OK, so no real big evidence of overheating before you got it… Did it overheat as soon as you ran it the first time? Or, did you judge cooling by the lack of telltale spray? Again, those telltales do get plugged up. It is best to remove the plastic nipple, then blow back through the hose while the engine is running. Once the hose is clear, let it run with the plastic nipple for a few minutes to clear any other crud that might get stuck in there, then reinstall the nipple. The fact that the engine doesn’t show much signs of overheating prior to you getting it kinda suggests the grommets might be OK…The usual scenario is that these engines get overheated, then folks try everything to fix the problem except the grommets…The engine continues to overheat, then the owner gets rid of the engine….But, usually there are obvious signs of overheating, burned paint, melted wiring….
I know we have focused on the flaws of these engines, but don’t misunderstand. The powerheads and gearcase are really very rugged, and they are great little engines for the most part. A 15hp short shaft model is pretty valuable these days, so don’t “give it away”….Who knows, you may want to keep it…
