Water Exhaust Port

[Neal]

I have a new Suzuki 25 HP 4 stroke electric start. Just put it through the first two hours of break-in. All appears to be ship-shape, except for the volume of water being ejected from the port on the side of the motor.

The manual says it should be streaming out, but all I'm getting is a dribble. The motor ran fine, and the caution light did not come on, but I was running in water that couldn't have been over 50 degrees, so I am concerned about cooling as the weather warms up.

I called the dealer, and was told that the water port does not eject a stream unless the engine is revved, because the water pump works off the camshaft. But, by the end of the two-hour break-in, I was giving her half-throttle, and still, just a dribble of water came from the port. I reamed the port out with a small stick, but that did nothing to improve the water flow.

Today, I flushed the motor with the ears and garden hose, and again, with the motor running, got just a little dribble from the port.

Do you think I may have a bad water pump or some kind of obstruction? I did not run the boat into sand, clay or dirty water...just clean, clear, fresh lake water.

[Shakespeare]

I've seen times when flushing the motor that I only get a dribble out the pilot hole. I found out that if I have too much water pressure going into the paddles that it breaks the seal around the ears and I starve the intake for water. I cut down the water pressure a bit and I get a good stream out the pilot hole. Not sure if this is your issue but it's something to look at.

Mike C.

[Dave]

Neil, if you are out on the water and giving it half throttle with only a dribble coming out of the pee hole, you have a water circulation problem. But first, let's define "dribble". Is it a steady but arched stream - not shooing out in a strait and forceful manner? Or is it a flow, not even sufficient to reach the water without first hitting the motor - as in "dribble"? The water that jets out from my 4 stroke is not nearly as strong as what I’m used to with other (2 stoke) motors I’ve owned, but I’ve checked it many times and the water never gets any hotter than barely luke warm, so I know the circulation is sufficient to keep the motor cool.

Dave

[Neal]

Thanks, Dave. It is definitely just a trickle, by no means clearing the motor, just running down the side in a weak little stream. Certainly nothing like what would be needed to cool the motor at WOT on a hot day.

The dealer recommended that I start it up with the lower unit in a trash can full of water and gently insert a wire up the port to dislodge whatever is in there. Also to remove the engine housing and see if the discharge hose is kinked. I'll try both of these and then take it back if that doesn't fix it.

Whatever I do, I am not running the motor under a load until I get this solved.

[Dave]

Hummmm, let me rethink this... A new motor and dealer asked you to find and correct the problem. Unless the dealer is a looooong way off, I think I'd let them figure out and correct the problem. Plus, you'll have a record on file that the motor was brought back for warranty service - could save you a headache if you have future problems with this motor.

Dave

[rob198dlv]

I agree with Sarge. Take it to the dealer and let them determine the issue. I have never seen any motor that just dribled unless there was an issue with circulation. Even at an idle my motor is sending out a stream.

[blauman]

The same thing happened to me last year when I was way far from home. I picked up some debris and noticed "a trickle" from the discharge. It was just crap caught up in the little hose to the indicator port. The motor was still cooling fine. No problem.

You would know it by now if the motor was damaged from overheating. I bet it's gonna be something simple.

[yellowdog]

On my 50 hp Mercury I will clog it sometimes by running in some very skinny water. When the water streams slows down, I take the cover off and feel the small hose that runs from the motor to the outlet port. If there is something in there, I can feel it. Sometimes I can "massage" it loose, but will have to remove the hose and ream it out with a coat hanger sometimes. Usually just sand in it.

[bigfish3]

Several years ago this happened to me on my Honda. My usually strong stream slowed to a distinct dribble, I was concerned but something didnt add up. I remove the hood frommy engine and nothing seemed tobe warmer than usual, but rather than take any chances I headed back to the rmap an put the boat on the trailer.

I hooked the flush ears up and started the engine. Water coming from the prop hub and soem spitting from the other exhaust port further up, but still just a dribble from the tell hole.

I stuck a piece of monel fishing wire into the tell hole and probed around a bit. A piece of something came out and the stream retunred to normal.

The bottom line for me was no trouble, just an obstrution.

If the engine is not running noticeably hotter, you may have an obstruction.

Cheers,
Butch

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

So, with another words what they telling you is grab the rubber :o,wink it couple of times :o then massage it some more :o and it should work. ;D

ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO

[Capt. Mick]

I keep a paper clip in my box just to remove sand particles when I run in shallow, sandy areas. It works. Besides, I aint massaging no hoses........ :o :o :o

[shaggy3131]

1stSgt Dave, are you sure you're talking about an outboard motor cooling system?

Sounds more like a conversation my urologist had with me recently.

My stream is usually pretty good, even at idle, the Suzuki I mean.

[Willie]

A gentlemen.....................we don't want to go there...................... 001

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

I aint massaging no hoses........ :o :o :o


ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO ROTFLMAO 012 013

[Neal]

Now that we have all had a good laugh at my expense, here's the update!

Took the boat back to the dealer. They were great. Troubleshot it while I waited, found and fixed the problem in about a half hour. Seems there was a manufacturer's defect on the Suzuki that caused the telltale hose to become kinked and constricted where it exits the housing. She is peing just fine now.

The good news is that this did not affect the flow of cooling water to the engine, so all is well.

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

So the person who sudjest the hose massaging was correct.It would take the kink out. ;D

All kidding around out, thank god it was just a kink, and nothing happend to the cooling system and motor.

[Neal]

Yep. Now I'm ready to open her up a little and see what she can do, without the nagging feeling that I'm burning the motor up!

But, a lesson has been learned. Better safe than sorry. Take the dang thing into the dealer and get it checked out, even if it is 60 miles away.

Happy boating is fully dependant on a happy boater and a happy motor. And remembering to put the drain plug in...