Outboard not spitting much water

[PensacolaJason]

I recently had some overheating issues with my 97 Sears Gamefisher Outboard 15hp. I changed out the impellar which was in bad shape and put everything back together. The motor is psitting out a little water now, but no where near the amount it sprayed before the issues occured. I went through everything I can think of and was able to reverse flush clean water through the pee hole and back out the bottom of the outboard with sucess, but when I run it there is still not much water coming out.

The only thing I can think of to do is replace the thermostat, which looks to be in bad shape as well. My question is if a bad thermostat would cause my problem of little water coming out of the **** hole?

I'm a fairly new boater and am trying to learn repair work on my own motor, so any help would be appreciated.

Update: I think I may have found the problem with my issue. I took the impellar and housing back off and found a small pin hole that looks to have been bored all the way through the impellar housing (part no. 46-FA715060). Here are the pics of the hole in the unit. Can anyone with knowledge confirm if this would cause my motor to barely or not spit out water at all? Thanks.

 

[rivermouse]

Re: Outboard not spitting much water

Remove the thermostat and then run engine and see if the restriction is still there.

 

[FLATHEAD MAC]

Re: Outboard not spitting much water

DID YOU CHANGE JUST THE IMPELLER?? Looks like the water pamp housing should have also been changed. (replace whole water pump, top /bottom halves ,newo-ring , ect.) When you backed flush was LU still on or off?? If on ,you could have flushed debrie to the waterpump to only flush it back into the motor not resolving the problem

 

[PensacolaJason]

Re: Outboard not spitting much water

I had the lower unit off when I back flushed it. I didn't notice how bad the impellar housing was until i took it all apart again today. Now I'm just trying to figure out if that hole in the housing would cause the issue. Either way, I'm ordering a complete repair kit with a new housing and seals and all.

 

[PensacolaJason]

Re: Outboard not spitting much water

I was able to eliminate my issue, but after I put the lower unit back on I now have no reverse. My revers is now my neutral and my neutral is what puts me in forward. What could I have done while having the bottom off to cause this?