How soon after starting is water supposed to exit indicator?

Sunbeam

My kicker engine is a 2004 Honda 8D. It was basically new and unused when I bought the boat last year, but because it was close to ten years old, I had it fully serviced. This included a new impeller (the old one worked fine, but I still wanted a new one).

I saw/heard the engine run in the test tank at the servicing dealer, so I know it was fine then.

Today, in preparation for launching (finally!), I filled a trash can with water to an inch or so above the anti-ventilation plate (the intake is below that), and started the engine. To my pleasant surprise (just because, hey, it's mechanical) it started up instantly and idled great. However, I saw that no water was coming out the indicator hole, so I shut it down after about three seconds. I started it one more time for one or two seconds but still no water coming out the indicator hole so I shut it down again.

I then ran a thin, flexible wand up the two indicator hoses, and, while nothing suspicious came out, also it didn't feel like there was any blockage. The water intake grates look clean and unobstructed (you can see light through them).

I know that running for even a very short time without cooling water can ruin an impeller, and after just having a new one put in, I'm not keen to do that! But I can't remember (haven't run an outboard in years - since two-stroke days) if the indicator stream starts up instantly. To my recollection it does, but....? Since this motor had not been run for close to a year, does it take time for water to get up to the indicator area? The manual just says something like "when the engine is running water should be coming out the indicator hole," and nothing about waiting.

Do I need more water in the trash can? The manual just says to cover the intake holes, which are below the anti-ventilaiton plate, and I have water an inch over the plate. I know I could just add more water and try again, but I'm not keen to run it anymore in case I could fry the impeller (have run it twice; around three seconds the first time, and two the second time).

Thanks for any advice,
Sunbeam

thataway · Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 7:48 pm Post subject:

As long as the motor is submerged to the antventillation plate you are good to go.

Since there was no water in the housing and tubing it may take a few seconds--more than 3-- for water to get up there. If the motor is in the water, water will be into the impeller housing, so no damage. Hopefully a new good impeller was placed into your engine, and it should work fine. Go ahead and run it for a minute or more to get the water up there.

Sunbeam · Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 7:52 pm Post subject:

forrest · Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 8:53 pm Post subject:

In my Honda 15 HP kicker, the discharge hose leaves the engine, travels one inch and 90's up through a baffle plate, then travels three inches and make a 180 degree u-turn to the tattle tail. Salt builds up in that 90 degree bend because it is trapped there. I use the kicker more than the main and I have to remove the rubber tube at least three times a season and blow out the salt buildup. Rub the tube between your finger to break up the scale before you blow it out.

Sunbeam · Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 9:04 pm Post subject:

Forrest,

Thanks for the note. I don't think that's the case here, because I don't believe the engine has ever been run (except in a freshwater tank), but that's still good information to have (because I'm sure hoping to run it in salt water Smile

).

On my engine one of the tubes is clear and the other is (by design) opaque. I can tell the clear one is clear by looking, but of course can't see in the other one.

I'm going to go try it again now and let it run for a bit longer than two seconds. Will report back.

As you can see by my other thread, I got distracted by my main engine also having a problem Cry

Glad I'm doing this on the trailer and not at the launch ramp.

Sunbeam

Sunbeam · Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 9:12 pm Post subject:

Okay, success.... maybe.

I started the engine again, intending to count (nervously) to 5 before shutting it down. After two seconds.... a lovely stream of water coming out of the left/aft hole. Yay! But... there are two holes side by side. Is water supposed to be coming out both of them? I let it run for around 6 seconds (and even gave it just a hair of throttle), but still just the one stream.

If there are supposed to be two streams, then I wonder where each hole indicates a stream from?

Sunbeam

PS: The engine sure starts and sounds great though Thumbs Up

thataway · Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 9:20 pm Post subject:

I used to own one of the 8's and my recollection is that there is only one stream--one tube which has water. You should be good to go.

forrest · Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 10:24 pm Post subject:

The opaque one is the water. The clear one is for gas if your carburetor needle gets stuck open.

Sunbeam · Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 11:58 pm Post subject:

Aha, thanks! So I guess all is well, and I just had to wait a second or two longer than I initially did for the stream to start. After reading about how quickly an impeller can burn up, I was a bit gun-shy.

The Honda manual mentions "the stream," but never says that the other (matching) hole is not for water, so I just wanted to make sure. The engine sounds great, so now if I can get the Yamaha sorted out, I can stop "cruising" in a garbage can Mr. Green

Thanks again,
Sunbeam

C-Green · Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2013 12:47 pm Post subject:

On a 40 HP Honda the second tube is the gas drain line for the carb bowels.

Jay

Sunbeam · Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2013 1:24 pm Post subject:

Sounds like the 8D is the same then and all is well. That makes sense, too, since the two tubes are not made of the same material.

Thanks everyone - sure is great to have you all to check in with. The Honda sounds great! Now to fix my Yamaha problem(s) so that I can get out there instead of "cruising" in a trash can full of water Thumbs Up