'93 225 no start update; powerpack or water pump?

[SgtScrounge]

Posted last week about an engine shut-down problem after it runs perfectly for 20 minutes or so. HAve to sit and wait 1 hour or so to get it to re-start. Engine turns, but will not run. Suspect it is a heat-induced intermittent failure of the powerpack.
Took it out yesterday, went about 1 mile and engine started and ran fine. Sat for about 3-4 hours fishing, but when I went to leave I was unable to go beyond idle speed. Seemed like only 2 -3 cylinders firing.
When I fired it up on muffs last week, I noticed that water leaked around the seam between the lower unit and upper. I have never seen an O/B do this; I always put sealant there when replacing the impeller. The jet from the telltale on muffs was a trickle.
My hypothesis is that I have a weak water pump which isn't pumping enough cooling water to the top of the engine, which is where the powerpack is.
Can the powerpack actually be good, and just shutting down when it gets too hot up there ? Incidentally, the surface water in the JAmes River in Richmond yesterday was 100 degrees. I didn't beleive it until I got in the water; it was like a hot tub down to about 3 feet or so.

 

[imported_lorin]

Re: '93 225 no start update; powerpack or water pump?

You might have a failing power pack that's sensitive to heat, but I don't see anything that suggests your water pump is failing. If it were, your heat alarm should be turning on. Also on that motor I believe a little space was left between the gearcase and the exhaust housing to help prevent corrosion somewhere so exhaust water coming out of that space is nothing unusual.

 

[SgtScrounge]

Re: '93 225 no start update; powerpack or water pump?

Pulled the gearcase last night. Water pump may not be the source of the engine shutting down, but it definitely needed attention. There was corrosion around the water tube where it goes into the top of the pump housing. A piece of the tube was lodged in the housing blocking water flow, probably blocking over half of the water flow. This also left a small hole in the side of the tube allowing water to shoot out the seam between the gearcase and the exhaust housing. Hopefully, there aren't any small bits of the tube up in the engine block.
Next problem- can it be repaired w/out having to replace the tube ? Perhaps a copper plumbing fitting ??