Trickle Of Water Out My P-Hole ...

[bobgritz]

I'm only getting a trickle of water out the p-hole of my '83 15hp ... up until now the head would only get warm to the touch but now you cannot hold your hand on it. I checked for obstructions in the p-hole and the p-hose but they were both clear. I blew air into the p-hose was able to blow throw it easily.

Next I dropped the gearcase to check the water pump and it looks in very good shape with no obvious imperfections.
I attached a short hose onto the pipe that attaches from the pump to the cooling system (see pix below) but when I blew into it there was a lot of resistance (and I mean a lot). Perhaps this is normal but I would have thought the passageway would be wide open and easy to blow through.

I was going to either flush this pipe with water or compressed air but before I do any damage I thought I'd check in with the experts! Anyone familiar with just how much resistance I should expect and is flushing it a good idea. BTW, what pressure (air or water) should I use?

 

[FreddyB]

Re: Trickle Of Water Out My P-Hole ...

Next step I would take would be to pull out your thermostats, inspect, then hook up your hose like said with the t-stat covers off and flush any debris out with the engine off.. Hopefully it's a simple thing of debris lodged in there. Should flow easily. I would also look into new thermostats.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Trickle Of Water Out My P-Hole ...

You're heading in the right direction..... remove the thermostat, clean passageways, flush the system, install a new thermostsat.

Be sure to double check that water pump.... very easy to overlook the obvious.

 

[bobgritz]

Re: Trickle Of Water Out My P-Hole ...

Ouch! I just replaced the head gasket but didn't replace the thermostat!

The water cover has 8 bolts (and attaches to the backside of the cylinder head) and I suspect that the thermostat-water-cover canNOT be removed without removing the cylinder head ... again. BTW, the head was spotless and the passageways were very clean.

Freddy, you mentioned the thermostat which got me thinking. Since there should NOT be any waterflow through the powerhead until the thermostat opens, the only initial water flow should be out the P-hole which might explain the resistance I'm getting when trying to blow through the inlet water pipe.

The water pump vanes and ss housing look okay but I wonder if there is any test that tells you if its working.

 

[mark1961]

Re: Trickle Of Water Out My P-Hole ...

Ouch! I just replaced the head gasket but didn't replace the thermostat!

The water cover has 8 bolts (and attaches to the backside of the cylinder head) and I suspect that the thermostat-water-cover canNOT be removed without removing the cylinder head ... again. BTW, the head was spotless and the passageways were very clean.

To me it looks as if the water cover will come off separately without the need to remove the head.....

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Trickle Of Water Out My P-Hole ...

A new head gasket can be re-used. Remove the cylinder head again to keep your sanity. And yes, the thermostat would cause you to encounter resistance via the water tube.