Water pump isn't...

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IFish4Tuna

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May 30, 2006
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Hi - I have an 8HP 1997 Honda Outboard. I'm not getting much more than a light mist out the exhaust and nothing out the dummy tube. I just changed the thermostat with a brand new one hoping that would solve it since it was all covered in salt/crap. No luck.<br /><br />So yanked it off the boat, and I went down to the lower unit where the pump is.<br /><br />I've check the impeller. The rubber is all good as are the gaskets. When I attach the garden hose connector and turn it on with the lower unit un-attached, I see the majority of the water coming out where drive shaft protrudes from the pump and a much smaller amount coming out the hole that feeds the water tube up to the engine. The house hose pressure is significantly more than I would expect from the engine running and pumping.<br /><br />I looked on the schematic on line, but didn't see any O-Ring or seal for around the drive shaft. Should there be one? Any comments from any other 1990's 8HP owners. <br /><br />The amount of water being pushed through the pump where the water tube attaches is very low. Its definitely gettting lost in the drive shaft.<br /><br />I'm sure the water quantity is not what is should be....<br /><br />Willing to take all advice...<br /><br />Ed
 
TOHATSU GURU

TOHATSU GURU

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Re: Water pump isn't...

Honda 8's have always had a problem with salt build up at the bottom of the block. If the engine has been used in saltwater there is a good chance that it's just salt builup.
 
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IFish4Tuna

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Re: Water pump isn't...

Thanks - yeah I didn't buy the flush tube until this spring. So I stored it w/ out giving it a freshwater rinse. <br /><br />I'm still skeptical of the water loss around the drive shaft through the water pump. I might just put an O-Ring on the inside & outside of the pump to see if I can influence more water pressure up the tube.<br /><br />Any recommendations on how to get the salt out of the block?<br /><br />Thanks - Ed
 
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imported_Curmudgeon

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Re: Water pump isn't...

You're wizened enough to consider introducing an added O-ring to your engine because you think a certain pressure is low ... and you're asking how to remove salt from the block? Not to worry, new Hondas aren't that expensive.
 
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gss036

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Re: Water pump isn't...

I would sugget that you put the hose onto the water intake tube going to the block and see how much water get coming out of the upper engine. Might have to remove the thermostat. Sounds like it has not been flushed all these years. Bad news as the water pasages are probably full of salt.<br />I would replace the water pump impeller since you have it apart, w/new gaskets also, you are only talking about 20 bucks. Why have to go back in there in a couple of years.
 
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IFish4Tuna

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Re: Water pump isn't...

Thanks Gary - I did do this already sorta - howevah I didn't disconnect either the hose at the bottom of the block, nor at the one that feeds the thermostat. <br /><br />When I did it, no water came out the dummy tube nor exhaust holes (as it does on my yamaha). Guess I should have disconnected one of the tubes to see what the water flow was prior to it going into the block (if was even getting there)<br /><br />That'll be next. <br /><br />And yes - this an engine that I got with a dinghy I bought last season.<br /><br />I have heard of a product called "salt away" product. Anyone ever use it? Would it be good in this application?<br /><br />BTW, Old Crud, I'm pretty good w/ sarcasm - dish it out my self once in a while, but I'm not following you on this one. Are you saying you wouldn't add the o-ring? Or that that flushing the engine is childs play?
 
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IFish4Tuna

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Re: Water pump isn't...

Well, I shoulda done this a while ago. On my way home tonight I spent a few minutes checking... <br /><br />Water's coming up through the tube. I pulled the lower hose, and it came out pretty good w/ the engine running. So must be clogged up in side.<br />I think I'll take the thermostat out and see if getting some fluid in there will get things loosened up a bit. I did buy the salt away on the way home at West marine. We'll see if I can get any in there though to be productive at loosening the crap up.
 
TOHATSU GURU

TOHATSU GURU

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Re: Water pump isn't...

You will probably find that the salt has actually done some damage at the block...If so throw the thing away. It's not worth the cost of the parts.
 
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IFish4Tuna

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Re: Water pump isn't...

Final conclusion - All set. Here's what it needed:<br /><br />The took the casing off that houses the thermostat. Used the "salt away" solution to loosen up salt build up on the casing. The hole that feeds the dummy tube was completely close over as was the section that feeds into the motor head. So after chipping away and letting the salt away solution sit over night. That got all cleaned up and rinsed w/ fresh water. I also sprayed the saltaway into the various open holes of the block and let it sit over night. That was just precautionary, as the real problem was the thermostat casing being clogged up.<br /><br />The other problem I realized, is that no water will come up the water pump tube to the engine UNLESS the engine is running. Street pressure from the hose at the house is not enough pressure. It's not until I run the engine like I did the other night that the water gets carried up. It evidently requires the help of the water pump to push it up.<br /><br />So I ran the hose through the orifices of the engine before putting it all back together. In doing so, I realized that the exaust water comes out just above the water intake on the lower unit by the gear box. It does not come out at the 2 hole exhaust. I verified this with the engine running (warm water felt), and off (cold water felt)<br /><br />A very small amount of water (more than before though) comes out at the exhaust above the water.<br /><br />I sprayed down the rest of salt exposed areas with the salt-away solution.<br /><br />Problem solved - thanks for the advice folks.
 
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gss036

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Re: Water pump isn't...

Even with regular flushing, the thermostat on the Hondas will still clog with salt, my 15hp does and it is an annual job to keep it clean. Might try to get a hotter thermostat.<br />I think the upper exhaust opening is kind of an overflow.
 
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IFish4Tuna

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Re: Water pump isn't...

The Salt Away solution comes with a mixer that allows you to run the engine while inserting the salt away solution. I'll do that at the end of the year a few times as part of the storage process. It's an apply and let sit for 24 hours procedure, then repeat. <br /><br />After I got done w/ the engine, I used it on a few of my staneless steel rods (old ones from the 70s). With a minor amount of buffing, it got all that green salt build up off and the damn things are sparkling. I'm going to keep a spray bottle of it mixed and on the boat from now on. The stuff is good.<br /><br />I'm also going to see if I can jury-rig an insect sprayer to be able to attach to my yamaha outboards out on my mooring. I have no fresh water hose out there, but would like to minimize the salt effect during normal use of the season.
 
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