Question for Rusty

[JDooley389T]

Rusty,
I replaced my water pump a couple of weeks ago and just yesterday I was able to put the boat in the water. There seems to be plenty of water pressure judging from the stream from the pee hole. My problem is that the water pressure gauge is pegged at 40lbs. even when the motor is not running . What have I done? Did I not get the water tube inserted correctly when I installed the lower unit or did the gauge go bad. I could understand that if the tube was installed incorrectly that the gauge would read "0" but why would it be pegged at "40"? Thanks for any advice.

[RUSTY63]

Could the guage have froze?

[JDooley389T]

I guess that it could be but how would I know? Is there a way to check the gauge to see if it is frozen?

[RUSTY63]

With the motor off, remove the hose from the back of the guage, if the needle stays where it was, the guage needs to be replaced.

[JDooley389T]

Rusty,
I removed the tube from the back of the gauge and the needle did not move. Also, a brown sludge came out of the back of the gauge. What do you think? Can the gauge be cleaned out or is it toast? It just seems too coincidental that I changed the impeller and at the same time the pressure gauge stops working. I really hope that it is the gauge because I would hate to remove the L/U again. Help!

[ChampioNman]

The gauge is toast once they peg and get schmegma inside them they are history. Check out http://www.surplusunlimited.com for a 30 PSI gauge or get a generic via a marine catalog. No need to replace the hose just blow some low pressure air through if from the block. CM

[RUSTY63]

I agree, the guage needs a replacement.