About peeing and also motor heat

livemusic

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Apr 18, 2015
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I assume that I have a Mercury motor, it looks identical to a Merc under the hood. I have a '97 Tracker, a 17ft bassboat with 40hp Tracker motor. Boat sat up for maybe two years. Trying to crank it, it ran rough and would die. I have owned it several years only. It's been very hard to start at times and also would die and then sometimes, it would run pretty good on fishing trips.

My solution that worked... I disconnected the fuel line from where it goes into the gas tank and mixed up 1 gal of fresh, 93 octane e-free gas and added 3 oz of Seafoam (more than 'normal' can't hurt, right?) and also 2.6 oz of 50:1 2-stroke oil. The latter because I was not sure if the oil injection system would work and figured if it's working, too much oil won't hurt, just smoke a lot. Which it did. It wasn't but a few tries and I had it going good! It is now running great, seemingly smoother than ever, except... I first was not seeing water pee out and wondered where is the hole? I saw some ports in back and a little water was sputtering out but worried because it wasn't a pee. I finally located the water hose and deduced those ports in the back are exhaust? The water hose end fitting appeared to be a problem. I took the hose off the end fitting and the end fitting is toast, it looks like there is a very small rubber tube in there and it was rotted and was blocking water flow. I then cranked it again and it pee'd through the end of the hose a steady stream like I expected. Good strong flow.

I ran it a few minutes at a medium clip and felt of the water peeing out and noticed that it's real hot. Is this normal? I watched it awhile longer and the motor RPMs fluctuated a bit up and down, slowly, and the water stream slowed and then stopped peeing a few seconds. Then it started peeing again normally. Then it slowly slowed down again. I got scared at that point and shut it down. I felt of the motor and it was super hot. Is this normal or should the flow be steady and not fluctuate? Furthermore, I'd like to ask, What about the motor feeling super hot?

I am concerned about that water discharge, worried about the water pump.

Maybe the water pump impeller is bad? Can you just replace that or do you have to do the whole water pump?

I read in an old thread that someone said this 4-cyl, 2-stroke motor does not have a thermostat but I do not know.

Hopefully someone can answer those questions above. TIA!
 

jimmbo

Supreme Mariner
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May 24, 2004
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13,463
A 4 cylinder would likely be the 44 cu in crossflow that Mercury introduced in the mid-late 1950s. It wouldn't have a Thermostat
Any engine that sits for any period of time without being prepped for a Sleep is likely to have Fuel Issues upon reawakening.
Also a new Water Pump Impeller should have been installed.
Super Hot? Anything over 115 degrees will feel very hot
Water will spit out of the 2 Idle Relief Holes below the Powerhead. Do a compression test, and post the Numbers
 

livemusic

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Apr 18, 2015
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Also, there is a missing plastic plug atop the foot or drive housing, whatever you call it... it's just an open round hole... will that hurt anything? Water is going in there. Is that bathing the gears in water since the plug is gone?!

And, let me ask, since a good strong pee is happening, does that mean nothing is wrong with the impeller?
 

jimmbo

Supreme Mariner
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May 24, 2004
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13,463
Are referring to this hole(red arrow)
Merc_900_cut_1a.jpg
That is just access to a bolt

A strong Stream from the Pisser, only means that at that Instance the Pump is still pumping. If the Impeller is more than a couple of Years old, well you are gambling
 

livemusic

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Apr 18, 2015
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Yes, the hole where the plastic plug is missing is in that location. So, ok, it is access to one of the bolts you remove to change the water pump. If I don't replace the plug, I guess that means the bolt would rust!
 

jimmbo

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May 24, 2004
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You can throw that plastic plug away, it is not water tight, that area fills with water instantly
 

racerone

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Dec 28, 2013
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The plastic plug is for looks only.----Do a compression test now.----Replace impeller if motor has not suffered from gross neglect !!
 
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