhaust relief

If your engine is running cool then your strong stream in the past was probably associated with your dirty thermostat.
I would pay close attention to the temperature of your outboard for the next few hours on the water to be safe. Pick up thermal crayons or use a handheld temperature sensor to get a precise temperature. I just bought a handheld tempertaure sensor that you point at the surface and it gives you the exact temperature. That's how I found out my thermostat had gone bad, temp rised over 163 on the heads. Purchased sensor for $50.00.

 

[renegade15]

Re: Weak tell tale, plenty out of exhaust relief

So an ugly thermostat would have forced more water out the tell tale? When I put in the new thermostat it also had a note in the kit to use a different spring and the dealer told me which one to use. Could it be that much lower pressure than the old one that the stream is just going to be super weak?

 

[ezeke]

Re: Weak tell tale, plenty out of exhaust relief

The thermostat does not regulate the pressure and volume of water coming out of the tell-tale.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Weak tell tale, plenty out of exhaust relief

If converted to a direct flow hose, eliminating the plastic outlet, I would then assume that a blockage exists somewhere. Force pressurized air up that hose to free it.

 

[hootyhooo]

Re: Weak tell tale, plenty out of exhaust relief

You can get laser thermometer at Harbour frieght tools for around $10

 

[renegade15]

Re: Weak tell tale, plenty out of exhaust relief

What should the head temp be, ballpark?