Hi my name is Bud I'm new to the forum. I purchased a 2006 Mercury 25 HP 4 stroke electric start with power tilt last week. I hooked up the hose with my water cups as I did with my other motors, the motor started right up, but no water out of the water cooling hole, I tried a few times, but no luck. All I can feel is a little pulsating air coming out of the water cooling hole. I called the guy I bought it from, ad he said he had no problem. He said some times you have to wait 3 to 4 minutes to get water, that is what his mechanic told him. I don't think I want him for my mechanic. He said it takes that long because of the thermostat. I am mechanically inclined, but have never worked on an outboard, other than plugs, fuel filter.Do you think i can change the empeller, if that's the problem? Thanks to anyone for your help.------- I few more questions please. I don't see any problem changing the impeller, the thing I don't understand is how to disconnect the shift rod, so I can drop the lower unit, or is it possible to disconnect the shift rod at the joint that holds them together with a roll pin. I tried to find a manual with some illustrations to buy for future references, but no such luck for that year & model. Thanks Again for any help.
Bud

you are not in the right thread.

It's not hard to change the impeller.You should run it in a bucket(deep) and see if it pumps any better.It takes minuets to open the thermostat.You can't tell when it opens.It should take seconds to show water pumping thru the motor.Sopmetimes there ain't enough water when you use the hose.J

It should come pretty fast I don't remember a thermostat controll on that modle. the shift shaft is splined on a threaded nut on the shaft down near the lower unit..

If the motor continues to run at idle there may be no water coming out for quite a while. Eventually, it should come out. Put the motor in a trash can because the rabbit ears do not always work.

The shift rod must be disconnected by turning a little black knob at the top end of the shift rod. Not hard but necessary.

Sometimes the copper water pipe between the impeller and the motor will get disengaged. Recently, my motor's water pipe got disengaged when I hit a crab trap and dragged the trap for about 5 miles. Barely made it back when the pipe dropped down from the motor and the no water was going to the motor.

If you run it in a bucket of water, make sure the water level is as high as the water pump location in the lower unit. Just having the water level above the intake vents isn't good enough. Learned this the hard way