Help! Water pipe came out with my lower unit!!

[10dknezevic]

Hi, i took my lower unit off to replace the impeller and a seal but when i took it off, the water pipe came off with it! I didn't think it would be an issue but now I can’t get the water pipe to connect back up to the engine. I’ve tried for hours with no success. You can’t actually see the hole that the pipe connects in to when you look up through the midsection. So im fishing for a place to connect it blind with no luck. Does anyone have any ideas? Is the midsection able to be removed? What a nightmare!! I really truly appreciate any input on this!

 

[10dknezevic]

Sorry i forgot to add engine information. It’s a 1986 US marine Force 50hp. Model # 507x6a.

 

[Dlubke]

I did the same thing with my Engine a few years back. When mine popped out the rubber seal came out with it was a night mare to get back in. Also my tube had a flare on the end of it ( 90hp Engine). Sadly the best way is to lube it up with some liquid soap and sit there and try and get the tube back up through the hole. I would check to see if your rubber seal came out or rolled as it may be binding on it.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Gotta get the seal/ o-ring out if possible.
Or make sure it's straight in the hole.
Then just jam it back up in there.
There should be an seal and a washer holding it in.

 

[10dknezevic]

I’ll try again tonight but i dont feel anything soft when trying to put it back in. Just hitting metal from what it feels like. I can’t see enough to tell if any rubber seals have shifted or fallen off unfortunately.

 

[Dlubke]

If that seal does not make it back in you will lose a significant amount of water pressure through your engine. Your best bet is to hope it is in there. Looks like a rubber firewall grommet.

 

[Nordin]

I did the same thing last autumn with a Chrysler 55Hp 1970.
Should change impeller and the tube came out with the LU.

This engine is exact (mid leg and LU) or very very similar with the 1986 50Hp Force and I was able to push the water tube back in place.
The rubber seal that is at the top can not fall away if it not broke down.
It is squeezed between the engine block and a plain washer.

I added some Permatex liquid gasket at the top of the water tube outer surface.
Put the tube back and hold it in place with a wooden block and two clamps.
Let it sit over the night and the tube was stiff in place.

Put the LU in place and it pumping a lot of water since then.

The hard thing is tofind the hole and put the tube in place, but it is possible.

 

[10dknezevic]

Im going to go give it another try today and I’ll report back. My next plan is to get a bore scope if that fails and inspect the area. Thank you for all your help!

 

[jerryjerry05]

This pump is designed to pump a lot more water than your motor can use.
Just make sure the tube is in there and check for overheating.
Temp gun can be cheap. I paid 16$ one of the best tools in my box.

 

[10dknezevic]

Still no luck unfortunately. Just can’t get the water pipe to line up with the fitting at the top no matter how i twist and turn it. I’ll try again tonight or tomorrow. Got a bore scooe and the fitting at the engine end looks good and the washer seems to be in place.

 

[foodfisher]

You can do it! Use the shoulder as a guide.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Silicon on the outside of the pipe and push it up inside.
Let it dry over night.
Then put the lower unit on and check the pipe where it goes into the pump.

 

[10dknezevic]

GOOD NEWS!! I got her in. What a PITA! With the help of the inspection cam and more patience than i ever thought i had, i finally got it in. I put a glob of permatex around the outside of the pipe and jammed it in. The problem was the pipe must have straightened out a bit when it got pulled out initially, so i bent the tube at the ish end just a tad more (by hand) and it went in finally. See pic of connection with rtv. Thank you all for your suggestions. Such an amazing community here! Hopefully this can help anyone experiencing the same issue!

 

[foodfisher]

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