first motor test

[SalmonSlayer]

Hey guys, I have an outboard 88hp johnson. My question is: Can I start this out of water and only run it for a minute just to see if she'll start up this spring? I mix the oil and gas in the tank, and I assume this lubricates the engine and the need for water is strictly for cooling. Am I right? or am I gonna ruin the motor by starting her on land?

thanks,

ben

[ESOX]

Do not run it without water!!!! You can go to any marine supply and get a pair of "Muffs" that hook to a garden hose and clamp over the water intakes. They are about 10 bucks.

[DANN09]

Esox is right. You may not hurt the motor but you will hurt the water pump. It's rubber and needs water for lubrication.

[SalmonSlayer]

ahh haaa! The water pump! Man, I'm glad I posted this question! THanks guys! You probably saved me a big headache later down the road. I got a pair of muffs, but my temp buzzer still goes off when I use them, so I figured they didn't help any. But now I know they at least keep the water pump lubed up! Any thoughts as to why my temp buzzer still sounds when I use the muffs?

ben

[DANN09]

You can only idle the motor. The water pump will colapse a normal garden hose and thus limit your suply of water. If you are just idling than you might have a bad tremostat switch. Not big bucks but you can't run with out one.

[ESOX]

You should never exceed 2,000 rpm without any load on the motor anyhow. Is there water coming from the telltale? Water coming from the hub? (Iguess what I'm asking is, are you sure you're getting water into the block?)

[SalmonSlayer]

yep, there's water. As soon as the water is turned on from the hose, it runs out the ports on the lower unit...one on each side i think (hub?). WHen it's running, water comes out the port on the bottom side of the motor (the one above the water line that I can see all the time when running) (telltale?)

I ONLY idle when on land and don't have an rpm guage but I'm sure its not over 1000rpm. Could be a thermostat...i've had it go off twice when just poking down the river. I'd shut the motor off and restart it and it was ok after that. Maybe just gremlins in the system, eh!

ben

[ESOX]

When was the last time you changed your water pump impeller?
A lot of manufacturers reccomend changing them EVERY year. If your impeller is worn, you will have a tough time pumping an adequate volume of water at low rpm's. It's a fairly simple job, usually about 45 minutes.

[goosewa]

Cannot idle over 1000 rpm? Well......
Your overheating issue sounds like it may be caused by a bad impeller. You do not happen to run your outboard in shallow water frequently? Sand among other things are not too friendly on rubber impellers. Don't think just because water is flowing that your water pump is fine. Yes it is pumping water but maybe not as much as it needs to keep the engine cool as it needs to be.

Two friends both had overheating problems (same as the one your seeing) that were caused by a bad impeller. (Each outboard quit in the Livingston Channel with a freighter coming upbound.)

Both overheated the motor until warning buzzer sounded. One motor completely seized and needed a complete rebuild. The other one needed a new crank and crank bearings.

The unnamed dealer that did the complete rebuild neglected to replace the impleller and he seized the motor up again 10 hours later. Since the dealer already machined the the cylinders out another .040 the powerhead was junk and could not be rebuilt.

-Goosewa

[SalmonSlayer]

ESOX-where is the impellar located on the motor? If it is truly as easy as you say I can tackle it myself.

Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to replace it as I do most of my trolling in and around the st joe pierheads and through the st joe river. This water is VERY dirty and most likely full of sand that has worn the impellar. Is there an online place where I can find a repair manual or instructions for this procedure?

ben

[ESOX]

The impeller is located near the top of the lower end. You have to remove the bolts holding the lower end on, but only drop the lower end a few inches. I am not familiar with your engine so I can't get too specific. Ask the dealer when you pick up the impeller for more specific instructions. (I have even had them xerox a page out of the service manual for me). If you intend to keep the engine a while, I would reccomend purchasing a manual for it.

[SalmonSlayer]

If I drop the lower unit a fewinches, won't that require a new seal, or is it ok with a new one? Or isn't there a seal at the break?

[ESOX]

I am a Merc. Man myself, I just asked Jpollman, who did his OMC last year. Neither of us has ever seen a gasket up there, just ask at the parts store when you get your new impeller to be certain, they'd be happy to sell you one if you need it.:)

[SalmonSlayer]

I'm suire they will be!