What to do? 2013 Tohatsu 8HP

[DocTide]

So I got this engine new back in May. Went out to Flamingo (flats fishing here in south Florida) about a 4 weeks ago, ran it onto a sandbar. I noticed after I trolled into the channel that the engine was running poor and dripping water from the pee-hole. I took it to the Tohatsu mechanic and sure enough the impeller was blown. I knew it was my fault, no problem- pay to have it fixed.

Now, I was out of town every weekend, and most of the month last month. I got the engine back around mid October, then went out of town again. Today, I went to start it up for the first time since getting repair job done, and no water came from the hole. It has been about 3 weeks since I had the engine back, and I wish I would have checked, but I just didn't have time and was out of town. I have used a smaller HP ear muffs, but when I called them, they told me to put in a bucket. I did, and still no go. There is a little hole tiller side on the lower unit that pushes water out, so maybe the impeller is not bad... Does this make sense? I checked the obvious, pulled the tube and blew it out under the cowling...

I am just worried they might make me dish out another 250-300 bux for this. I cant afford that, and literally have not used it since. These guys are great, and I will bring it back this weekend for them to look at, BUT in my experience, most marine mechanics treat customers as if they always know better. I never ran this engine dry, but the impeller blew- perhaps the muffs didn't work, yes, but I have used them maybe 5x before with no problems on this engine- and YEARS on my other engines. I just don't want to be told AGAIN that I ran the engine DRY, and need to cough up another $300 bux... Sorry for the rant, but what would you guys do?

 

[pvanv]

Re: What to do? 2013 Tohatsu 8HP

I would explain the situation to your dealer, and have them take a look at it. You may not have any problem at all. Sometimes you don't get enough flow from a harden hose; Likewise a "bucket" is way way too small. Maybe a garbage can at idle for a few minutes, but not a 5-gallon pail.

If you are seeing water from the drains (little hole at the LU), you are probably pumping, though maybe not a very robust flow. However, if you can see that flow when in your bucket, odds are the bucket is too small. You want the whole LU submerged if at all possible... so the drains really should not be above the water level in the pail. Especially if you engage a gear, the air stirred up in the water limits the cooling water available, and adds too many air bubbles for the pump to work well. In short, it's a poor method.

There is still the possibility that some debris was pumped into the power head, and that may still be there. Your dealer should get the motor in a proper test tank, and verify proper cooling -- both a good pee stream, and correct thermostat operation, with either an IR gun or temperature crayons (if they are really old school).

BTW... Your dealer should have replaced the complete wp kit -- not just the impeller.

 

[DocTide]

Re: What to do? 2013 Tohatsu 8HP

Thanks pvanv: I will go out and buy a bigger sized trash can today and use that. I just blew through the tube at the pee hole outlet, then connected another hose at the head nipple and blew in, and it was flowing through. I hope the problem was what you mentioned but have a hard time believing NO water would come out if muffs AND a bucket was used. Weird thing to me is that I have flushed this engine previously no problem with the muffs- once the engine is turned on, the motor started peeing. Then I busted the impeller and had it fixed (the dealer did replace the housing as well, not just the impeller) and now nada. It couldn't have been ran for more than 30 seconds total- 5 with muffs, and maybe 15-20 seconds in the bucket with no flow at idle...

 

[DocTide]

Re: What to do? 2013 Tohatsu 8HP

UPDATE: Literally just went to walmart, bought a 13.5 gallon trash can, filled with water and tried starting it in. The water still isn't making its way up to the pee hole.

Quick question though- if water is coming from the hole in lower unit, is it safe to say the pump is working? I just cant see how it would break again, since I have been running it in water buckets/cans...

 

[steelespike]

Re: What to do? 2013 Tohatsu 8HP

Check that the pee hole is clear.Bugs love to build in there especially if it sits around a lot.
Pee hole is only an indication the motor pumps water but it could be blocked and the motor would cool fine.
Be sure the water in the can is above the pump.Take the cover off and let it idle while you feel the head.
It should get too hot to hold your hand on but not so hot it burns you.
The leg gets water in it regardless if it is pumping water The little holes are there to be sure the leg drains
so it won't freeze.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: What to do? 2013 Tohatsu 8HP

Probably there's a missing impeller key issue, a missmatch between WP grommet and water tube, the guys at the shop just changed complete WP kit and housing blindly and didn't water tested, you pick it up and didn't tested either...

Don't understand how you can ruin a impeller by just running over a sand bar, usually you can ruin a impeller by running it dry for some time at speed while leg caught a bag, debris, kelp, etc. Was the engine at lock or unlocked tilt position when running against sand bar ?

Happy Boating

 

[DocTide]

Re: What to do? 2013 Tohatsu 8HP

Check that the pee hole is clear.Bugs love to build in there especially if it sits around a lot.
Pee hole is only an indication the motor pumps water but it could be blocked and the motor would cool fine.
Be sure the water in the can is above the pump.Take the cover off and let it idle while you feel the head.
It should get too hot to hold your hand on but not so hot it burns you.
The leg gets water in it regardless if it is pumping water The little holes are there to be sure the leg drains
so it won't freeze.

Thanks, how high up it the pump? I am putting the water up just above the anti-ventilation plate.

Also, does warranty get voided if the pump is replaced by the owner and not a dealer/mech? Is there a way for me to try and see if the water flow is clogged somewhere besides under the cowling? I cleared the pee hole, and blew out the hose, still nada.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: What to do? 2013 Tohatsu 8HP

Thanks, how high up it the pump? I am putting the water up just above the anti-ventilation plate.

Fill enough water to be near small upper plate, much better than around AV plate...

Happy Boating

 

[DocTide]

Re: What to do? 2013 Tohatsu 8HP

Probably there's a missing impeller key issue, a missmatch between WP grommet and water tube, the guys at the shop just changed complete WP kit and housing blindly and didn't water tested, you pick it up and didn't tested either...

Don't understand how you can ruin a impeller by just running over a sand bar, usually you can ruin a impeller by running it dry for some time at speed while leg caught a bag, debris, kelp, etc. Was the engine at lock or unlocked tilt position when running against sand bar ?

Happy Boating

Honestly, I ran up the sand bar, and then shut it down. Coming back in (conditions got really bad) the waves were pulling the engine in and out of the water. I looked back and saw it was not a solid stream coming out of the pee hole. So I just basically idled my way back in, but pretty sure the damage was already done as when I got home I went to flush it, and sure enough no flow. This was also through a grass flat.. Im sure the original water pump failure was entirely my fault.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: What to do? 2013 Tohatsu 8HP

It's weird, have a client that tows surfers on sandy beaches and bumps his engine all the time against sand bars and nothing has ever happened. His original prop paint has been pelled off 50% already, engine still running strong. Make shure all lower water screen intakes are immaculate clean.

Happy Boating

 

[pvanv]

Re: What to do? 2013 Tohatsu 8HP

Give your dealer a chance to make good on their repair; as Luis said, there's a possibility they missed something (such as the impeller drive key or alignment of the water pipe), and didn't do a tank test.