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Hey guys. Thanks for all the helpful information getting my project together. My 48 special that came on the back of the boat turned out to be a 1994 rather than a 1989. I found this out because I brought the numbers with me to get the water pump kit. Not sure how I got it wrong before. Here is my issue- I changed the pump out (I have done several of these over the years) and the new one was a bit different than the old one. I am referring to the housing configuration, but everything lined up correctly. I put it back on and put the ears on the motor, which cranked right up and no pee from the tube. I pulled the pee tube and reamed it out (it was clogged) and put it back on and still no water. What I am wondering is whether the thermostat is keeping the water from pumping until it heats up or if I may have a clog further down the system. Thoughts?

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The thermostat doesn't regulate the flow out of the tell-tale, but given that the tube was clogged, it's well worth removing and checking. While it's out, turn on the water and start the engine, have someone watch the thermostat opening in the block, and turn off the engine when water starts coming out. If no water comes out, you'll have to remove the gearcase again and check everything including the intake screens and passage up to the pump, plate orientation, impeller key, and for obstructions in the supply tube from the pump up to the power head.

The kit you got should have been part number 0433548 or 0433549 according to the BRP site.

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Thanks for the reply. While I was home at lunch I went to the shed to get something and realized that I had not reinstalled the key. Stupid....... So anyway, I will be dropping the foot again regardless. So you are saying I should remove the stat cover and see if it pops open when the motor heats up? That makes sense. I keep reading other posts that say often the ears don't give enough water pressure to pump, which is something I have never experienced and I have had motors from 18-225 hp. I should have blown out the tubes when I had it off as this motor was supposed to have sat for 5 years before I purchased. I will work on it tonight and report back.

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The key will do it for sure. That test was just to see if water was actually making it up to the power head, and not to see if the thermostat was working or not. If the motor was previously used in salt water, it's probably best to just swap the thermostat. But if you want to test it, do so in a pan of water on the stove, with a thermometer to show water temp, watching the opening on the thermostat as the water heats up. The opening temp should be stamped on the housing somewhere. But given the relatively low cost of a new thermo, might be easier to just pop a new one in with new gaskets.

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It was the key. Pumping fine now. Now onto trying to get the trim off to replace the seals in the reservoir and deal with the sterring and it will be ready to install on the boat. Thanks for the input!