water pump issue

[plazmore]

hi all...

i have a 1982 mariner 50hp, very well maintained, and runs perfect, always has...

i noticed the telltale stream that shows water flow coming out of the top of the motor was getting weaker, and since i hadnt replaced the pump/impellor in four or five years, i figured i would do the right thing, and replace before a problem developed...

i had a kit, that included the top and bottom housing, an impellor, and gaskets...nothing else....

everything came off easy, and installed almost as easily, however, when i was done, i had no stream, and am pretty sure no water was going to the motor. i have taken it back apart three times, and cant find anything i did wrong. i also pumped water thru the water tube to confirm it would come out the "pee tube" as i like to call it. it was totally clear. the direction of impellor install is correct, gaskets are good and also installed correct. i installed the water tube up into the motor first, then lifted the lower unit into place, and confirmed by hand that the tube went into the housing.

i dont know what else i can confirm, yet, it pumped when i took it apart, and not after....

i welcome any input at all, that might lead me to what i might have missed.

thanks in advance!

 

[emckelvy]

Re: water pump issue

Is the impeller turning when you rotate the driveshaft? It's possible for the key to slip out of position as you're installing the impeller. That would definitely mess things up!!

Another thought, if the driveshaft's not turning, there will be no water pumping. Make sure you don't have stripped crankshaft splines by rotating the flywheel with the lower unit in gear, to ensure the prop moves.

About the only other thing I can think of is, since you had a complete new kit, is the water tube rubber grommet correctly positioned in the upper pump housing. It wouldn't necessarily have come installed in the pump, although a complete pump kit certainly should have come with a new one.

Anyway, that's all I've got for now, keep us posted........ed

 

[plazmore]

Re: water pump issue

thanks for the quick response...

i rotated the shaft clockwise, looking down at the top of the shaft, and let the impellor slide in...triple checked to see if i messed this up...the key is in, as turning the shaft moves the impellor into the housing, and upon each disassembly the key was still in place...when fired up, i put in gear and all works fine...no stream....i hooked up water to the lower unit, while still disassebled, and noticed a little water leaking up the opening for the drive shaft, around the drive shaft...but only a little....no water came up the tube hole, but i couldnt rotate the pump enough to make that happen...

is it correct to install the water tube into the motor, and raise the unit up, until the tube goes into the top of the pump housing? i was thinking maybe i was supposed to have it in the lower unit first, and somehow get it to go into the motor during reassembly. this seems impossible...the book talks about a tube guide, but mine doesnt have that...

hmmmmm....baffling...all the parts in the kit matched what came out of my motor....

one other key bit of info...a friend had a lower unit from a 60hp merc, of the same era...in faaaarrr better condition than mine, and it is identical in every way to mine...so i installed the new kit into that one. this one looks brand new compared to mine. and again, the parts from this matched the kit perfectly as well...

thats the latest...i hate to think i have to take it to a shop, knowing they would just bill me for another kit, plus labor...

thanks again...it seems so simple...argh...