[jwilkey84]

I don't thing my 45 horse merc is cooling properly, but I don't know much about how it is supposed to work. The impellor looks fine. Water comes out the pee/exhause hole near the top back of the motor, but it just spits out water, is that all it is supposed to do? It is almost a real heavy drip, it doesn't shoot out or anything like that. Another thing, the water that does come out is kinda hot. I mean, you can touch it, but you wouldn't want to hold your hand there too long. Also you cannot keep your hand on the enging block for more than two seconds because it is hot. I dont think this is normal, but I just want to make sure. Does this old of a motor have a thermostat? Could the water tube be clogged? How do I fix this?

[diaric]

no thermostat. impellor veins should sping out if removed from pump. if they stay bent, rubber is hard and not working properly. tube culd be plugged, or leaking, tube connections could be leaking or water passeges plugged

[jwilkey84]

how do I get to the top end of the water tube and connections? Do I take off the mid section between the lower unit and the top portion of the engine. I know the impellor fans out when taken out, because it did that and I had a heck of a time getting it back in

[Laddies]

You may hane the powerherd base gasket leaking letting water cycle down the inside of the mid section instead of cooling the powerhead, if you remove the powerhead to ck be sure the water discharge hole (telltale) on the bottom cowl is open.

[jwilkey84]

There was also some water/oily substance leaking from the seam between the midsection and top section. I found a couple of loose nuts on the outside of the motor that connects the mid and upper section, and I tightened them, but I am not for sure if that stopped it totally. Could that be part of it too. Is ther a gasket there? How hard is it to remove the powerhead?

[Laddies]

Yes, thats the gasket I was talking about. Just remove the 8 nuts, shift and throttle linkage and the wiring harness and it will come off. If you don't have a manual at lest goto the BAM Marine site and look at the parts breakdown