Re: 1969 Evinrude Triumph 55hp overheating.
Greetings,
I have an 69 55 truimph with the lower unit off for repair. The 2 plastic tubes are GUIDES for the 2 water tubes, they fit into the alum plate on top of the water pump housing. (loose - snug all depends ). Under the plate,imbeded in the plastic water pump housing are 2 rubber bushing /sleeves. REMOVE AND INSPECT them. That being said .... the plastic sleves are (just) very important guides. They provide alingment/ transition /guide to the copper water tubes comming from the motor into the water pump housing - PAST the alum top plate. (when you get the lower unit close- you dont have any wiggle - finger room). When the lower unit is properly seated,the copper tubes will seat INTO the rubber bushings bypassing the plastic sleves, They will seem like improperly installed "parts " when you drop the lower unit. Dont be to scared if they look crusty dirty nasty .... they are just guides and have no bearing on water flow.Clean them up and reseat into the alum plate with some heavy grease to keep them in place as you "couple" the copper tubes.
Hope this helps a little .
-been there done that -
Crusty .