Motor Trouble!!!

[Langer]

Showed up to my tournament yesterday morning only to notice the motor wasn't pumping any water. ? My guess is the line is either plugged or the impeller is shot.? Anybody got any tips on how to go about checking if its one or the other.? If it ends up being the impeller, Is that something that is easy enough for me and my dad to do at home, or should it be done by a mechanic?? Its a 92 Merc. 115hp
Thanks,

P.S? I still fished the tournament, I just dropped the trolling motor and started fishing at the Launch, worked out pretty good, had my first 2 keepers in 10mins.

[chase5004]

I just had my impeller replaced at Jan's and it cost $118. With my problem the motor was still spitting water, it was just the temp was going way up at low/ plowing speeds.

I thought another member (Dan) had an issue while prefishing for the State Fish Off and he ended up back flushing the motor throught the spit hole. I just cannot remember how he did it? I think it might be on one of his post regarding the state fish off. The other thing I found helpful is to call a good marina and speak with a mechanic, and just ask to see if they can help you trouble shoot, most places will give some insight to what the problem might be.

Pat

[smbassman]

It was a cold morning yesterday.  Hopefully you waited long enough for the thermostat to open up before you determined something was wrong. Otherwise, you may being worrying about nothing.

[Langer]

I tried it later in the day, as well as when we put it back on the trailer.  It wont pump unless its a certain temp???

[smbassman]

It pumps, but the thermostat blocks the passage of the water until it warms up and the Tstats open up.  You will usually still have some flow out of your pee-hole from either a non fully seated Tstat or through an over pressure valve (sorry I forgot the official name) but no flow at idle while the engine is cold(and cold weather) is common.  You can try letting it idle a little longer and the over temp alarm horn will go off well before any damage is done at idle speed.  If it doesn't change after 4-5mins of idling, there is a problem.

As far a changing the impeller yourself.  It is not hard if you are slightly mechanically inclined.  But definitely get a repair manual and read the instructions to see if you are comfortable doing it yourself before unbolting the lower unit.  An extra set of hands re-installing the LU is a big help to keep the shift shafts lined up as you lift the LU back in place.  Knowing how to do it yourself will also save you if you need it repaired in the middle of summer or right before a tournament.

Just a tip - don't spin the prop or drive shaft after dropping the LU.  The drive shaft splines will still be lined up when you reinstall and it saves the hassle of trying to hold the LU up and twist the shaft to get it lined up.

[BassPlr]

Did you find out what the problem is yet?  I never had any issues with the motor.  Water pressure always seemed good.  I never had to change the impeller so maybe it's time.  You and your dad should have an easy time changing it if thats what it is.  Have you been in any shallow water and sucked up mud through the water inlet?  Don't know how to check for that though.  I would really like to know what you find out.  I'm really bummed you're having issues.  I was hoping I would see you and your dad at the DK Open this weekend.

[Langer]

Did you find out what the problem is yet?  I never had any issues with the motor.  Water pressure always seemed good.  I never had to change the impeller so maybe it's time.  You and your dad should have an easy time changing it if thats what it is.  Have you been in any shallow water and sucked up mud through the water inlet?  Don't know how to check for that though.  I would really like to know what you find out.  I'm really bummed you're having issues.  I was hoping I would see you and your dad at the DK Open this weekend.

Hey Shane,

I ended up taking it in, neither me or my dad had time to look at it before our toruny this weekend.   The guy said the impeller was ok, and that there was a bunch of sand in the pump.  I went through a real shallow area getting back into one of the lakes off of Michigan Center, and I think I sucked it up then.  I guess I probably should of picked up a set of muffs and tried flushing it that way, but now its all set, has a new impeller so I should be good for the next 2 years or so.  I wanted to do the DK Open, but I still had a chance of earning enough points to make the classic, just had to catch one keeper.  Well as my luck would have it, I zero'd. hahahaha.

[BassPlr]

I'm glad to hear you're back on the water.    Sorry to hear to didn't make the classic though.  Revtro and I fished the NBAA St. Clair Weeknight Series this year and we missed the classic cut by 2 points.  We still have a chance to make it.  There are 2 wild card spots available up for grabs for seven teams.  Maybe we'll get lucky.  Do you have a chance for wildcards?  I think our points came down to one fish too.  Oh well, there is always next year right?  Can't feel too bad, it was our first year fishing the series all the way through.  Your first season too right?  I think we had an ok season even if we don't make it.  It's also kinda cool when it comes down to the last night to fight it out for a spot.  Hope you do better next season.

[TheFishinPollock]

We noticed that ya had a problem similar to ours BGH .  We had the ChampioN that had no reverse.  we started right down from the launch and got zilch.   Fished north lake, got dinks, picked up one that was about 1/32 of an inch short right across from the launch at the end.   Had a great tiem , but that fog should have delayed us a hour . We heard guys gunnin it in the middle of that fog.  I was totaly shocked that no one got hit. Thank god.    You wouldn't happen to be the guys I talked to late in the evening before Sunday??

[Langer]

We noticed that ya had a problem similar to ours BGH .  We had the ChampioN that had no reverse.  we started right down from the launch and got zilch.   Fished north lake, got dinks, picked up one that was about 1/32 of an inch short right across from the launch at the end.   Had a great tiem , but that fog should have delayed us a hour . We heard guys gunnin it in the middle of that fog.  I was totaly shocked that no one got hit. Thank god.    You wouldn't happen to be the guys I talked to late in the evening before Sunday??

Fishin Pollock,
I think you have the wrong person, not sure what lake your taking about or what tourny??  My motor problems were noticed at Michigan Center on the 9th, and the tourny I fished yesterday was on Wamplers.

I'm glad to hear you're back on the water.    Sorry to hear to didn't make the classic though.  Revtro and I fished the NBAA St. Clair Weeknight Series this year and we missed the classic cut by 2 points.  We still have a chance to make it.  There are 2 wild card spots available up for grabs for seven teams.  Maybe we'll get lucky.  Do you have a chance for wildcards?  I think our points came down to one fish too.  Oh well, there is always next year right?  Can't feel too bad, it was our first year fishing the series all the way through.  Your first season too right?  I think we had an ok season even if we don't make it.  It's also kinda cool when it comes down to the last night to fight it out for a spot.  Hope you do better next season.

Shane,   It was just a small club, I think I may still go and fish the Classic, but I wont be able to fish for the money.  Are you guys done for the Year if you dont pull the wild card?  I would really like to get out on LSC, let me know if your interested.

[BassPlr]

Yeah, we're done for the year.  We have a non-points tourney tomorrow if we wanted.  We just have not been on the fish lately or we would fish it.  Our wildcard would let us fish Houghton Lake Memorial weekend this spring.  They draw for that tomorrow too.  I will still go out I think.  Gonna be gone all next week bowhunting.  If I still go out I'll let you know.  It would be great to go fishing with you.

[TheFishinPollock]

Fishin Pollock,
I think you have the wrong person, not sure what lake your taking about or what tourny??? My motor problems were noticed at Michigan Center on the 9th, and the tourny I fished yesterday was on Wamplers.

Then you had the exactttttttttttt problem a guy did on Lake Leelanau on sept 11th at the CCBA tourny. Guy put in and the motor puked so he fished right at the launch and did rather well while the rest of us blasted aroudn to catch dinks