[Pacific Lots]

I replace the impeller and housing with a complete kit, put it in right, also replaced both thermostats, but I had run it into gritty bottom and overheated it, so bad that the screens over the water pick up broke, now I have water coming out the cooling pee indicator but no water coming out the exhaust ports whatsoever. it seems like there is pressure in the back of the motor with a bit of water seeping out of the plate between the heads. Anyone know what I do to get the muddy grit out of this thing so I don't melt it down?

[david_r]

pull your lower unit off then pull your therm housing and use a water hose to flush it all out........you may want to check your therms with boiling water to see if they are opening up.

[Pacific Lots]

After the initial post i removed both thermostats, put the covers back on and tried to run it again to be sure the thermostats were working properly and still no water out the exhasut ports? The thought of removing that lower unit again to flush gives me nightmares. The lower unit is no big deal, pull six bolts, take off the trim tab on the bottom of the cavitation plate to get to the last bolt, the real issue is the shift linkage on this vintage 1985. You have to release and remove a bolt located under the carbs that takes a lot of dexterity and patience, along with a 12 inch 1/4 drive extension and a 3/8 inch swivel socket on the end. You also need a magnetic pick up tool on a telescoping antenna type thing, (I recommend everyone own one of these) to hold the bolt in place, while shimmed from the magnet with a piece of matchbook on one side to slightly angle the bolt on the tool in order to get it back in the hole in the shift shaft plate under the carbs. I searched high and low for advice, the manuals kind of avoid the topic, and there are a couple of different set ups. Some said remove the cowling, remove the carbs, etc, seemed like a lot of work to change an impeller. Think it might be easier to remove the exhaust plate between the heads and look at it from that aspect, any thoughts?

[tashasdaddy]

running aground, stirs up grit, which eats the impeller. remove the stats, and start the motor in a trash can, or test tank, and see if you get water out the tstats. if you don't the impeller is not pumping, or the water tube is clogged. do not use muffs, as the water pressure will force water, you want to see if the water pump is pumping.

[Pacific Lots]

Tash,

I've replaced the impeller, replaced all the guts under the Thermostat housing and still no water out the exhaust ports. Can you give me the general procedure to backflush a motor. Do I backflush through the Thermostat ports or thru the exhaust ports? I assume the lower unit has to come off again, can I just drop it down the inch or so it will drop and not release the shift linkage at all?

[mikesea]

if you actually have a bunch of crud in the waterpassages,then backflushing will wash the crud back to its source being the waterpump,unfortunatly it would be a good idea to prevent further damage to pump by removing it,your electrical issue is likely the regulator/rectifier was fried during the overheat,they are very sensitive to heat,thats why they are built into the cooling system and have cooling fins which you will se after removal

[Pacific Lots]

thanks for everyone's help, removed lower unit again, took out thermostats, reverse flushed everything and motor is now cooling just fine. Now if I can only find a used rectifier/regulator for this motor since I am reluctant to spend nearly $200 for a new one with the chance that this motor will only run a short while. Thanks again for everyone's help, especially MikeSea and Tashasdaddy. This is a great forum...