Do early Mercury engines pee?

[Daitken89]

I have recently bought a fletcher arrow speedboat with a 50hp 1964 Mercury Keikhaefer thunderbolt engine, it runs well when the hose is connected and the water flows through fine, it doesn't seem to have a pee hole under the engine cover? It sprays water fine out from above the prop shaft. Is this normal for this engine?

[thomm225]

Looks like this one does. I did a quick search on youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O63ibze7Yc

[a64pilot]

On edit, that one in the video clearly does

[bcoussens]

Hi I have exactly the same model possibly from a year earlier mine does have a tell-tale and pumps water fine not as much as modern engines you will find the output at the very bottom of the powerhead on the left-hand side looking at the spark plugs, it's possible the hose has disconnected and the water it's just draining out the bottom of the engine

[bcoussens]

I can send you a picture tomorrow if you like, so you can identify the location of the output from the powerhead

[thomm225]

How about this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG-Q6TjIn8o

[tuffr2]

If you do not get water out of the upper powerhead the chances are that the impeller is toast and you need to replace the lower unit impeller.

[Daitken89]

I don't understand it, it has a pee hole but the engine doesn't pee, I had her out on Loch Lomond kicking the ass out her for 15 mins solid and she still wasn't hot, I think the engine may have had some refurb as she sprays a lot out from above the prop when connected to the hose.

[tuffr2]

I do not understand either unless the temp gauge is false. Even if the temp gauge is false the fact that the engine did not blow up is almost proof enough.

But from the previous video's it strongly shows the upper engine spewing water.

I would still be suspicious that the impeller needs replaced. I have seen impeller that were nothing more than pieces as it broke up.

[tuffr2]

Well, is your engine still running w/o any water coming out of the upper water exit jet?

[CaptTom]

Just thinking out loud here - but but hose to the tell-tale hole could be plugged up.

[Diesel Bill]

Originally Posted by CaptTom

Just thinking out loud here - but but hose to the tell-tale hole could be plugged up.

Bingo, give the man a cigar. I had a 1965 Merc 50 H.P. and a 1964 Merc 6 H.P. and the both had pee holes and the both always plugged up when run in salt water. I carried a piece of coat hanger wire to unplug them. Oh I almost forgot I also had an older Merc 110 that always plugged up the pee hole too.

[tuffr2]

I believe if the pee tube is blocked that means water is not circulating to the way it should and the engine could overheat.

Do you guys agree?