No water pumping...1957 Evinrude 18hp Fastwin

[1957Evin]

After receiving wonderful advice from this forum, I was able to re-assemble my Fastwin and get it running on the third pull. My problem is that I've got no water pumping to cool the engine. After reading as many threads as I could find on the subject, here are my thoughts - please advise.

I checked the impeller by taking the lower unit off and spinning the drive shaft with a drill. My 1/2 inch drill turns on the slow side, but by fully submerging the impeller housing, I was able to get it to pump water out of the copper tube - maybe about 1 inch high, not much water pressure. But then my drill could be the culprit.

How deep does the lower unit have to be in the water to get the impeller to start pumping water? Do I need to have more than the intake screen under water? Does it make sense to have the lower unit under water higher than the actual location of the impeller housing?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

[freddyray21]

Re: No water pumping...1957 Evinrude 18hp Fastwin

those like to run deep. so it sounds like you need more water in the barrel.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: No water pumping...1957 Evinrude 18hp Fastwin

in a barrel the water has to be 1/2 up the leg, atleast an inch or 2 above the water pump. the pump is not self priming. yeah 1/2 inch drills are torque drills, not speed drills. remember that at wide open that impeller is spinning at 4500 rpms. also the water pick up is just in front of the exhaust outlet, in a barrel, the exhaust can interfer with the water pick up.

you should be getting droplets or mist out the back of the motor legs exhaust relief ports. that is the only tale tell indicator that motor has.

i would run it. if you can put your fingers on top of the block for 3-4 seconds without removing them, it is not running hot. you can also use and infrared thermo, to take the temp. 140-160 *

 

[1957Evin]

Re: No water pumping...1957 Evinrude 18hp Fastwin

Thank you all very much for you help. I will put her back together and give you all an update on how she works. I am pretty sure I did not have the lower unit far enough under water given what I learned from your comments. Thanks again!