1972 Evinrude 125283r cooling question.

[adamjr]

I have a cooling system question about my 72 125 HP 'Rude 125283R

I rebuilt the water pump and re-installed the lower unit. I hooked up the ear muffs and turned the hose on full blast and ran the engine. No water was seen shooting out of the propeller hub so I was thinking it wasn't cooling. I removed the cover for the thermostat housing and took the Vernatherm out. I used a sharpie and marked the push rod. I put the Vernatherm in a glass and I microwaved some water. The water was 140 f on an instant read (the Vernatherm is rated at 105 f). I poured the water into the glass and watched the push rod lift about 3/16th of an inch. Then I chilled some water and filled the glass the rest of the way and the push rod retracted after about a minute. When I was handling the Vernatherm afterward the push rod came out. I put it back in and reassembled the thermostat housing.

After reassembly I ran the motor for a little over 5 minutes. Still nothing coming out of the prop hub that I could see. I removed the two hoses and some water came out of both sides of the thermostat housing but not a lot.

So here are my questions and suppositions:

Is the thermostat maybe just a little too weak to push up the check disk? Am I correct in believing the push rod hould not come out of the Vernatherm? Is it possible the water is exiting but I'm just not seeing it with the water spraying from the ear muffs? I would have expected a gusher.

Thanks in advance.

[adamjr]

Anyone?