Thanks Guys! It's Alive!....now what?

[cbar870]

The 16' aluminum starcraft with 60hp (aka purple smurf according to my wife) is running now. Rebuilt starter, new solonoid, fuel lines, carb clean...and other fun stuff. Found the origional owner for the title. It's a good first day of summer.

Next...Lower unit? Still a brand newbie to all of this. I hooked up the water, but it doesn't seem to spit out anywhere. Do I need to change the oil in the lower unit? Is there anything else I should look for while I'm mulling around down there? Am I even doing the right 'trail' by going to the lower unit next?

Much Appreciated,
Chad

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Thanks Guys! It's Alive!....now what?

That's the way I'd go. Change the water pump impellar too.

 

[sheboyganjohn]

Re: Thanks Guys! It's Alive!....now what?

Check the lower first. Drain the oil and make sure there is no water in it. If you find water, then pressure test it (can build a tester for about $20). Change the water pump impellor, might want to go with a whole water pump kit. Remember when you change the oil in the lower, put new gaskets on the drain and fill plugs.

What make, model, and year motor are we talking about.

 

[cbar870]

Re: Thanks Guys! It's Alive!....now what?

Thanks, Good info!

It's an early 80's Johnson 60hp.

 

[sheboyganjohn]

Re: Thanks Guys! It's Alive!....now what?

IF you do not know the history of the motor, I would change out the thermostat while doing the water pump. If you go to do the water pump and find the impellor is missing pieces, then you have some fun on your hands. Those pieces have to go somewhere and usually will not pass through the engine. In that case I would start by back flushing the tube that goes from the pump up to the powerhead, if nothing is there, then you have to start pulling cooling hoses and flushing out passages until you find some pieces. Most people are lucky and do not find the pieces, but they are not disrupting flow, but they can cause a hot spot if they block only part of the flow through the heads.