new boater here needs help

matt49057

Recruit
Joined
May 12, 2006
Messages
3
hey ive got some problems i have a 40hp merc motor.my little brother decide to start it with out water and took out the water pump i replaced the pump my self.. i did not change any gaskits when doing this now when i start it up i get water comming out of the spark plug holes im not sure where to go from here. <br /> thank
 

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: new boater here needs help

Ahhh -- the water pump replacement did not cause the leak -- your little brother did. Running without water overheated the engine and you now have a crack or cover gasket failure. I hope its the later but don't hold your breath. Little brother be bad!!!!
 

AMD Rules

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Sep 23, 2004
Messages
1,707
Re: new boater here needs help

What is the serial number of the motor? How long did it run without water?<br /><br />Assuming that's the 4-cylinder, you find that the water jacket cover gasket is leaking. It can be replaced, but if the cover is warped badly it will be tough to get it to seal again. Is it leaking a lot? If not, you might want to consider just patching/sealing it from the outside aound the plug. The cover bolts are notoriously difficult to remove, especially if used in salt water. <br /><br />Before going too far do a compression test on each cylinder.<br /><br />You'll be lucky if that water leak is the only problem you have. Sounds like it was overheated.<br /><br />With the new impeller, do you have a good stream of water out the tell-tale? Often when an impeller is destroyed parts of it travel up inside the cooling water passages creating a blockage.<br /><br />Before running the motor much more, you'll need to determine if any permanent damage has occured.<br /><br />Good luck.
 

matt49057

Recruit
Joined
May 12, 2006
Messages
3
Re: new boater here needs help

the motor is spiting quite a bit of water out the plug holes the tell-tale has a constant stream of water coming out of it.. also it is a 2 cylinder engine... is this motor scrap or can it be salvaged..it the water jacket hard to get to what does it look like thanks again
 

AMD Rules

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Sep 23, 2004
Messages
1,707
Re: new boater here needs help

Pull the plugs and look for signs of water inside the cylinder. Check compression (you may have a crack somewhere).<br /><br />The water you see is likely coming out -around- the plugs, not through the plug hole. This is typical of a failed gasket on the cover plate.<br /><br />To remove the cover plate, you will see 10 screws around the perimiter. The gasket is behind that, and is easily replaceable.<br /><br />Before you re-install a new gasket, check the cover plate for flatness on a flat piece of glass. I'd bet yours is warped near the center, around the spark plugs.<br /><br />What is the serial number of that motor?<br /><br />.
 

matt49057

Recruit
Joined
May 12, 2006
Messages
3
Re: new boater here needs help

thanks for the help the serial is 5043744 i pulled the plate it was not to bad.i cant put the plate on a flat peice of glass because there is a metal hump in on the side..the boat was my older brothers and i had changed the pump for him.then we seen water and it sat for 3 years but i wanted to see if i was froze up and it turn over easily..now me i could be wrong but i would think if any water sat in it for three years it would be rusted froze thanks again
 
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