Logo
FULL SITE MENU

Honda BF15A Tell Tale Not Producing Water Stream

J

JeffT

New member
My tell tale isn't working. I have checked for blockages in the hose leading to the hose barb in the block. I have tried to clear it where the hose barb enters the block with a blast of compressed air. I have removed the thermostat and run it briefly without. Nothing. I have tried to clear the hose from the thermostat down to the impeller with a blast of compressed air. Still nothing. I have had the lower unit off recently and the impeller was like new. I'm out of ideas.
 
Hi,

Water not coming from the tell tale either means that the passage is blocked, the pump is not pushing water OR, when the water tube (item 6 in link) from pump outlet to engine got disturbed when the gearcase was off, it didn't get properly re-inserted into the hole in the block.
Sometimes the tube seal (item 7) gets knocked off when putting things back.
Problem is, you have to figure out which it is and that can be a bit of a challenge.


Good luck.
 
It did work for quite a while after I did the lower unit. I hope it's not an un reachable blockage. The lower unit is coming off again. Thanks.
 
Well, the water not coming from the Tstat area bothers me but I don't know how you tested that. Were you using muffs or in a tank (trashcan) of water?

It sounds like the pump may not be priming. If you're in a tank, make sure the water is above the vent plate 2 or three inches. If on muffs, there should be adequate water pressure and good sealing cups.

The tell tale is best cleared by removing the hose fitting from the block and running in a tank. A good pump is VERY powerful and can usually force any obstruction out of the hole. Always makes a mess and can hurt you so be careful. You and anything nearby WILL get wet if the pump is good.

If you just slapped a new impeller into an old liner (cup) and housing and set it on a worn cover (wiper plate), the pump will probably be weak.Those parts need to be in good shape to work together. A new impeller can quickly fail if paired with worn parts.

Another possibility on an outboard this old is the drive key cutout in the vertical shaft can be worn and let the key get spit out. No key, no pumppy.

Hopefully there's not an old piece of impeller stuck up inside someplace.

The tell tale bypass is near where the water leaves the tube and enters the bottom of the engine block. If there's an impeller chunk stuck right there, you may be able to pick it out with the water tube removed.

Just a few ideas about what you may be up against

Good luck.
 
Mystery solved. I never ran the motor on the boat, as the boat has been sold (the motor is for sale as well). It had an erratic stream when I ran it the day before it quit. I just happen to have a new impeller and gaskets on hand I bought a while back. Thanks for all your input.
impeller.jpg
 
Yikes!
I hope that's all there is. That big chunk would be real trouble if it managed to work it's way up into a passage and got hard jammed.

Nice goin'!
 
Back
Top