Where should water come out if no tell tale?

[Chokeneck]

I have an older Mercury 9.8 110 model that I inherited and it doesn’t have a tell tale to indicate that water is circulating. I’ve looked all over and there’s just not one. It starts fine, but I’m afraid to run it much. I was thinking some water should at least be coming out with the exhaust but that’s not true either. Where does the water come out in this case?

 

[Chokeneck]

 

[Texasmark]

With the lower unit removed you aren't pumping water. The water pump is in the lower unit and must be submerged in a drum filled with water or connected to a water hose with an adapter referred to as "Muffs".....a pair of 3-4" rubber cubs, joined by a spring steel bar and containing a female water hose adapter.

Muffs slip over the water intake holes in the lower unit just above the bulge that contains the prop shaft and gears and are available at Walmart in the sporting goods section along with Pennzoil TC-W3 premium 2 cycle oil for mixing 50 parts gas to 1 part oil (50:1) in your gas tank.

Once you get your lower unit with the water pump installed, and with the hose running water...which will spew out around the muffs to some extent, and engine running, water will come out through the prop hub with the exhaust and some "mist" may come out the holes in the rear of the mid section just below the bulge in the alum casting that is formed around the engine proper which is the exhaust relief for use when the engine is in N gear.

A pee source is usually a ⅛" pipe tap into either the exhaust water jacket cover.....flat plate on the Port (left) side looking forward from behind, or a tap into the block water jacket cover...flat plate, across the back of the engine block, through which the spark plugs are mounted. You can add one if you choose. Just drill, tap and install. ⅛-¼ tubing will work for your hose barb sizing.

 

[Scott Danforth]

you cant put muffs on the 9.8. the water intake is on the bottom of the anti-cav plate just behind the prop.

it has to be run in a bucket

later 7.5's and 9.8's have the pee hole on the starboard side, running with a hose to the bottom cowl.

if it was me, I would just replace the raw water pump every few years and run it. caution, there are two pumps available, you have to measure the driveshaft to get the correct pump

 

[Chokeneck]

I’ve pretty well determined that mine is a 60’s model and just doesn’t have a pee hole. I took the foot off to blow air through the water tube and the only place it comes out is a hole under the power head. When I had it running there was no indication whatsoever that water was circulating

 

[Texasmark]

you cant put muffs on the 9.8. the water intake is on the bottom of the anti-cav plate just behind the prop.

it has to be run in a bucket

later 7.5's and 9.8's have the pee hole on the starboard side, running with a hose to the bottom cowl.

if it was me, I would just replace the raw water pump every few years and run it. caution, there are two pumps available, you have to measure the driveshaft to get the correct pump

Thank you sir for making this a valid reply. My last low hp Merc was about 1974, a 2 stroke 7 ½. Been a lot of water under the bridge since then. In talking about it, I think it came without a trim tab too....engine too small to need one.

Note to Chokeneck: In a barrell; a 55 gallon drum works good with a 2x4 aid for the clamp bracket. Water level needs to be over the position of the water pump since the pump has no lifting capability. Other thing, water gets hot with engine running so adapt accordingly.......If you decide to goose it and blow most of your water out in F gear when finished, I'll understand. Grin.

 

[393Clevor]

I’ve pretty well determined that mine is a 60’s model and just doesn’t have a pee hole. I took the foot off to blow air through the water tube and the only place it comes out is a hole under the power head. When I had it running there was no indication whatsoever that water was circulating

sounds like it needs a pump..

 

[merc850]

They put "pee holes" on the port side of the motor (left, looking from the back) yours might be clogged with sand, look at the bottom of the top cowling for the hole and push some wire into it to see if it is clear.

 

[393Clevor]

about 1.0 minute in

 

[393Clevor]

They put "pee holes" on the port side of the motor (left, looking from the back) yours might be clogged with sand, look at the bottom of the top cowling for the hole and push some wire into it to see if it is clear.

hornets like to hide eggs in them or something.. looks like dirt..

 

[393Clevor]

I’ve pretty well determined that mine is a 60’s model and just doesn’t have a pee hole. I took the foot off to blow air through the water tube and the only place it comes out is a hole under the power head. When I had it running there was no indication whatsoever that water was circulating

if there is no pee hole it will come out the bottom holes you mentioned.. you should see water all the time out of those holes I think mine had three..