Honda 9.9 4 stroke outboard tell-tale pipe question

[arthurpavlovic]

Hi, I have never posted on a forum before so please excuse me if I have not grasped the correct etiqette. I have a (lets say 5 year old) 9.9HP Honda 4 stroke. The 'tell tale' pipe is often blocked when I go to the boat, on her mooring?
It came with a yacht. uring the first year of my ownership, the blockage was where the rubber pipe exits the lower metal casing, and sprays out. (This was easily cured by cleaning the plastic fitting, with a long safety pin.) The next year, it started to block where the water leaves the engine block. (Where the inner end of the flexible pipe pushes on and is held by a small clip.) That was easily cleared by pushing a thin screwdriver in as far as it will go(about 2"-3".) This year niether of those tricks are working. Is there anything I can try? I had the engine professionally serviced when I bought the boat, but the problem started the first time I used it (one week after the service).
I am not convined that the impellor is the problem. Is there any way I can check, without stripping the engine down? (Which is a daugnting prospect.) Tomorrow I intend to run it in a large bucket with a thermometer attached (strapped on) but cannot find the operating temperature in the handbook. Any ideas on the normal operating temperature of a 10hp outboard? Thanks for looking, all help greatly appreciated.

 

[Lakesailor]

Re: Honda 9.9 4 stroke outboard tell-tale pipe

Welcome.
Problems with your plan are that you don't know where to attach the thermometer to give a representative reading, even if you had a figure from the manufacturer.

Running in a tank isn't terrific either as the aeration of the water and the fact the engine is breathing it's own exhaust and discharged hot water won't be representative of real running conditions.

Do you ever flush the motor with fresh water? That can help a lot. Honda do have a bit of a reputation for corrosion.

 

[arthurpavlovic]

Re: Honda 9.9 4 stroke outboard tell-tale pipe

Well, I feel that as long as the temperature stabalises rather than continuing to increase, that should establish whether the impellor is working, and a thermometer will give me a better reading than just touch alone.
In the past it was not practicable to flush with fresh water, but now I can. If I can get the tell-tale working I can even run some anti-corrosive through it. Thanks for your comments. I will see how it goes tomorrow.