Thread: Problem or not?

Maybe...take the little hose off and make sure it and the little nipple it goes on are clean. Could be if they are restricted enough that when the pump is running low speed at idle its just not overcoming the resistance. But you may also have a worn or damaged water pump.Johnson's generally speaking seem to be pretty good on their water pumps but they are just rubber so stuff happens. It's good to make sure all your water passages are clean and thermostat is clean every so often. I have had Johnson water pumps go fifteen years before...but if they get started dry a time or two by accident it can get em.

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Where is the thermostat located?

google " thermostat for 50 hp Johnson"..you will get some hits that have a diagram or maybe a you tube video on it or another model that will get you going. It is under a small bolted on cover..it has a gasket.When you pull the cover (may have to slightly pry off) the gasket may stay with the cover or the head,or try to tear.Either way just be careful and it will usually go back on. If you mess it up a little just use some gasket sealant with it and let it dry before you use it. If it does not look good order one and a gasket and change real easy. They don't give a lot of trouble generally...but they do need to function so your motor warms up right in cold water.And you don't want it to impede flow to the motor when its warm.

Ok, I will check that the next chance i get. Ok, here is another issue. The motor is real finicky when starting. It usually starts ok, but after it starts sometimes it only will idle maybe 5 seconds before it dies. I can hit the starter and it will do this numerous times sometimes, and I have had to just fish for awhile and try it again and hopefully it will run. WHen I do get it to run, if I can ever get it to take gas I will floor it and it runs, but seems like it runs rough. Usually after I have ran it for a few minutes it will run fine all day then. It has two carburetors on it, and I am kind of intimidated about breaking down them and cleaning. I'm not sure if it is the carburetors, or maybe if the vro is acting up. I do get a buzzer sometimes, not quite sure why. It usually goes off after a minute or two of running. I know it's alot thrown out there, but am kinda wondering if the rough idle, buzzer combination can be tied to each other somehow?

The vro combo oil and fuel pumps do fail. And no matter the condition of everything else if it is not pumping right it won't run right. If it is bad you can replace it with just a fuel pump and start mixing oil with the fuel in the tank . Its your choice...you just can't forget to add oil when you fuel. You put a little reminder like a piece of string or wire on your cap to remind you when you gas. These engines need to run rich when they first start...and for a few minutes after they start...

hope link works for you
Johnson/Evinrude Cold Start Procedures Page: 1 - iboats Boating Forums | 231251

Could be your motor is idling to low. The more RPM, the faster the impeller turns, thus the more water it pumps. If you are idling to low you're not pumping water to the top of the motor, causing no pee stream, warning buzzer, and rough idle. Not an expert, but giving your idle screw a quarter turn or so would be a good place to start.

If it's not pumping water and the alarms going off after idling a couple minutes it could be overheating. If it hasn't had the pump replaced in the last few years I'd replace it.