More Johnson ?'s cooling this time

[Gorilla0178]

So I bought new head gaskets for my 99 200 johnson. I installed them and cranked it up, the water didnt seem to be flowing through the crossover tubes on the top of the motor. and the heads get real hot quick. The temp gauge doesnt seem to go up to much, but the heads are too hot to touch. I took apart the thermostats and there was sand, shells, seagrass and stuff in them, so I cleaned them out and I took off the other valve that the thermostat tubes plug into off and the spring was broken. If I put the hose on the lower unit, the water doesnt seem to circulate that much through those tubes up top, there clear so I can see it. I've tried with the thermostats out, and the other valve out and it doesnt work, I put the thermostats in and used another spring in the other valve just to check and it doesnt seem to help. The port head seems to be getting water, but the stbd one get hot and it seems to only spit a little warer through the stbd tube. If I unplug the tubes water comes out both sides. I did clean out the passages on the block with a small wire brush so ther clean. I checked the pump and reinstalled it. So I guess the ? is are the thermostats necessary, and that other valve with the little plastic cone and spring, what is it. Anything else that could cause this. I never remember the heads getting so hot before. I did check to see that the gaskets were the same so I dont think thats it. Any opinions?

P.S. If I put the hose to the flush port (pisser), or the water tube in the lower, water seems to flow fine through the heads.

[jphii]

You need to back it in the water and check it. Mine never pumps right on the hose.

[Action Dave]

Yeah, even with my home-made lwp flush attachment, I can only run it on the hose for so long before it starts to get hot.

[Gorilla0178]

Man I'll try that after i get a new spring, i never noticed that before.

[lokinutz]

You need the t-stats and pop off valve on back of block. After running it in the water on trailer for a while, I'd also pull the t-stats back out and see if anything else (sand/shells) has made its way through the system.
The tubes from the valve on the back of the block let water OUT of the block (exhaust cavity) and INTO the heads, down and out the adapter. The spring keeps the valve closed until higher water pressure is made (cruise speed), which allows the exhaust cavity to cool more under higher rpm. You will see little to no water out of that valve at idle normally.

[Gorilla0178]

I got a new spring and put it in, the t-stats are out right now, it seemed to run much cooler and more water flow through the heads with them out, of course. Since its always warm here, do they have to be in, I would just leave them out if it doesnt really matter, i dont want them to get clogged up again. If not I'll just put them back.

[lokinutz]

You need them in. I run them here in "always warm" Arizona. On your cooling system it's more about getting what heat you can into #5&6 than keeping the engine cool. If your system is functioning properly, you should never overheat. Just too much damn water in a lake! Even with the corrected ficht cooling system, you need the thermostats for heat stabilization.

[Gorilla0178]

Cool, thanks. I'll pop them back in.