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Water tube re-installation

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WashboardBenny

New member
Just checking if anyone can help with this...I recently took apart my lower leg of my Honda BF15A 2001 Outboard so that I could replace my impeller .It was shot...rubber shrapnel everywhere...of which I cleaned , installed new impeller, put the housing all back together and attempted to slide the lower leg back and reinstall it when all of a sudden the water tube fell out of the leg. I can't for the life of me figure out how it gets oriented in the casing to reseat it back to where its supposed to go . Anyone have any tips and / or a diagram I can reference so I can put this back together? Much appreciated for any help here......
 
I haven't worked on that one specifically but the later models just push up in the hole and you have to position the "dog leg" of the tube so that it meets the rubber hose on the top of the pump. Which, you probably already know.

If you tilt the outboard WAY up so that it is almost horizontal and then tie it down with a strap, it makes seeing up in there and "stabbing" it in the hole a lot easier. Once in the hole, you can "guestimate" the position it needs to be in by referencing where the pump outlet would be when installed. The only thing is, you will need to let the engine back down to put the gearcase and mainshaft back in because it is hard to line up and fit the splines AND get the metal tube inserted into the pump connector when it's tilted like that.

It may take some trial and error to figure out the fit for the pipe and then, you can put a little silicone on it and let it dry so that it stays up there before you put the gearcase back.

The MAIN THING is NOT to FORCE it in any way! If it doesn't want to "suck up" smoothly and effortlessly while you tighten the bolts, then something is in a bind and you need to stop and figure out what the cause is.

When you go to test it, make sure you do so in a trash can instead of using "rabbit ears". Only a tank test will tell you that all is hooked up correctly and if you are moving your cooling water properly.

Good luck and let us know if you have any problems.....or successes!
 
Ok...I think I get the picture....so to be clear, in the casing (up in the end area) there is only two receiving holes (all i could see though it was hard even with flashlight) One is for to receive the mainshaft rod and the other is for the water pipe. I just found it really hard to try to get that pipe up in there...very awkward angle and very hard to see...pretty much flying blind!....but I will take your advice to tilt it back more and just keep trying!.......Thanks again for the quick reply!!
 
WashboardBenny
Interesting handle. Do you play?

Anyway, yes, the mainshaft hole in the crankcase should be a bit bigger than the water tube hole. Most solid (aluminum, fiberglass, etc.) boats have stern cleats on the gunnels (gunwales) and when I get the motor tipped up as far as it will go, I just run a line from one cleat, over the motor head and cinch up tight on the other cleat to hold it so that the extension case is almost horizontal to the ground. But, I been forced to use other means like an engine hoist or even a line run forward and tied to the console. It just all depends on your boat and your imagination. Whatever way you have to do it though, these things WILL tip up that far and that and a good light really seems to help.

I wish I could tell you that you could put the gearcase back on when the motor is in that position but I have had NO luck doing that. Gravity is working against you trying to stab the main shaft while, at the same time, trying to fit that damned tube into that rubber connector on the water pump. The only way I seem to be able to do that is in the vertical position. So, just tip it up so that you can get a good look at everything and get your "bearings" and then put it back down to actually do the installation.

Good luck and welcome aboard the forum.
 
Yes I do play the WB as a matter of fact!

ok then.... It's going to be a tricky job no matter what is what I am getting from all this . Seems to me
Honda designed it like this to try to force us to spend the money and take our engine to the mechanics!
I won't surrender!....Thanks again for all the tips!





QUOTE=jgmo;421996]WashboardBenny
Interesting handle. Do you play?

Anyway, yes, the mainshaft hole in the crankcase should be a bit bigger than the water tube hole. Most solid (aluminum, fiberglass, etc.) boats have stern cleats on the gunnels (gunwales) and when I get the motor tipped up as far as it will go, I just run a line from one cleat, over the motor head and cinch up tight on the other cleat to hold it so that the extension case is almost horizontal to the ground. But, I been forced to use other means like an engine hoist or even a line run forward and tied to the console. It just all depends on your boat and your imagination. Whatever way you have to do it though, these things WILL tip up that far and that and a good light really seems to help.

I wish I could tell you that you could put the gearcase back on when the motor is in that position but I have had NO luck doing that. Gravity is working against you trying to stab the main shaft while, at the same time, trying to fit that damned tube into that rubber connector on the water pump. The only way I seem to be able to do that is in the vertical position. So, just tip it up so that you can get a good look at everything and get your "bearings" and then put it back down to actually do the installation.

Good luck and welcome aboard the forum.[/QUOTE]
 
Well, I do love that Zydeco and jug band music! Good times!

I hope I haven't complicated this for you by making it sound too hard. It isn't really. It's just awkward and you have to hold your tongue just right! With that "git er done" attitude you seem to have, you'll be finished in no time.
 
On my 1999 BF15A, the water tube fell out when I was trying to reattach the lower unit back into the shaft hole. I ended up unbolting the extension unit above the lower unit (4 bolts) and I was able to see where the tube inserted. I reattached both units, placed the water tube back into the water pump and then reattached the whole unit together. You can see where the tube and shaft goes back in and I was able to do it by myself, including the shaft linkage nut. You have to tilt the motor up to do it this way. Of course it always helps to have someone else help you. Make sure you put some grease of the end of the shaft where it goes back into the hole.
 
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I was considering taking that next layer off so I could see where the water pipe goes. Was worried it was more than a four bolt operation.... But if its that simple then that'll hopefully take some of the frustration out of the project. Cheers for the reassurance it's not too complicated taking off that mid area shaft cover
 
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