Mercury won't punp water at idle speed

[Spunky]

I have a 35 horse Mercury, 87 that doesn't pump water at idle speed. It works great when I run higher rpms, but I can't troll with it due to the lack of water. I have only had the boat a little while and it was in storage for two years before I bought it. I don't, know but I don't think this is normal. Please help.

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Rip sum Lips

[Paul Waldowski]

Spunky,

Sounds like your impeller has hardened or gotten brittle and needs to be replaced

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Paul
Drake Motel

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Marcum
Otter Outdoors
JR's Tackle
Lakemaster Lake Maps

[Spunky]

Is the impeller a doit yourself job or do I have to take it in? I was thinking that might be the problem, hoping it wasn't.

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Rip sum Lips

[united jigsticker]

If you're a pretty mechanically inclined person, you can do it yourself, but it will most likely take some time in the garage.

Putting everything back together is the trickiest part of the project. Getting the gears lined up, shift linkage, even getting the impeller on the shaft the right way is a common mistake.

I agree it is your impeller that is the culprit.

When you increase in speed, there is a seperate water intake hole on the very front of the lower unit that water gets forced into, which is why you get more water at higher speeds.

The impeller doesn't have the form and effectiveness anymore to move water up into the engine.

You can either get a book on your outboard and take the project on yourself, and learn alot in the process...Or you can pay someone else to do it during the week while your taking care of your busy lifes needs.

However, it may take you 3 nights after work in your own garage, or up to 3 weeks at the shop waiting for a spot to get in.

Good luck though. I know it's tough being without your rig for any amount of time.

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Good fishing,
UJ
[email protected]

[This message has been edited by united jigsticker (edited 06-10-2004).]

[Spunky]

Well, I ordered the book and the impeller and decided to take on the project my self.
Stay close to your computer in about a week

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Rip sum Lips

[LMITOUT]

Mine (60HP Merc) seems to get plugged quite often. A high pressure water or air hose placed in the "pee hole" usually will do the trick. First time it happened I also was worried my water pump was shot, but it was probably just algae/moss from these smaller lakes in my area that get pretty green when they warm up.

[Chris Haley]

limitout

keep a bottom bouncer nearby, insert when plugged and it will usually do the trick. My mariner is the worst for getting plugged, as soon as I go through any crud or churn up bottom at the landing it's plugged.

[LMITOUT]

Thanks for the suggestion! I always had it in my mind that it would be further down and didn't think that it could be within 6-8" of the hole. I'll give that a shot.

Yeah, mine seems to get plugged at the landings too. Especially if the wind is, or has been, blowing into it leaving a mess of scum.

[Surface Tension]

If it pumps at higher speeds then its not plugged. Replace the impeller before she gives out totally.

[psegriz]

Having been a bait trapper for a number of years the problem w/nipple getting pluged happened often. I believe your problem is the impeler on water pump. Back to nipple getting plugged, the best way to fix that is take nipple off throw away. Get a piece of copper tubing that you have to push inside of rubber hose going to nipple, will never plug again.

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GRIZ