replaced impellar, still no water..

[Sunbirdracer]

I have a 1971 Merc 115 that has sit for a couple years. I replaced the impellar. The first problem is that it's always in gear, which is a problem I always seem to have when replacing a Merc impellar. I think I can fix this. My concern is that there is still no water from the pee pee hole. I found the hole to be clogged, but still no flow. I was careful to "seat" the water tube in the top, and then remounted the lower unit. What gives? Thanks!

 

[Hooty]

Re: replaced impellar, still no water..

Welcome to tha board Sunbirdracer,<br />I don' know about your particular engine, but some don't "pee" until the t'stat opens up. Are the heads hot or have ya had a hi temp alarm?<br /><br />c/6<br /><br />Hooty

 

[Sunbirdracer]

Re: replaced impellar, still no water..

Hooty, You're probably right about the stat, the engine is barely even warm to the touch because I only run it a couple minutes at a time. I'll run it a bit longer tomorrow..Thanks, I didn't even consider the stat being closed!

 

[lonewolf5347]

Re: replaced impellar, still no water..

ARE THE FIN'S ON THE IMPELLAR FACING THE RIGHT WAY?DO YOU HAVE A AJUSTMENT ON THE SHIFT ROD.?

 

[tufftango]

Re: replaced impellar, still no water..

I am No expert, but on a Mercury I believe that on a mercury water should come out the pee soon after starting and out of the exhaust after the t-stat opens. Are you sure the fins were turned correctly when you installed the empeller? The best way to get the shifter corrected is to lower the unit until you can reach the small shifter spine with a pair of needle nose. Put the shifter in netural, then turn the spline until the lower unit is in netural. You may have to move the shifter slightly to get the lower unit back up. Free advice is usually worth what you pay for it, but I hope this helps you. But you should not run the motor until you are sure you are getting water through the motor. Of course you know that...

 

[Sunbirdracer]

Re: replaced impellar, still no water..

The impellar fins are one thing I was unsure of. They were straight, but had to be turned one way or the other to fit into the housing. I compared to the old one, and turned them the same. How can I tell for sure? One other bit of info, seeing that the pee hole was clogged, I reverse flowed through that same hose with a garden hose. Water came from the prop, and the fins on the lower unit. but not the intake holes. Is this unusual?

 

[boatmanwayne]

Re: replaced impellar, still no water..

The impellar housing top should be installed down on impellar while rotating the driveshaft in a clockwise direction only. This will lay the fins back in counterclockwise, position. You might be able to remember your procedure to compare with this information. Also marine manuals are a great source of instruction for do-it-yourself projests. good luck.

 

[ethek]

Re: replaced impellar, still no water..

I think something is blocking the water tube.<br />to be sure, remove lower unit and plug garden hose direct to water tube: water mus come out from **** hole and exhaust.

 

[Sunbirdracer]

Re: replaced impellar, still no water..

Thanks to all who replied. I now have it shifting normally, and pumping water. FYI, since having reversed the fin direction on the impellar, it now pumps water from the pee hole as soon as it starts up. Thanks again everyone!

 

[Clarkboat]

Re: replaced impellar, still no water..

There is more to the water pump than just replacing the impeller. Look at the wear plate on the bottom and the impeller housing. Are there scratches/grooves? If so, this could prevent the impeller from picking up the needed prime to start pumping water. This is why they commonly sell the impellers inside waterpump kits. If there are grooves, heck you already got the thing apart, you might as well replace the housing, plate, and gaskets. Not that hard. Good Luck.