Cooling system & Shifting ?s

[jwstandiford]

I recently purchased a 1978 25hp evinrude. From an earlier post I got a model of 25852. (no ID plate, and unreadable #on freezer plug) The first time out I experience 2 problems. <br /><br /> #1- The motor would jump out of forward gear at mid to high rpms. I had to hold the shift lever in forward possition and it felt like the prop was hitting something every so often.<br /><br /> #2- it ran really hot, and melted the hose for the water coming out of the cooling system (I don't think it was original.. very thin walled hose.) <br /><br />I replaced the hose with a high heat braided hose, and adjusted the shift linkage so that it would shift all the way into forward. On the 2nd test run it still wanted to jump out of gear, but only at high rpm's, and still ran hot (the exiting water stream was spurting but not running steady). I think that there may be some build up inside the cooling system but do not know what to use for a cleaner. Also, the water intake is at the back of the lower unit under the cavitation plate and I can not figure out how to get a flushing unit attatched to it. Could there be a specific flushing unit for this particular motor? <br /><br />Now here is my bigest dilema...this motor has just had the impeller and all gaskets in the lower unit replaced at a repair shop two weeks ago. When I bought the motor I went to the shop with the previous owner to pick it up. How likely is it that something in the lower unit didn't get put togeather correctly that would cause the shifting problem? <br /><br />I was along way from home when I bought the motor and the closest shop to me is well over 100mi. away so I will be doing most of all the service work from here on out. I have ordered a service manual from kencook.com but will not recieve it for a week or so. My last question would be if anyone knows if an electric start could be added to this motor. It hase a toothed flywheel. If so is there anything I would need besides a switch, solenoid, starter, and battery. I thank you all in advance for your help.