Inline 6 merc not pumping water

[PIP]

some of you know, i just got my first old merc, always had johnson and evinrude. took it out tonight, and the pisser would pump a little, but then just drip. the water wasn't real hot, and i pulled the clam shell aand even the top cylinders were not too hot to touch. i will try to blow air into the pisser, and maybe blow out some junk in there. i believe the waterpump was done last year, before i got it. i limped in at idle and never saw steam.

is it just the water pump? any thoughts would be great. thanks alot.

[omcstratos]

I had a 03 merc 25 2 stroke that would pee off and on. It would be warm to the touch but not unbearable. That motor pee'd based on the thermostat opening up and closing. Not sure but yours could be similar.

[fs5]

maybe a hornet has tried to build a nest up the pisser,has happened to me before.try getting some wire and poke up there to see if it has a blockage .

[phillnjack]

the tell tale should be pretty much the same regardless of thermostat opening and closing.
if a thermostat is working properly you shouldnt even notice it,they work just the same in outboards as they
do in any engine.

if not getting more than a dribble then its definitely not right
i would get a nice bit of welding wire or similar and have a poke around, but being as the engine is new to you
i would 100% change the water pump impeller to be 100% sure its been done.
so many people say "oh it was done last year", then realise it was 2 years ago !!!!!!
it could also be limescale build up nearthe tell tale or in the head,
my suzuki 30 suffers terrible with blocked tell tale hole,its always little spider creeping up there.
ive even covered it before now with sticky tape to stop them, then forgot to do it and next time out need to
unclog it again.
ive even seen the little buggers, they are tiny little things.
and ive seen a wasp in a merc 80 tell tale pipe.

hope you get it sorted out


phill