85hp merc 850 not peeing from telltale, getting exhaust smoke or steam from tell

[sailor]

Hi Guys. I just posted a reply to a post by whipple about same situation as I have with a newly acquired 1975 (year Id by serial number)mercury 850 85hp. Had the water pump impeller replaced and the carbs rebuilt by a local shop. It ran with a stream from the telltale from the shop to my dock which was about 5 miles. I watched it carefully many times while going to the dock.When I restarted it at the dock about 45 minutes later no stream from the telltale, rather smoke that appeared to be same as the exhaust smoke. Maybe an occasional drip of a drop of water but few and far between. I have tried running a wire up the telltale. Still no stream. Blew air up telltale, then removed telltale hose and blew air in the telltale opening at the head. Got a stream after 10 seconds or so and stream only lasted 10-15 seconds. It is a problem to pull the lower unit as the motor is on my pontoon boat and I don't have a means to transport it back to the shop that did the work. They don't make service calls either. I'd sure appreciate some words of wisdom on what to do. Could it be the water pump is pumping ok and telltale has an obstruction? If so, is there any way to clear and correct this??? Please help! Clark

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: 85hp merc 850 not peeing from telltale, getting exhaust smoke or steam from

Re: 85hp merc 850 not peeing from telltale, getting exhaust smoke or steam from

based on description, some obstruction in cooling<br />system. pieces of old impeller floating around?<br />gonna have to remove L/U again and check I'm afraid... <br />good luck,<br />M.Y.

 

[sailor]

Re: 85hp merc 850 not peeing from telltale, getting exhaust smoke or steam from

Re: 85hp merc 850 not peeing from telltale, getting exhaust smoke or steam from

Thanks for the response Mellowyellow! Shop said there were two vanes missing from old impeller when they changed it out and that they had removed the pieces. They also told me to have the engine running when blowing out the telltale with air or would blow water into the powerhead. Is that correct? Doesn't seem right to me as I would think the cooling system is separate from combustion chambers, like the cooling system on a car. As I understand it the telltale is to let you know that the water pump is working, with the majority of the cooling water going out the ehaust at the prop, and just a small amount going out the telltale. Will it damage the engine to run it as it is?