Yamaha Waterpump Mystery - Please Help!

Hookdown

Cadet
Joined
Feb 5, 2008
Messages
6
Hi,

It's my first post here. I'd sure appreciate some help. I bought a Duck Hunting boat with a mid/ late '80's 40HP Yamaha outboard on it. The motor is from South Florida, and is well used, and shows obvious saltwater use. When I bought it, I knew it had a water flow issue, but I felt like it was well compensated for in the price. Now I'm not sure.

When I first got it, the boat started and ran well on the muffs. But it had no pisser flow out on the water. A mechanic replaced the water pump with an oem kit, using all the new parts/ gaskets. Pissed like crazy for the first 20 minutes or so, then slowly loses flow to the point where there's nothing at idle or at speed within the first hour or so.

So I had the mechanic replace the upper plastic housing along with a whole new kit, cuz the housing looked old. Also replaced exhaust manifold gaskets too. Same thing. Good flow at first, tapering to zero within the first hour. Had went through a slough, and he was convinced that maybe some mud had quickly worn out the impeller.

This time I did the job. Old impeller looked fine, but replaced it with whole new kit anyway. Same results. Strong flow, then tapers to none. The motor pisses like crazy still on the muffs, but won't do it on the water. I'm stumped. I'm thinking about asking my doctor about Flomax..lol.

Last couple times, I thought it was fixed, and went Hunting. Due to circumstances, had to drive it w/o pisser flow for a few miles. Funny thing was, it ran great each time, and didn't seem to overheat. It was pretty chilly out (N. IL. winter) but I still am surprised it ran. It actually starts and runs really well.

Can anyone help me? Thanks.

Shawn
 

dwaynesda

Recruit
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Jul 11, 2006
Messages
2
Re: Yamaha Waterpump Mystery - Please Help!

I have had the same problem also and this is what worked for me.

You might just have something in the water passage way that is clogging up the **** tube. While it is running and pissing poorly, remove the hose that goes from the pisser to the block, at the block end, and push a piece of wire into the nipple and wiggle it around. If it starts to **** better, than you know that it is just the pisser tube plugging up and not a water pump problem. A small pebble popped out for me and the problem was solved.
 

Hookdown

Cadet
Joined
Feb 5, 2008
Messages
6
Re: Yamaha Waterpump Mystery - Please Help!

Ya, thanks, but thats not it. I've pulled the hose off completely, still no water. Plus it only pisses for the first 30 min or so after a new pump. If I had a one time clog, I would've caught it by now, Thanks anyway, tho.
Shawn
 

BruceAML

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Feb 26, 2007
Messages
371
Re: Yamaha Waterpump Mystery - Please Help!

I would be helpful if you told us the exact model of the motor from the data plate. What was the part number of the water pump? Did you change the thermostat?
 

Hookdown

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Feb 5, 2008
Messages
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Re: Yamaha Waterpump Mystery - Please Help!

Bruce,
The truth is, I don't know the exact model number. The plate area has been painted over. I removed a bit of paint, but I still can't see any ID info. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think that it's imperative to know the exact model for this question. The pump and operation didn't change that much til the mid '90's. I ordered an '85 kit. It's an exact match. The motor is a 2-stroke 40HP pull-start with remote steering circa 1985-88. It's the right pump kit. I haven't looked at the thermostat, but I think that may be my next move. But it still doesn't make sense. Because I can let the boat sit for weeks, and it still won't put out water. But if I change the impeller, it works for 30 minutes or so. How would the thermostat know that I changed waterpumps? It wouldn't. Also, I've never gotten an overheat warning buzzer or loss of power? Wouldn't I if I was overheating?
 
Last edited:

BruceAML

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Feb 26, 2007
Messages
371
Re: Yamaha Waterpump Mystery - Please Help!

If you put some really hot water on the data plate you will usually be able to remove the outer layer of paint. Use a plastic scraper to remove this outer layer. Yes it is very important to know the exact model. You still have not told us the part number of the water pump kit you installed. Yamaha makes at least two different kits for the 40 hp motors in the 1984-1988 period. Does your motor have the oil injection? Have you replaced the two anodes in the cylinder assy?
 

Hookdown

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Feb 5, 2008
Messages
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Re: Yamaha Waterpump Mystery - Please Help!

Thanks Bruce,
The ID plate is either missing or unreadable. Is there any other way to ID this motor? All the part numbers I can see are consistant with a 1985 model. It does NOT have oil injection. Here's the part #'s we used:

Water Pump Repair Kit: 6H4-W00078-00-00 (says it fits 1985-94 40HP)

Upper Housing: 663-44311-02

I think we're working off a 1985 ELK microfiche. What is the other part # you say exists for this year?

Haven't replaced the anode, cuz I haven't and don't want to disassemble motor. But how would the anode inside the cylinder let water flow w/ new pump, then later stop it?
 

mikesea

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Oct 1, 2006
Messages
1,830
Re: Yamaha Waterpump Mystery - Please Help!

It almost seems like its not getting the volume .Is there any kind of blockage atb water pick up including he inside of the screen up to the waterpump.I dont recall exactly how that motor flows,but usually the intake comes up through the housing below the plate.If for some reason barnacles or the like got inside ,once the engine got its inital burst of water from a supply that built up while sitting waiting to be started,then upon starting the water got pushed out via the pump,which is why you see a initial flow,but cause of the POSSIBLE restriction,or the ikethe pump cant get a supply it needs to do the job.Kinda like using a big water pump to pump water ,but the feed only being a trickle.Be sure the inside of the screen is clean,I had an outdrive that grew barnacles inside
 

BruceAML

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Feb 26, 2007
Messages
371
Re: Yamaha Waterpump Mystery - Please Help!

There are 2 anodes that need to be replaced especially if this is a salt water motor. They can be found in the crankcase cylinder section of the parts list. The part number for these anodes is 688-11325-00-00. When you are replacing them you will see if the water passages are clear or salted up. I would also remove the exhaust outer cover and clean that out. I would also replace the gasket part number 6H4-41114-A0-00. You have the correct water pump and housing. What happened to the oil injection system and oil tank?
 
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