

There are rubbers and plastics meant for constant contact with petroleum products like oil and gas, but a raw water impeller is not one of them. The risk lies in those that store the impeller over the winter, coated with a petroleum based product. If someone is doing an impeller change and hits it with a shot or two of something WD-40 or other non-silicone lubricant, or smears a little bit of vaseline in the housing before the new impeller goes in, and then runs the boat, I doubt there will ever be a problem. I prefer them over the more expensive Nitral gloves because the latex has a more stretch and fits better, you know, kinda like a glove Yes, I actually do wear latex exam gloves. Remove the impeller and the woodruff key securing it against the driveshaft.

I'm envious of the more seasoned and confident mechanics. Remove the four 10mm bolts securing the water pump housing, then remove the housing by sliding it up and off the driveshaft. first, don't want to be "that guy" at the boat ramp whose boat won't start (<- live an hour from nearest ramp) and second want to check my work and make sure everything looks good (see pt. That said I always run on the hose immediately after. so there may be a thin film inside the raw water pump.ĭo you guys wear sterile gloves too? I mean what about the residual oil that may be on your fingers when you touch the impeller? We are talking about a couple of light blasts to lube the OLD IMPELLER for removal. With thanks to the experts at, the UK’s specialists in adventure sailing and training.But I don't think the only choices are "don't use wd40" or "submerge the impeller in paint thinner for an hour".
REPLACING IMPELLER ON INBOARD FREE
With more than 175 years in marine insurance, when you insure your yacht with us, you’re dealing with the boat insurance specialists, leaving you free to enjoy your time on the water. GJW Direct offers some of the most comprehensive and competitive boat insurance policies on the market. Look on the packet of the impeller to see what the recommended service hours are, and make sure you change it before it fails. If you do the proper checks when you start the engine – raw water seacock open, water strainer clear and water coming out of the exhaust, it shouldn’t fail. I ran it 140 hrs last year, almost all of it super slow. My boat is a 95 and I have no clue when the impeller was ever changed on it. Good practice is to replace your impeller before it fails. 1 Change Impeller 02-28-2012, 09:56 AM Hello I think that this is an easy question, but here goes.Otherwise there are some sealants you can smear on the inside of the face plate, but only to get you home Water pump kit contents vary, so please take a look at the contents of the water pump kit you order. Of course your Mercruiser's impeller needs to be changed regularly, but it's also a good idea to replace other components of your water pump to maintain proper engine cooling. If it’s an emergency and you don’t have a spare gasket, you may be able to reuse the old one if it’s in good condition. Impeller & Water Pump Parts for Mercruiser Sterndrives.Smear a little grease on the O-ring or gasket and replace the face plate. Put that around the fins and then slide it in, taking care to put it in the right way round – it has a front and a back – and that you bend the fins in the direction that the engine will turn – normally bent towards the engine side and away from the sea- water inlet. New impellers usually come with some grease or lubricant.Give it a good inspection, looking for cracks and wear. In reality, many people use a pair of fine-nose pliers – not ideal, but fine as long as you’re careful to pull straight. To take the impeller out, best practice is to use an impeller puller, which lifts the impeller out from behind, avoiding damage to the housing. Put a tray or tea towel down before you start, and ensure you use the right tool so you don’t damage them.Īs the faceplate comes off, a small amount of water will drain out – have a sponge ready. Some impellers are belt-driven, while others are gear-driven straight from the engine, but the principle is the same.Ĭlose your raw water seacock then undo the faceplate screws taking care not to lose them in the bilge. If you don’t see exhaust water, you need to locate the raw water impeller by following the hose from the raw water strainer. You need to see a good flow of water, though amounts vary from engine to engine.
REPLACING IMPELLER ON INBOARD SKIN
The water and exhaust gasses will have travelled from the engine through a reinforced rubbed hose via various water traps and loops to the skin fitting. You should see water coming out of the exhaust. One of the key checks when you start up your engine is that your raw water cooling system is working properly. How to: change a marine diesel water impeller
