I have a Gamefisher 1997 15 HP # OE 268195 / 225581508 outboard which is having a water pump problem. I am learning repair as I go and worked with my Dad to try to diagnose this issue.
We disassembled the lower unit and didn't find anything glaringly wrong with the water pump or impeller but it still won't autoprime. We removed the thermostat and I put an open flame under it and it did open but not as quickly as I thought it should. While we had the thermostat cover off, it was pumping no water so I hit the exhaust port with the jet fitting of a garden hose nozzle and after a few seconds, it started flowing a good steady stream and cooled the block to lukewarm in a few seconds. Repeated restarting had the same problem and same solution.
What might be my issue? Water pump, impeller, thermostat or a combination? I think that this is a Merc made model but I'm not sure. Any help that I can get would be greatly appreciated. My local motor repair guy won't touch any Gamefisher because he can't get parts.
Thanks,
SF
We disassembled the lower unit and didn't find anything glaringly wrong with the water pump or impeller but it still won't autoprime. We removed the thermostat and I put an open flame under it and it did open but not as quickly as I thought it should. While we had the thermostat cover off, it was pumping no water so I hit the exhaust port with the jet fitting of a garden hose nozzle and after a few seconds, it started flowing a good steady stream and cooled the block to lukewarm in a few seconds. Repeated restarting had the same problem and same solution.
What might be my issue? Water pump, impeller, thermostat or a combination? I think that this is a Merc made model but I'm not sure. Any help that I can get would be greatly appreciated. My local motor repair guy won't touch any Gamefisher because he can't get parts.
Thanks,
SF