Where would you drill for tell-tale install?

[JerEazy]

1975 Evinrude 50 50573B

These eninges don't have tell-tales as many of you are aware. And i've read through the post here ( https://forums.iboats.com/forum/engi...ng-a-tell-tale ) about installing one. I am aware that they don't have an affect on the running and motors with water flow can still overheat. It comes down to peace of mind. Plus, when on the river we get plenty of compliments on the boat and motor - but it almost always comes along with "You know she's not peeing right?"

I would rather install in the exhaust housing as opposed to the head - but in looking at the replacement exhaust covers - i want to make sure i put the hole in the right spot!

From what i read, you don't want it low because you can generate hot spots - so i circled the spots i am considering but would love some feedback before i mess the whole thing up!

Thank you in advance.

 

[racerone]

Have you tested the " overheat horn " on this motor ??

 

[JerEazy]

yessir - and it does function properly.

 

[racerone]

In my opinion a tell tale is over kill.-----Installing a new impeller every 4 or 5 years is the smart way to operate that motor.

 

[JerEazy]

In my opinion a tell tale is over kill.-----Installing a new impeller every 4 or 5 years is the smart way to operate that motor.

I can appreciate that. I go a little overkill - thermostat and impeller every year as preventative. I don’t do a lot of salt water - but enough, and some of the rivers and lakes I enjoy go from fresh to brackish.

- tell-tale is probably overkill as well - but it instills a bit of comfort. And I really don’t want to install it incorrectly.

 

[racerone]

Well- I have seen a lot of motors with tell tales overheated.-----Few people look at the pisser when at full throttle !!----A tested overheat horn is good strategy.----A water pressure gauge with numbers in front of you is much better than a tell tale stream that few folks can interpret !!!

 

[JerEazy]

Well- I have seen a lot of motors with tell tales overheated.-----Few people look at the pisser when at full throttle !!----A tested overheat horn is good strategy.----A water pressure gauge with numbers in front of you is much better than a tell tale stream that few folks can interpret !!!

don't you tee into the tell-tale line for a water pressure sensor? cause i would love one of those as well!

 

[Bosunsmate]

I installed mine right above the top cylinder and it instantly fixed a overheating issue id had spent $$$ on.
Definitely do it, others may of had luck, this removes luck being part of the equation

 

[Bosunsmate]

Going into the exhaust plate isnt going to do too much other than tell you that you have a flow- you can do much better than that.
You should go into the crankcase half at the top where i did. You dont drill into the head, you drill forward of it in the crankcase half, so you are sitting above the top cylinder. That is where the air bubbles accumulate and cause a hot spot on #1 piston. Having the telltale installed there evacuates the air and gives an ideal water flow for the hottest part of the motor. I did mine with the head on.
But Id recommend for someone who isnt so confident on positioning to remove the head and that way you can see what you a doing when drilling through and it gives you a better chance at removing all the metal filings from the drill bit.
With the head off that also gives you a chance to remove any scale that has built up around the head/cylinders and you can also plane the head on a piece of glass or mirror at the same time and have a very nice serviced outboard when you put it back together. The head gasket is relatively cheap too.
I did all this years ago to mine and its made it so reliable and smooth running id take her around the world if i could afford the gas

 

[JerEazy]

Alright - guess the crankcase it is. I wish I had looked into this when I first started this engine refresh. Purchased a new head and replaced it about 3 weeks ago.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Those gaskets arent too much, like $25 so you wont be out of pocket compared to peace of mind

 

[JerEazy]

Those gaskets arent too much, like $25 so you wont be out of pocket compared to peace of mind

Very true - and I will do it soon. But I freely admit to not being the smartest guy in the world - so drilling holes in the crankcase makes me nervous!

 

[jakedaawg]

Make sure you carefully choose the drill size for the pipe tap you will need. Pipe thread sizing is odd and confusing to some. It's based on the I.D. of the fitting. So, a 1/8 npt fitting is way larger hole than 1/8".

 

[JerEazy]

Make sure you carefully choose the drill size for the pipe tap you will need. Pipe thread sizing is odd and confusing to some. It's based on the I.D. of the fitting. So, a 1/8 npt fitting is way larger hole than 1/8".

The post linked in my first post gave sizes and part numbers for it - so I’m going to follow to the T

 

[juno pierrat]

A new sharp drill bit will go thru the block fast! Its not as thick as you think

 

[Marks 1st Boat]

I installed mine right above the top cylinder and it instantly fixed a overheating issue id had spent $$$ on.
Definitely do it, others may of had luck, this removes luck being part of the equation

Hi Bosunsmate. My first post regarding my first boat! Can you confirm the photo is the 50573B 50hp? I am trying to compare it to the cylinder head of my outboard, but the casting appears slightly different, and I wouldn't want to drill into the wrong area due to being a different casting!

 

[racerone]

The picture is post #8 is a 2 cylinder 40 / 45 / 48 / 50 / 60 HP

 

[oldboat1]

As an alternative, look for a temp gauge with a sensor that attaches to the top of the head.