No telltale flow 1978 80hp Mercury

[surgemc]

I have just replaced the water pump body and impeller on my 1978 80hp Blueband Mercury outboard. I have no flow out of the tell-tale so I was wondering if it is ok to either blow air back up the tell-tale opening or poke something up their to see if it is blocked. Will this cause any damage or maybe push any blockage into somewhere it will cause more damage?
Thanks

 

[Chris1956]

Those tell-tale outlets clog all the time. Pull the tell-tale hose off the cylinder head water jacket and see if you have flow there. You did install the water tube extension into the water pump and then the water tube, when you installed the gearcase, right?

 

[surgemc]

Thanks Chris1956, I have taken the tell-tale hose off and found the was a clump of stuff blocking the outlet. I now have flow out of the tell-tale but it is only a trickle. I suspect I will get better flow when the lower leg is immersed in water rather than using ear muffs. Do these engines have a thermostat and will that also increase the flow when it opens?

 

[racerone]

No thermostat.

 

[surgemc]

Thanks racerone