Outboard not peeing

[Birdguy]

Good evening, we have a Suzuki 140horse, we pulled it out of storage to get it ready for use. When we fired up the big motor there was no water coming out. We turned it off, took it apart got a new impeller replaced the impeller (though the old one looked good) and put it back together and fired it up still no water. We dropped the low unit and put the muffs just on the lower unit and when I tuned the shaft it moved water into out the tube that connects to the water outlet. We blew through the tub and water an air come out but it is up inside the housing, same result both ends. It is almost like there is a hole in the system. Anyone ever had or heard of such thing? By no means am I a mechanic and feel we have may have reached the end of our comfort level taking things apart. While in the water all this area would fill with water but I do not expect it to push water through any better than the muffs. Any thoughts or ideas before taking it in?

[JKEEN33]

Run a wire down the hole and see if it’s plugged. I’ve had that happen before. The water pressure is not enough to blow it out. It’s worth a try.

[MADMAX]

Try a pipe cleaner
I keep one on my kill switch cord

[Brushcrawler]

A blast or two from an air compressor might knock it out if it is a plugged tube.

[Birdguy]

Keep em coming! We tried the pipe cleaner, we used weed whacker string and got about 18 inches up from the bottom and about only 8 inches from the top side(seems we hit a corner). The air came out but not through the other end.
   We are going to buy some "salt away" tomorrow as we hear that may work.

[jay.sharkbait]

Keep em coming! We tried the pipe cleaner, we used weed whacker string and got about 18 inches up from the bottom and about only 8 inches from the top side(seems we hit a corner). The air came out but not through the other end.
   We are going to buy some "salt away" tomorrow as we hear that may work.

Most of the big outboards have a plug next to the thermostat housing. If you remove it does water come out?

[Crunchy]

if the hose from the block to the cowling is clear, then disconnect the hose from the block and run the weedwacker line into the block from that port.  If you are trying the air compressor, try to get water into the system from the top port where the hose connects, then hit it with the air compressor.

[Birdguy]

Thanks guys, we will try these in the morning! I sure appreciate the ideas!! We are learning and are thankful for this resource.

[Dirty Mike]

I've had used air to clear it most times I usually fire it up and then shoot air in it usually starts to pee right away

[MeepDog]

I have a 70's johnson 15hp that was never even designed to have the pee spout. I don't know the year of your engine, but if it's real old it might not be designed to pee.

[Kola16]

I hate to ask, but what does your oil look like? If it is milky or if it is high, that is bad, but easy to check.

Like others have said though, it sounds like a clog. Some are hard to get out, but most get out by shooting highly compressed air into the outlet.

Whats the serial number on the engine so we can look up a parts diagram of the cooling system?

[Kola16]

Also, if it won't pee on the hose then it definitely won't pee in the water. How does it run? Is it still cooling? Does it start to sputter after running it for a while? If it is running fine without sputtering or excessive smoke out of the exhaust, then it is getting cooled, which is good.

Hey Birdguy don't you live close to me? Shoot me a PM before you take it in if you're interested. Free of course!

[Birdguy]

Also, if it won't pee on the hose then it definitely won't pee in the water. How does it run? Is it still cooling? Does it start to sputter after running it for a while? If it is running fine without sputtering or excessive smoke out of the exhaust, then it is getting cooled, which is good.

Hey Birdguy don't you live close to me? Shoot me a PM before you take it in if you're interested. Free of course!

PM sent 

[cohocrazy]

I have the same motor. In 2019 it wouldn't pee but didn't overheat. Finally had a Suzuki tech look at it. Turns out the thermostat was stuck open. Apparently that kept it from warming up all the way.

[Flaming Antler Outdoors]

blast of compressor air, try running some saltaway into the motor and let it sit.  Wire up the pee hole a foot or two also works on my kicker.

[Birdguy]

Well, new thermostat and salt away and still not peeing. We did take it apart after running it and the thermostat was getting water. Starting to get a bit more frustrating for sure. Thanks again for all the ideas. Will update when we get it!!

[MADMAX]

Did you ensure the impeller was oriented in the proper direction when you changed it ?

[mpsawyer]

Might want to check the water path I've had the fitting get corroded and pluged.

[Crunchy]

Well only three other options.  The impeller is in backwards, the pin that links the rotating shaft to the impeller is missing or not installed correctly, and lastly the pick up tube from the lower unit is not getting pushed into the proper down tube on the engine.

[JimmyHoffa]

Wired incorrectly?

[MIKEXRAY]

I would go back to impeller . I had one go bad on my Evinrude 90 and replaced it with the knock off new impeller and still had no water peeing . I went back and bought the actual Evinrude one and worked like a champ last 5 years. Not much there to produce water obviously,  I'd make sure impeller is the right one and installed properly first before moving on again to other causes .

[Hillbilly Zen]

I have had a 40hp that was difficult to get to pee on muffs, and had to be submerged.  Replaced an impeller, pump, and thermostat on it and could not get it to pee ever on muffs.  Put it in a stock tank and she purred like a kitten and pissed like an old man

[jay.sharkbait]

I have had a 40hp that was difficult to get to pee on muffs, and had to be submerged.  Replaced an impeller, pump, and thermostat on it and could not get it to pee ever on muffs.  Put it in a stock tank and she purred like a kitten and pissed like an old man

This is actually pretty common.

[Hilltop123]

Check the piss tube, right at the opening. Leaf cutter bee's and Mud dabbers love to plug the piss tube on my 150.

[HntnFsh]

So a pretty weak stream but what seems like every hour or so?

[Birdguy]

We will check the impeller again, it is the same size and make as the one we took out (bought at a Suzuki dealer). Yes, the pin is in and lined up correctly. I think with the pin it can only go in one way as the channel for the pin does not go all the way through so it really only goes one way. We started with pulling the plug out of the out port and ensuring things were clear as far as we could push the weed eater string in. Same for the pick up when we had the lower end off. If we had something plug or break it is in above the pick up in the mid section of the motor where we cannot see. We are considering dragging it to a lake to see if submersion changes things. It is just another annoying punch in the face this summer. At some point it has to get better.

[Crunchy]

We will check the impeller again, it is the same size and make as the one we took out (bought at a Suzuki dealer). Yes, the pin is in and lined up correctly. I think with the pin it can only go in one way as the channel for the pin does not go all the way through so it really only goes one way. We started with pulling the plug out of the out port and ensuring things were clear as far as we could push the weed eater string in. Same for the pick up when we had the lower end off. If we had something plug or break it is in above the pick up in the mid section of the motor where we cannot see. We are considering dragging it to a lake to see if submersion changes things. It is just another annoying punch in the face this summer. At some point it has to get better.

you know that the vanes have to be going in the right direction or it will not pump water.

[Wingin it]

It may have high speed pickups that aren’t getting covered by the muffs. You can try putting duct tape over the those intake screens and see what happens. I have a Yamaha F250 that won’t pee on the hose with muffs even with the high speed pickups covered but it will be like a champ if submerged.

[M_ray]

Are you running it long enough?  Not all motors will pee right away some need to warm up before they will start peeing.

[Broomd]

Check the piss tube, right at the opening. Leaf cutter bee's and Mud dabbers love to plug the piss tube on my 150.

Yep, wife and I went out to swim on CDA Lake last week and the duabers had plugged our pee exit tube.
Dug it out with a wire, and a small grub larva popped out of the tube with the mud. Peeing good as new after finding issue.

Just don't run too long with no pee, you'll burn up impeller.

[HntnFsh]

The hose fitting up high that plumbs directly in with a hose is only for flushing with motor not running.
If running off muffs You have to block a vent. I think its under the cavitation plate.

[birddogdad]

swap thermostats and water impeller...

[HntnFsh]

I wouldn't do any more work to it until you have made sure your following the proper procedures for running out of the water.  I really think that is your problem.

[Hillbilly Zen]

So a pretty weak stream but what seems like every hour or so?

Well all day long, but stream was solid.  Maybe drink more coffee? 😂

[Kola16]

Also, if it won't pee on the hose then it definitely won't pee in the water. How does it run? Is it still cooling? Does it start to sputter after running it for a while? If it is running fine without sputtering or excessive smoke out of the exhaust, then it is getting cooled, which is good.

Hey Birdguy don't you live close to me? Shoot me a PM before you take it in if you're interested. Free of course!

PM sent 

Sorry long weekend of fishing. Replied!

Plenty of misinformation on here.

Well only three other options.

Many more...

Wired incorrectly?

There are no electrical components to the cooling system.

Just don't run too long with no pee, you'll burn up impeller.

Not true. The impeller only needs water to not burn up and it is getting that with the muffs. Impellers can be burnt up in seconds it does not take "too long."

Another thing to check is if there are zincs in the water jacket and rectifier plate area. There may be up to 4 of them (I think there are only 2 though) and they corrode and crumble over time. You may have some crumbles blocking a passageway.
https://www.brownspoint.com/store/pc/bp_AP_AssemblyDetail.asp?ID=74
https://www.brownspoint.com/store/pc/bp_AP_AssemblyDetail.asp?ID=51

Also, take the lower unit off and electrical tape or duct tape your garden hose to the pickup tube. Turn the garden hose on. See where the water comes out with water hoses leading to the thermostat disconnected and directed out of the cowling. We need to confirm that the block is getting cooled and we need to figure out if it is a clog or if the pump is not functioning/missing parts (https://www.brownspoint.com/store/pc/bp_AP_AssemblyDetail.asp?ID=57).
https://www.brownspoint.com/store/pc/bp_AP_AssemblyDetail.asp?ID=59

[Kola16]

Can't attach images by direct message so here it is and for everyone else to see. The first image is of the anodes I was referring too. Two are located on the rectifier plate (figure 29 of the linked site) in front of the water jacket, and the other two on the head (figure 1). Just something easy to check. Figure 15 (thermostat) shows you how in-depth the lines for the coolant system are. If you pull a line off and it is dry, follow the lines deeper into the system. Like this video:

And for everyone else, the serial number is 14001F-422077

This site gives all of the part diagrams for the engine.
https://www.brownspoint.com/store/pc/suzuki/df140/01.asp

The second image is all of the parts of the water pump. Parts 6, 7, and 8 are easy to forget to reinstall and if forgotten, will not pump water...same with flipping the impeller backwards...

[HntnFsh]

That's a Yamaha. His is a Suzuki.

[Kola16]

That's a Yamaha. His is a Suzuki.

It doesn't matter. The anodes are in virtually the same spot. It's just a reference image to show him what they look like.

In the video they are diagnosing a Yamaha too, but they are basically all the same

[Birdguy]

After some incredible help and knowledge share (THANK YOU KOLA16 ) several hours of taking things apart, flushing and replacing parts and learning a bunch along the way, today we got water out the tell tail! There is a fair amount about outboard care that we had no idea needed to be done as it was my dad's boat and we have only had it out a handful of times in the last few years.

Thank to all who offered ideas and things to check out. Kola16 thank you so much for the time knowledge and assistance, it will pay off for years, my son and I learned so much. We can comfortably do so much more maintenance on it now. For anyone interested, the internal anodes were very much deteriorated and the corrosion inside some of the hoses and cooling system plugged several tight areas so while we found a few early on it was a great deal of digging to actually find and remove it all. So be sure to check your anodes at least yearly. now it is time to go find some FISH!!! 

[Alchase]

Thank you for the recap!
It is amazing what can be learned on this site at times! 

[Birdguy]

Thank you for the recap!
It is amazing what can be learned on this site at times! 

That is no lie! I have been around a while and lurked for quite a while before I joined. I never figured I would need the help I did, and was certainly more than pleased with what I received! And I agree that the follow up on some things on here is often neglected. There were plenty of folks who offered suggestions and I appreciated it because I had no idea. Anyone who took a few minutes to offer assistance I figured deserves to know we were successful and my situation may help someone else one day  .