1974 85 hp johnson outboard cooling questions from a newbie

[mvabate]

I just replaced the complete water pump assy, housing and all. When hooked up to earmuffs, I get 3 streams of water out of lower unit without the motor running. When I idle the engine water trickles out of the two ports from the top. I'm thinking I might not see a stream until it's in the water and gets up to temp. Can anyone verify this?
Also when the engine idles it doesn't charge the battery. Does anyone know, will it only charge at a higher rpm?
I'm getting ready to drop it in the water in a day for my first time with this or any boat. Thanks for any help.

 

[emdsapmgr]

That engine has no overboard telltale. When you first start the engine cold, hold your hand behind those two exhaust relief ports at the top of the midsection. After about a minute or so, the thermostat (vernatherm) will open. When it opens, you will see water droplets form on the palm of your hand. That's normal and a good sign. The charging system on that engine will work as soon as it starts. If you have a tach on hooked up to the engine and it's not reading properly, that's the sign of a charging issue. Or you can verify the battery voltage with a simple voltmeter. If it stays at 12.5 or less while running, then the engine probably has a charging issue. It can creep up to 15+ after running for 20 minutes.

 

[mvabate]

If I understand this correctly. My motor doesn't have a so called "pee stream". I have a slow trickle of water at the two exhaust ports at the midsection when idling. Which sounds like it that is what it's suppose to do. I'll put my meter on the battery when I get it out on the water. Thanks again

 

[mvabate]

Had the boat out today, ran awesome. Cooling system works as it should. emdsapmgr mentioned if the tach isn't working along with not charging. The voltage didn't change the whole time out. None of my gauges work. Gas, tach, or speed.

 

[emdsapmgr]

With the stock factory rectifier, you should note a definite charge change the more the engine runs. After first starting, the battery voltage should read perhaps 12.5 volts. After running for 10 minutes, it will creep up to maybe 13.5 volts. After 20 or 30 minutes, you could see 16+. If the charging system is working normally. Since your tach is not working the only way to measure voltage is with a simple household voltemeter across the battery terminals. If you get no voltage change, the charging rectifier is suspect.

 

[mvabate]

Thanks, I tested the rectifier and it failed. My service manual states that it's only a 6amp circuit. So now I'll see if I can find an inexpensive recitifier. Do you know what an allowable amp size recitifier I could use. It has a cdplayer and small speakers, and a depth finder besides the normal equipment.

 

[mvabate]

I think I can use a 25amp 50volt bridge rectifier that I found for less the $5. My concern was the amperage of the circuit. After some reading, I found that my stator is only going to make 6amps max. If I'm wrong, please advise. Thanks again for the help.

 

[emdsapmgr]

The current superceded Bombardier rectifier number for your engine is: 583408.