Possible water pump problems

Dickerama

Recruit
Joined
Oct 9, 2014
Messages
3
"I have a 1984 Johnson 115 HP V4.

When last using it in salt water steam started coming from the tell tale outlet. When I reduced speed it stopped and water came out again. Each time I increased speed the steam returned.

Recently the lower drive unit was removed in order to pressure test the gearbox ( due to loss of gear oil ). The motor has been operated successfully in seawater on one occasion after that.

Could the problem be the water pump or the thermostats?"
 

fireman57

Captain
Joined
Aug 24, 2004
Messages
3,811
I vote water pump or a clogged water passage. Salt does bad things.
 

oldboat1

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Apr 3, 2002
Messages
9,612
Check operating temp on top of heads. Too hot to touch is too hot. (IR heat gun is a a good tool to have available.)
 

racerone

Supreme Mariner
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Dec 28, 2013
Messages
38,979
???----The impeller was not replaced when lower unit was off ?
 

juliolop

Seaman
Joined
Nov 3, 2015
Messages
65
Ok
this is my situation
I have my boat at an outdoor storage
After a few weeks I took my boat donzi 255 1996 to home to so a few things before starting using this year
when I try the start I heard a sound
Batteries are death
And I found water under my AFT floor where the pump is
What can be happening?
Where does thia water come from?
Thanks
 

F_R

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
28,226
Are you asking about bilge water? It comes from obvious places.
Rain
Leaks
I've seen boats with many gallons collected in there.
 

thunderbug

Cadet
Joined
Jun 9, 2010
Messages
20
ok, back on topic

I have a 15hp Johnson, about same year, but I get full stream from "pee hole" at higher RPMs. At idle/troll speed, just sputtering and steam. I've replaced impeller, with same results. While lower unit was off, I put a hose on intake tube and water seemed to flow freely.

My next guess was thermostat was gunked. So I pulled t-stat cover and found NO thermostat! I've been using this motor for 25+ years; it was like this when I got it and I never had reason to pull cover before. But at least I've eliminated that.;-)

What's my next move? Pull the head and check water passages?
Was really hoping I don't have to do a complete tear down...
 

oldboat1

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Apr 3, 2002
Messages
9,612
Well, yeah. Double hijacking here -- think admin. action is needed. Two threads here, and one in boat repair/restoration??
 

fireman57

Captain
Joined
Aug 24, 2004
Messages
3,811
I think that tbug had his thread hijacked and is trying to get back to his topic.
I would run a wire through the passages in the holes where the thermostat was and see if I could dislodge anything that might be blocking a passage. If you pull the plugs and the cover that is there you can access more water passages and do the same thing. Worst scenario is you take the exhaust plates off the side and you can see all the passages there and clean them. Of course you need to get new gaskets and replace all you too off. Make sure the covers are buffed clean before you install the new gaskets. You should not need a tear down unless you over heated the engine and a compression test first should tell you this.
 
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