TOPIC: Telltale

I've got a question about the cooling on my '65. It has had no modifications to the cooling system, still has a thermostat and the two line waterpump, impeller is fine. When trolling my telltale only puts out steam and some droplets of water, anything above idle it streams fine. Reading the old manual it states that water should stream above slow idle from the telltale. I've trolled it many hrs (600 rpm) with no problems overheating. So my question is has anyone else experiencing this also with the earlier cooling system?

Likely time for a new impeller.

professor wrote:

Likely time for a new impeller.

I thought that too but I had the lower unit off my F model Bearcat on the Homelite for a while and it did the same thing. When I put it back on the F model it streams excellent at idle, the F still retains it's thermostat too. Impellers in both units look great. Given what the manual states I'm thinking it's normal but would like input from someone who's running one as built from the factory. At 700 rpm it (the Homelite) streams just like the Bearcat does at idle.

Wish I could help you. But my 62 Homelite is the old style without the thermostat. At idle water still comes out the tell tale.
I've had the intake get plugged with weeds and the alarm went off. When I got it cleared, steam would come out until the water would begin to flow out. I guess as long your heat senser alarm is in good order and does not go off you are OK.

No alarm as I'm using late controls, but I do have the hot light which only comes on when the key is turned on before startup.

Dick, if she's not overheating she's ok.
Take an ir thermometer and shoot the manifold and exhaust elbow to be sure.
If the spring or diaphragm are relaxed within the thermostat, or the element not to specs, that can do it too since it bypasses back to input side of pump. I have all those parts new in the packages if needed.
But if it's not broke don't fix it right?!

Good idea on the ir thermometer, hadn't thought of that. I'll try that next time I run that engine.

Bill what is a good reading on the ir and whats a bad reading

New engine not yet broken in 140
Normal good running engine broken in, 130
Those are the telltale water temps.
You might see 132 to 142 on the manifold/elbow near thermostat.

Thanks Bill for the numbers