What is the proper length of the water tube?

[squirly]

Hello there!
So after my crankshaft (35hp Evinrude 1982ish) saga i managed to reassemble the motor correctly (the second time round, didn't seal the crankcase well enough the first time, lesson learnt). Got her started, and, no water coming out of anywhere. Not the tell tail not the exhaust relief holes... Ive checked all passages, flushed water through the copper tube with LU off, water comes out the tell tale. Put the LU back on n start- nothing. Had the LU off about 10 times yesterday, getting really good at it... Because i converted the motor back to short shaft and cut the copper water tube to length myself, i may have got the measurements wrong and its either too long and getting pinched when the LU goes on, or its too short and doesn't sit in the grommet properly. Can anyone please tell me the actual length of a standard one? Or why else would it not be pumping water after a full rebuild? All the passages have been cleaned out during the rebuild, water pump had been tested in the bucket and pumps water when driveshaft is spun, both grommets are brand new so haven't collapsed, and the water flows freely on the hose with LU off... Thanks in advance for any input!
SQ

 

[racerone]

Re: What is the proper length of the water tube?

Did you cut off exactly 5 " or how much did you cut off ?

 

[squirly]

Re: What is the proper length of the water tube?

Ive cut off 5 inches, but when putting the LU back on it felt as if the tube was restricting it, so i trimmed another 5mm off. It fit better, but still had to be slightly forced... When testing the engine there was no water coming out from anywhere, as i said we tested the pump, and that was working and flushing with a hose worked too, so figured the water tube must get jammed right into the block stopping the water. Oh, and to attach a hose to the tube it had to be pulled out and then put back in with the hose on at the LU end, so because i wasn't jamming it right in there but just seating it in the grommet i figured the length has to be the issue. Went and trimmed another 5mm off, reassembled, and still nothing. I have another long shaft water tube, so id like to trim that one to a specified length rather than 5" off as i think i might have stretched it some while trying to get it out of another dead motor.

I have used the older style water pump which is smaller, and I've read in another post that some older pumps had and air lock issue where the pump would work but the water wouldn't be able to go up the tube because of trapped air. Apparently the cure is drilling a small hole in the pump housing just under the grommet to let the air escape, so think will try that next but would be good to have tube issue crossed off the list while i have the LU off.

 

[racerone]

Re: What is the proper length of the water tube?

The difference is 5" --So cutting more off the tube is not the right approach here.

 

[squirly]

Re: What is the proper length of the water tube?

Thanks racer one! Turns out the tube was a good length, and the culprit was in fact the old style pump housing. It already had a hole drilled into it by previous owner but it was blocked by the grommet. So after swapping out the pump housing for the new style one she pumps water like a fire engine! Runs a bit rough, but thats for another post Cheers!