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Honda BF60 water pump dramas

O

Ortiv

New member
Hi from Australia - wondering if anyone can shed some light on what might be the issue with my 2014 Honda BF60A outboard.

The engine hasn't been run much so I got it serviced and so it had a new impeller placed and the thermostat cleaned out. It then runs and pumps water out the telltale and through the outboard fine when it is on muffs.

Strangely (for me), when the outboard is placed into a barrel of water it doesn't pump any water and I get an overheat alarm. If I then switch back to the garden hose and muffs it works fine. If I then place it back into the barrel of water it randomly seems to either work fine or not pump any water. It is like it has trouble priming the cooling circuit. Its driving me crazy....

I am wondering if I need to replace the impeller again or something else. Would be most grateful for any ideas!

Thanks
Peter
 
I had the same problem on a friends 50 HP. We dropped the leg in a barrel of water, started up and no water out of the telltale. Shut it off, hooked up muffs and it worked fine. Started scratching my head over that, just like you. I suspected an air lock in the water pump. So dropped the leg back into the barrel and trimmed the engine up as much as I could and still keep the intakes under water. She started peeing in about 10 seconds after start. Whether it was really an air lock or something else, I don't know for sure, but the trimming up and down seemed to get it working.
 
Man, that would have to be one plugged up 50. Remember, that motor is supposed to be able to drain itself pretty much completely when not in use/removed from the water. The upper part (block, head and intake) drain into the exhaust and the pisser. That should easily create a vent for water entering the pump from below. Then there's all those places where water squirts out when on muffs (also drains) that should let water in to fill that pump......
 
Well, like I said, I didn't know for sure, but tilting the engine got it going. It definitely was not "plugged up" since nothing visible was discharged into the barrel and it ran fine once the water got circulating. So what are the alternative explanations?
 
We just saw a "drama" here with an outboard that had just had a new impeller installed. After the poor guy took it apart many times he installed a COMPLETE WATER PUMP KIT and his problem was solved.

I learned many moons ago that, unless you are absolutely positive about the condition of the pump housing and wiper cup, it's best to spend the money on the complete kit and new key.

Once you KNOW how much time that pump has on it, you can get away with just an impeller replacement for a couple of seasons. But if you go a ways offshore I would spend the bucks on a new pump every time. File the expense under "cheap life insurance".

Just sayin'.

Good luck.
 
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