Guess The Outboard Problem...
 

....and win a big, stuffed animal, or something.

There's nothing I hate more than having about 20% of the information
necessary to figure out a problem, and being unable to GET more info due to
uncontrollable circumstances, *and* all the while worrying about the
situation. So, I thought I'd drag a few more people into this with me. :-)
In this case, I cannot hose-test my outboard until the $*%*) temperature
gets above freezing here, or I'll turn my driveway into a skating rink.

The motor's a 1996 Johnson 15hp 4 stroke. It's on a 14' Lund aluminum yacht.
Last season, I noticed some unusual spray near the waterline. It looked
identical to what happens when it collects a gob of weeds. But, it happened
when the motor was clean, and nothing's changed about the bottom of the
boat. I hose-checked it back in October, but only briefly due to time
constraints ("Dad....can we get a ride to the mall?"), and didn't have time
to take digital pics of the spray and where it was coming from on the motor.
However, I noticed no oily residue on the driveway, which seemed like
something to be happy about. Cooling water was flowing properly, too.

If water's coming out from where the front of the prop meets the housing, or
from one of the lower pivot points, what could be the possible causes? I
asking so I can spend a couple of nights with the service manual, imagining
horror stories, and deciding whether to even bother with the hose test &
just take the thing to the dealer (an expense I'd prefer to avoid).

On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 14:15:12 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

~~ snippage ~~

If water's coming out from where the front of the prop meets the housing, or
from one of the lower pivot points, what could be the possible causes? I
asking so I can spend a couple of nights with the service manual, imagining
horror stories, and deciding whether to even bother with the hose test &
just take the thing to the dealer (an expense I'd prefer to avoid).

It's Bush's fault. :)

I'm having trouble imaging this problem. Is this the same extra spray
we were joking about last summer?

Is the prop loose? That might do it. Is the engine working it's way
off the stern of the boat? Maybe crooked under power tilting either
right or left? Not centered properly? The skeg aligned? Everything
tight and/or properly torqued?

Help a brother out here. :)

I just went and looked at my Johnson 25 which should be the same
engine and I can't see anything that could cause extra spray other
than that I mentioned.

Maybe you changed the tilt rod and that's causing the spray?

Later,

Tom

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 14:15:12 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

~~ snippage ~~

If water's coming out from where the front of the prop meets the housing,
or
from one of the lower pivot points, what could be the possible causes? I
asking so I can spend a couple of nights with the service manual,
imagining
horror stories, and deciding whether to even bother with the hose test &
just take the thing to the dealer (an expense I'd prefer to avoid).

It's Bush's fault. :)

Obviously, but I'm not sure how the dumb fool could've figured out how to
get into the garage.



I'm having trouble imaging this problem. Is this the same extra spray
we were joking about last summer?

Yeah....I think we got as far as debating whether the front-to-back
aluminium (happy, Don?) strips under the boat were strakes, strapes,
sklapes, lap strakes, or strakelaps.


Is the prop loose? That might do it.
I'll check.

Is the engine working it's way
off the stern of the boat? Maybe crooked under power tilting either
right or left? Not centered properly? The skeg aligned? Everything
tight and/or properly torqued?

All OK, except I'd have to look at the skeg. I haven't hit anything, but my
son *did* wander into some mud & weeds at dead-slow speed last summer.



Help a brother out here. :)

I just went and looked at my Johnson 25 which should be the same
engine and I can't see anything that could cause extra spray other
than that I mentioned.

Maybe you changed the tilt rod and that's causing the spray?

Nope. Same tilt as always.

My fear (based on absolutely ZERO knowledge of the motor's innards) is water
escaping the cooling system and making its way out as a spray via another
gap in the lower part of the housing. But, there seems to be no decrease at
all in the flow from the normal spot.

On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 17:26:45 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 14:15:12 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

~~ snippage ~~

If water's coming out from where the front of the prop meets the housing,
or
from one of the lower pivot points, what could be the possible causes? I
asking so I can spend a couple of nights with the service manual,
imagining
horror stories, and deciding whether to even bother with the hose test &
just take the thing to the dealer (an expense I'd prefer to avoid).

It's Bush's fault. :)

Obviously, but I'm not sure how the dumb fool could've figured out how to
get into the garage.

I'm having trouble imaging this problem. Is this the same extra spray
we were joking about last summer?

Yeah....I think we got as far as debating whether the front-to-back
aluminium (happy, Don?) strips under the boat were strakes, strapes,
sklapes, lap strakes, or strakelaps.

Sktrapkeslaps.

Or BUMs.

~~ snippage ~~

My fear (based on absolutely ZERO knowledge of the motor's innards) is water
escaping the cooling system and making its way out as a spray via another
gap in the lower part of the housing. But, there seems to be no decrease at
all in the flow from the normal spot.

There is supposed to be some flow where the lower unit joins up with
the drive shaft housing. Perhaps there is some mud and such there.

Later,

Tom

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 17:26:45 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
. ..
On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 14:15:12 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

~~ snippage ~~

If water's coming out from where the front of the prop meets the
housing,
or
from one of the lower pivot points, what could be the possible causes? I
asking so I can spend a couple of nights with the service manual,
imagining
horror stories, and deciding whether to even bother with the hose test &
just take the thing to the dealer (an expense I'd prefer to avoid).

It's Bush's fault. :)

Obviously, but I'm not sure how the dumb fool could've figured out how to
get into the garage.

I'm having trouble imaging this problem. Is this the same extra spray
we were joking about last summer?

Yeah....I think we got as far as debating whether the front-to-back
aluminium (happy, Don?) strips under the boat were strakes, strapes,
sklapes, lap strakes, or strakelaps.

Sktrapkeslaps.

Or BUMs.

~~ snippage ~~

My fear (based on absolutely ZERO knowledge of the motor's innards) is
water
escaping the cooling system and making its way out as a spray via another
gap in the lower part of the housing. But, there seems to be no decrease
at
all in the flow from the normal spot.

There is supposed to be some flow where the lower unit joins up with
the drive shaft housing. Perhaps there is some mud and such there.

Later,

Tom



That's it, then. I'm shopping for a horse trough this weekend. I need to
tank test this thing. Later, my son can use the trough to bathe in. Or,
maybe throw some water lilies in it for the summer. Or something.

On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 19:28:51 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

~~ snippage ~~

That's it, then. I'm shopping for a horse trough this weekend. I need to
tank test this thing. Later, my son can use the trough to bathe in. Or,
maybe throw some water lilies in it for the summer. Or something.

Well, if you lived a little closer, I'd let you have one of my 35
gallon plastic barrels, but you don't so I won't.

Why not just get a plastic trash can?

Later,

Tom

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
Well, if you lived a little closer, I'd let you have one of my 35
gallon plastic barrels, but you don't so I won't.

Why not just get a plastic trash can?

Later,


That's all I use...a plastic garbage can. On the other hand, my outboards
are smaller than yours.
a 3 hp British Seagull & a 6 hp Evinrude LS

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 19:28:51 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

~~ snippage ~~

That's it, then. I'm shopping for a horse trough this weekend. I need to
tank test this thing. Later, my son can use the trough to bathe in. Or,
maybe throw some water lilies in it for the summer. Or something.

Well, if you lived a little closer, I'd let you have one of my 35
gallon plastic barrels, but you don't so I won't.

Why not just get a plastic trash can?

Later,

Tom


I have a plastic trash can, but that would look ugly as **** with water
lillies in it. :-) But seriously...I'm not sure if the can might be too
tall, and prevent me from seeing directly alongside the area where the
spritz is coming from. If I cut the can shorter, the loss of its rim might
make it bust open and get the boat wet.

Doug Kanter wrote:
"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...

On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 19:28:51 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

~~ snippage ~~


That's it, then. I'm shopping for a horse trough this weekend. I need to
tank test this thing. Later, my son can use the trough to bathe in. Or,
maybe throw some water lilies in it for the summer. Or something.

Well, if you lived a little closer, I'd let you have one of my 35
gallon plastic barrels, but you don't so I won't.

Why not just get a plastic trash can?

Later,

Tom



I have a plastic trash can, but that would look ugly as **** with water
lillies in it. :-) But seriously...I'm not sure if the can might be too
tall, and prevent me from seeing directly alongside the area where the
spritz is coming from. If I cut the can shorter, the loss of its rim might
make it bust open and get the boat wet.


Then get one of those low plastic tubs made for water lilys (and growing
Mosquitoes)

"Jim," wrote in message
...
Doug Kanter wrote:
"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...

On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 19:28:51 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

~~ snippage ~~


That's it, then. I'm shopping for a horse trough this weekend. I need to
tank test this thing. Later, my son can use the trough to bathe in. Or,
maybe throw some water lilies in it for the summer. Or something.

Well, if you lived a little closer, I'd let you have one of my 35
gallon plastic barrels, but you don't so I won't.

Why not just get a plastic trash can?

Later,

Tom



I have a plastic trash can, but that would look ugly as **** with water
lillies in it. :-) But seriously...I'm not sure if the can might be too
tall, and prevent me from seeing directly alongside the area where the
spritz is coming from. If I cut the can shorter, the loss of its rim
might make it bust open and get the boat wet.
Then get one of those low plastic tubs made for water lilys (and growing
Mosquitoes)

"I was thinking maybe a horse trough.", he said politely, thinking perhaps
the new visitor has missed the earlier posts. "Y'all get around here often?"