1987 force 125 cooling lowdown

SSLouiS

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 3, 2009
Messages
41
Hi everyone,
I just changed my impeller and was testing my outboard in a tank of water. My ports were well covered and the hose was running. I have had the muffs on and tanked my engine at least 10 times before this, and I just got done dropping my lower and changing the impeller and never noticed any one of those times the water flowing out of - or the six holes that are in the lower unit . LOL..anyhow..I DID notice because my telltale is just sputtering water despite having a brand new kit and being fully submerged. The water coming out of the top was hot and it seemed that after I stopped the engine and restarted it after 5 minutes that I had a little better flow out the telltale. Does this sound like I may need change the thermostat? It is at least ten years old that I know of. Thanks for any help.
 
Last edited:

Nordin

Commander
Joined
Jun 12, 2010
Messages
2,596
How high was the water lever in the tank?
You need to have water up to and especially over the impeller housing.
The water pump is not self priming, so you will not get a good water flow if the water lever is to low.
 

jerryjerry05

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 7, 2008
Messages
18,087
Water level needs to be 4" over the cavitation plate.
Thermostat, take it out and test it.
Put it in a pan of hot water on the stove and turn the heat up, then watch as the spring opens the thermo.
 

The Force power

Commander
Joined
Feb 3, 2019
Messages
2,350
Hi everyone,
I just changed my impeller and was testing my outboard in a tank of water. My ports were well covered and the hose was running. I have had the muffs on and tanked my engine at least 10 times before this, and I just got done dropping my lower and changing the impeller and never noticed any one of those times the water flowing out of - or the six holes that are in the lower unit . LOL..anyhow..I DID notice because my telltale is just sputtering water despite having a brand new kit and being fully submerged. The water coming out of the top was hot and it seemed that after I stopped the engine and restarted it after 5 minutes that I had a little better flow out the telltale. Does this sound like I may need change the thermostat? It is at least ten years old that I know of. Thanks for any help.
the pick/up tube may not be insert into the top housing of the pump
 

SSLouiS

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 3, 2009
Messages
41
Thank you for the replies...and sorry about the double post..I tried to edit and I couldn't figure out how to delete the first draft..admin feel free to cut it if you can. Yeah I was about 2 inches over the cav plate and had just spray out both sides of the telltale. I did some more reading and if I read it right if my Stat was kaput my water should be cold. So since I'm less nervous I am going to take her to the lake and check it out. The Stat is still old so I will probably still change it either way in the spring. I'm interested now to find out what's going on. I sort of feel like a dodo for not remembering how my own motor runs like..but it's been a tight few years..lol. Thanks again for the help and add anything else you think I should know.
 

Nordin

Commander
Joined
Jun 12, 2010
Messages
2,596
Two inch above the cavitation plate is not enough.
The level should be above the impeller housing and is located at the split line of the LU to the leg.
It is at least 4 inch as jerryjerry says.
 
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