Tell tale dry!!

[Beanzy]

I have a 1979 150hp merc that hasn't been run in about 4 years. Fired it up today but ran for only about one minute as there was no water at the tell tale. Should water come out the tell tale as soon as the engine fires or does the thermostat have to open first? Could the pressure relief valve be stuck closed? Will install new pump impeller this week and try again. I dropped the lower unit and tried to blow air up to the powerhead through the water tube but seems blocked. Any thoughts??

 

[The Marine Doctor]

Re: Tell tale dry!!

If its a V6 then you will sometimes have to wait for the water to come out the telltail.<br /><br />If its an inline 6 you will have water almost imediately.<br /><br />TMD

 

[Beanzy]

Re: Tell tale dry!!

It's the V6....so how long should it take. Don't want to overheat it and cook the rings.

 

[The Marine Doctor]

Re: Tell tale dry!!

Might take while minute or two..let it idle...just monitor the heads...if they get too hot..turn the engine off and then inspect the poppet valves...they may be sticking.<br /><br />The Thermostats let the water out the main discharge holes in the leg.<br /><br />TMD

 

[Beanzy]

Re: Tell tale dry!!

Thanks!!...will do.

 

[85merc200]

Re: Tell tale dry!!

look the water impeller should be replaced before starting again...it made of rubbber and gets dry rot, all your probally doing is getting pieces of rubber stuck everywhere, so change the impeller. <br />and with my 200hp merc 1985 year water comes of within 5 seconds of starting and then alot when the themo opens up...

 

[Beanzy]

Re: Tell tale dry!!

85merc200,<br /> As I stated in previous post.....have already dropped the lower unit so will install new pump before restarting. If I have problems when I restart....at least I know it's not the pump. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Beanzy]

Re: Tell tale dry!!

update.....installed new water pump and ran engine today. Still no water from tell tale. I ran the engine for approximately 20 minutes while monitoring head temp. Heads stay just warm but nothing from tell tale. I pulled the hose and removed the fitting from the powerhead......bone dry. Tried to snake a wire into hole to maybe unplug something but nothing there. With engine running I blew compressed air into fitting hole.....still nothing. Don't know where to go from here. Any suggestions??<br /><br /> If the poppet valve was stuck...would it cause this??

 

[profish00]

Re: Tell tale dry!!

Im kinda new at this, but I think if you remove the T stats you should see water in the heads the popet valve is there to release water if the T stats dont open and the pressure of water gets too high in the heads. some 1 please correct me if Im wrong!!!. From the diagram the water enters the lower unit then pumped to the heads so I would remove the T stats and start the motor and see if water is pushing in to the heads. I wouldnt run it long like this.<br /><br />Turn the water pressure up on the hose. I know they say not to but were trying to get you on the water.<br /><br />I have a 1993 Black max 150 and mine trickles at idle I replaced the pump impeller installed a T stat aton the P hole hose and the thing fills hot and it only measures about 130-140 and 140 degree water is hot to the touch.

 

[profish00]

Re: Tell tale dry!!

I droped my lover unit today and inspected the impeller and I installed it backwards it takes 30 seconds before the tell-tale started but its pissing strong.....gone fishing

 

[Beanzy]

Re: Tell tale dry!!

profish00,<br /> Thanks for the reply but I know my impeller was installed correctly. Ran my engine for approx. 20 minutes ....no water from tell tale.<br /> Thought that maybe old impeller had broken up and plugged powerhead.....but old impeller was totally intact when I removed it.

 

[profish00]

Re: Tell tale dry!!

I did blow air through the engin block through the lower unit pipe and had air coming out the P hole so if yours is cloged it shouldnt be hard to un clog...good luck see y on the water