boat motor question

[one more pass]

I have a bass tracker with a 40 mercury. It seems the intake on the motor gets stopped up and want spit water out. I have taken the hose off where the water comes out of the motor and it would be full of mud. My question is do any of you guys have a simple way you un-stop this hose while on the lake? I would hate to burn up a 2001 motor.

[Wildfowler]

In the first place, you probably won't burn up the motor if the indicator hose is fouled. Most of the circulated water actually comes out of the lower unit. The indicator is just that, an indicator. I had my indicator clog the first time I used my brand new motor three years ago. It's a little un-nerving, but usually not a big deal.

You can insert a thin willow branch into the water outlet, this will usually free the obstruction. In other word, something thin and pliable. Don't use an old rotten twig that could break off inside the tube. You would be amazed at how such a little speck of debris can clog the water flow. There is a little fixture that the water tube attaches to on the inside of the engine cowling. Just remove this fixture and take a longer piece of water tubing and extend it outside of the engine cowling. The inside diameter of the tubing is larger than the diameter of this fixture. Larger debris, should pass more freely. Remember, that even if no water is coming out of the indicator, your engine is probably still cooling adequately. Just listen for the engine overheat warning siren. It will tell you within seconds if you're not cooling.

Also, be sure to check your thermostat. That device will trap a lot of debris, and it could potentially fail. It happened to me this year. If that engine is a 3-cylinder Merc, the thermostat housing is located near the top cylinder. The cover has only four bolts. Just pop the cover off, take the thermostat out and clean out the spring mechanism.

[one more pass]

thanx wildfowler for the info. glad to hear I'm not burning the engine up. this is my first boat and hate to keep taking it to the shop and paying that $60 min. charge.