Johnson 9.9 Seahorse tattle tell

svey · #1 (**permalink**) 05-23-2008

I just finish performing maintenance on my outboard. Gearcase and points.

I've started and ran it for a while (in a garbage can). For the first time, I've notice that the water coming out of the tattle tell (pee hole) is warm. Not burning warm just a bit more than body temperature. I've never notice in the past if the water coming out was cold or warm. I've look in the service manual and didn't see anything on the water temperature coming out.

Anybody with a similar engine notice water temperature coming out? Is the impeller getting enough water to the engine block?

I did inspect the water impeller but it looked fine. It is a year old and never ran dry.

Tx

Yves

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 05-23-2008

Svey-

Given that the water coming out is from the outboard's cooling system, I wouldn't be surprised that it is relatively warm... that's kind of the point. The exit water temperature is dependent on the ambient temperature of the water and the heat generated by the engine.

svey · #3 (**permalink**) 05-23-2008

Tx Sailingdog,

Yes you are correct about temperature. I should have phrased my question better. I will try again:

What should the volume of water coming out of the pee hole per minute? I'm trying to find out if my impeller is pushing enough water up to the block. The stream coming out is not very strong. I'm putting my boat in the water Sunday (O'Day 23) and I'm trying to be as ready as possible.

tx

timebandit · #4 (**permalink**) 05-23-2008

sounds ok to me.

It should get a bit hotter when the engine is under a load and higher rpm.

sailingdog · #5 (**permalink**) 05-23-2008

Without seeing video... can't really say one way or the other... if the water coming out isn't searing hot... chances are pretty good that the impeller is doing its job... IF you have any doubts, pull the impeller and replace it.

svey · #6 (**permalink**) 06-01-2008

I'm updating this thread just in case someone else has the same problem one day.

I've purchased a new water pump kit. I took the lower unit off and checked the impeller. Everything look new and in perfect condition. I lubed and reassembled everything and started the engine in a baril of water. Same amount of water was coming out (little stream on neutral, a few drops in gear).

I took the lower unit off again. Cleaned the pee hole with a pipe cleaner. Then I put a rag over the water intake tube(the one that links to the water pump) and blew compressed air (computer cleaning canister but a compressor would do the same thing) in the pee hole. A beige fibrous debris flew out, the size of a garbanzo bean. It could be algea.

I've reassembled everything and tested the engine. It is running fine now.

Don't you like happy endings?

Tx for everyone's help.

Yves

Hartley18 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-01-2008

Svey, glad you got everything going again.

Just so you know, some outboards produce a but more flow from the tell-tale than others, and the Johnson range never does have much coming out - our's is more of a steady stream of drips than a garden hose at full pressure.

Our tell-tale got blocked just inside the hose connection to the block itself, and I found out the hard way that, on a Johnson outboard, it's better to pull the tell-tale hose off the block itself, and blow it out both ways. A pipe-cleaner just isn't good enough.

..for next time.

therapy23 · #8 (**permalink**) 06-01-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by svey

I'm updating this thread just in case someone else has the same problem one day.

A beige fibrous debris flew out, the size of a garbanzo bean. It could be algea.

It was probably an insect pupae.

I store my outboards with the pipe cleaner stuck in the "pee hole". It prevents that.

PS: most (all?) modern outboards discharge the majority of cooling water through the exhaust. The pee hole is only overflow for you to check easily. It is a good indicator when not clogged up.