cooling system problem

[Jimscheer]

I have a 1987 DT8, starts well, but no cooling water. Dropped the lower unit and rebuilt the water pump and then, before reattaching the gear box, I tried to blow air up the water tube and could not. Probed it with a copper wire. Now air comes out the power head where it should, but also air goes into the driveshaft housing. I think I may have pierced a grommet, or gasket or something with the wire. So, do I now have to remove the power head and find where I violated the water tube, or is it doing what it should. In other words, should my air (or eventually, water) enter the drive shaft housing?
Thank you for a reply.

[Solarman]

A motor that old, yes you might have poked a hole through a rubber hose, or grommet? One that may have been in need of replacing, if dry rotted?

But I'm not sure where you mean that air gets into driveshaft housing area? It might be wise to buy a new gasket, and remove power head to investigate further?