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Captain Bill
Navigator

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USA
148 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2006 : 21:06:56

Justin,

I sold my 1996 Honda 9.9 last month. When the buyer received it no water would come out of the pee hole. Turned out to be a stuck thermostat. Hopefully yours is a similar problem. Worth checking the simple things before you get too far into other things. Good luck, Bill

Edited by - on

Justin
Admiral

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502 Posts

Response Posted - 08/04/2006 : 07:52:33

Can anyone see the thermostat in my pictures I posted or describe what it looks like? That is something I wanted to inspect. I was planning to trace the cooling system.

Edited by - on

Justin
Admiral

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502 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2006 : 08:23:33

I repaired my outboard! A week ago I was afraid of some major damage and thought I was going to have to take it into a Honda dealer. I figured out the problem and fixed it. I created my own engine flush kit, using tips from Doug’s tech tip. I posted another [url="http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=13354"]thread[/url] about how to create one on the Honda BF15A engine.

I connected up the hose and flushed the engine. Water was only coming out of the lower unit.

This must mean that the cooling passageway in the engine block must be obstructed somewhere. So, I removed the thermostat and found many small chunks of rubber behind it clogging the system.

I used some needle nose pliers to remove as much as I could see.

It appears to possibly be parts of the impeller. I then remounted the thermostat and turned on the hose. Water still was not flushing through the engine block. I then removed the thermostat again and disconnected the engine block coolant exit hose. The small tip of the ¾” water hose to 3/8” hose converter from my kit has a ¼” opening which fit right over the coolant outlet nipple. I wrapped a little electrical tape around the nipple to give it a better water seal, then pressed the hose against it, turned the water on and flushed water through the system in the reverse flowing direction. I let it flow for a few minutes and let everything flush out. Whatever was in there got dislodged and the block was free flowing. I then reconnected the thermostat and connected my flush kit normally, turned on the water and I had water flowing through the entire system!

The water shooting straight up is from the cooling exit, I forgot to reconnect the small hose for that picture. Normally the water shoots down out the small exit under the top section.

I then let it flush through for about ten minutes to make sure nothing else would get lodged in there and to help clean it out since I had never flushed it this year since I bought the boat. I then plugged my flush kit, put the engine in the water and started it up. It cranked right up and ran smoothly with water flowing freely and strongly through the coolant exit, shooting into the water.

I let it run for several minutes and it was running great! I cranked up the throttle and observed the exhaust. One concern Dave had is that he did not notice the exhaust coming out of the prop. I read online last week during my research that during low rpms, such as idle, the exhaust actually comes out of that small vent that I circled in my first post photo. When I turned up the RPMs, sure enough, I saw the exhaust come out of the prop and at idle I did not see it. So, there are no problems with the exhaust. When I take the boat out at the end of the season for quite a few projects, I plan to install a new impeller. I'm assuming that's what those rubber pieces were, but it is still pumping strong, so I think it will be fine for now.

I worked on the engine Saturday and that really made my day. I really like the gratification of figuring something out and fixing it myself. The weather was great, so I then went for a short sail, single handling for the first time!

Edited by - Justin on 08/07/2006 09:32:42

danandlu
Navigator

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USA
175 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2006 : 08:38:28

Justin,

I wouldn't trust what's left of your impeller.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2006 : 08:43:03

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Justin4192
 ...When I take the boat out at the end of the season for quite a few projects, I plan to install a new impeller. I'm assuming that's what those rubber pieces were, but it is still pumping strong, so I think it will be fine for now...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

WHAT!!!

Edited by - on

Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2006 : 08:48:39

You Da Man! An inspiration to us all.

I took my motor cover off Saturday - prior to the marking pen fiasco - and saw that it has the same hose that is pictured in the "tech tips," so I can do that mod when I get around to it. Your photo of the hose and connectors makes it all look so simple. Thanks!

I always thought that if the impeller was shot, you'd get no water out of the pee hole. Doesn't the fact that you're getting a good flow indicate that the impeller is okay - as long as you monitor it during the rest of the season?

Ummm....never mind, after reading Don's succinct reply, apparently not.

Steve

Edited by - Lightnup on 08/07/2006 08:51:22

Justin
Admiral

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502 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2006 : 09:30:35

Yeah, at first I didn't know what the rubber was. The only possible explanation I could think of is it's my impeller. I thought since it is still pumping strong, that I should be fine for the next couple months until I get the boat taken out for several projects. It would be much easier to access the lower part of the engine then. If I keep an eye on it until then, shouldn't I be fine? I know I am taking a slight risk of it breaking up more, but water is flowing strong right now. One thing that makes removing my engine so difficult is I have a bulkhead slip. I could turn my boat around to have the starboard side against the wall, but it would be easier if I could back into a slip and lift from the stern, not the side.

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1768 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2006 : 09:30:35

Hi Justin,

I don't want to be guilty of piling on, but I'd heed the warnings of everyone else ... replace the impeller. You've already learned a lot about working on your outboard, so replacing it won't take much effort ... the parts are fairly cheap, too.

Here is what happens if the impeller isn't working properly ... the whole thing will get so hot that things will start to melt ... here is a photo of a new impeller, and the melted old one from my Mercury 7.5hp outboard:

Like I said, I don't want to rain on your parade ... BUT ... IMO your outboard is a critical safety feature, so it needs to be reliable, AND you could also overheat and ruin the engine.

'My two cents ...

Edited by - on

Justin
Admiral

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502 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2006 : 09:42:07

Keith, that really does show what can happen. Hmmm... I guess I will see if I can get my impeller replaced sooner. I'm lucky nothing happen when my engine over heated a week ago. It was so hot and I don't know how long it had been running without the cooling system clogged. Now, I'm making a constant effort to watch for the water shooting out, something I got out of the habbit of doing before. I learned a lot from this whole experience. I didn't realize that I was supposed to flush after every use. Now with my kit, I'm flushing everytime. I also learned and figured out more on how my engine works. Thanks for everyone's input and tips so far.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2006 : 10:19:27

Those may have been impeller pieces but I doubt they are from his current impeller.

Edited by - on

Justin
Admiral

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502 Posts

Response Posted - 08/07/2006 : 10:58:16

Here is a photo of my thermostat:

Those rubber chunks were behind the thermostat, I guess they could flow through it, but at first I thought maybe they were from the thermostat. Does the thermostat look complete? Anyone know if there was supposed to be a rubber backing? I'm doubting it, but thought I'd ask. You can see it is stuck open slightly and looks like it may need to be replaced, but I talked to someone at my marina and they think it should be fine for now if the water flows through.

Edited by - on

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