1958 seahorse 10 running hot

jenkinstn

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After installing new water pump, good water flow from exhaust port. After few minutes running, no way to hold hand on powerhead too hot. What is normal operating temperature of powerhead for this 1958 Seahorse 10? Could water circuit be partially clogged?
 

racerone

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Was water tube installed in the exhaust housing grommet BEFORE the lower unit was installed ?
 

Willyclay

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Welcome to the forum. The members here are great and should be able to help you save that old beauty. Good luck!
 

jenkinstn

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Yes the water tube was seated into exhaust housing. I used compressed air to check that circuit at least was open. Everything appeared to be reasonably fitted during install. Thanks for reply.
 

Crosbyman

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ok you changed the impeller.

Was the engine run before the change ? and what is hot and then you went ahead with the change or did it just become hot after your work ?

did you do any gasket work ?
 
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rolmops

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I'm thinking that nothing was very wrong when you decided to service the water pump. So problems appearing after this service probably have to do with possible mistakes. I would not be amazed at all if it is just a matter of the key not installed on the driveshaft when setting the impeller in place.
I presume that you used a barrel or muffs. As far as I remember a 1958 10 horse does not have a peehole so you do not really know if the water made it all the way up. It could just be a matter of the lower unit not deep enough in the barrel and/or not enough water going up to the engine. Or simply having installed the impeller while turning the driveshaft counter clockwise There may well be a blockage of pieces of impeller rubber debris clogging the passages.
I would remove the lower unit again make sure everything was installed the proper way. Then remove the thermostat to see if it works or maybe replace it. and while that housing is off put a hose with good water pressure in that space and run the water backward down the system to flush it out, also flush the copper tubing that goes up to the engine.
Once you eliminated all those possibilities, you must reinstall the lower unit. Even with a little ten horse like that it is often groping in the dark so you should lay that engine at least flat or slanted slightly upside down and with the help of a flashlight make sure that the tube goes properly in the cooling inlet with the rubber grommets in the right place. and then carefully reassemble the lower unit and you should be good to go.

The amazing thing about these little 10 horse engines is the amount of punishment they can take without getting a lot of damage
 
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rolmops

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Here is a picture. But it may be that they took a drawing from a 1964 block
 

Crosbyman

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see book info... Johnson red book covers all this see link for $20 copy
 

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jenkinstn

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Mine is definitely 1958. I will drop lower unit and check connections. I will try to flush backwards as stated. If all checks out, I suppose pulling mororhead next step to verify water ports are not blocked. I know it's pumping water out exhaust port. I did run it in lake so it was deep in water to check when it felt hot. Could anyone tell me what would be normal operating temperature for motor head? I don't want to make a mountain out of a molehill. I just felt it was too hot if I could not hardly touch motor head after a few minutes on the lake.
 

rolmops

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Sorry I can't get the attachment to stick, but you are right. I accidentally looked at a 1962 version.
 

Crosbyman

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pulling the head isn't so bad try not to break the base gasket and any carbon seals... if any on the drive shaft see a CD version

good time to can clean out the exhaust carbon in the lower unit :)
 

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jenkinstn

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How hot is too hot? Should I be able to touch motor head after running a few minutes on the water.
 

Crosbyman

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never touched a hot 58 myself but with free flowing water (no thermostat) seems you should be able to touch & hold several seconds

motor is 66 years old...!! for the price of a head gasket you can always pull the cyl. head check out the cyl walls and water pasage for excessive deposits ....clean everything out as much as possible to facilitate free flow of water for cooling .

warm vinegar can help soften calcium crud .. poke out water feed port and exit

clean cyl head to !!

careful with headbolts don't rush it soak if possible
 
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jenkinstn

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Just to confirm fuel/oil mix on this 1958, does it use 24:1 or 50:1? I know there was discussion of 57 vs 58 bearings
 
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