6hp impeller replacement

[alombardi]

1984 Sailmaster 6HP...I dropped the lower unit out but the driveshaft stayed in the powerhead. The impeller key is nowhere to be seen. Will the drive shaft come out of the powerhead or did I do something wrong? Any insight would be appreciated.

 

[OBJ]

Re: 6hp impeller replacement

The driveshaft should drop out with the lower unit....if it ain't stuck. You might have to shake it a little and pull. If the lower unit hasn't been dropped in a while the shaft may be seized a little. Standing the engine on its head and shoot some Blaster or a good penetrant in around the shaft would help.<br />The impeller key probably dropped out on the floor and you didn't see it....or fell into one of the cavities in the lower unit.<br /><br />Keep us updated to your progress.

 

[alombardi]

Re: 6hp impeller replacement

Thanks I'll give it a shot of PB and see what happens.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 6hp impeller replacement

Hopefully the impeller key didn't fall INTO the gearcase. If it's a stainless steel key, that would be, in a word, bad. If you can't find the key anywhere else, I would be inclined to open up the gearfoot (not too hard to do) and take a look-see.<br /><br />As for the driveshaft, that seems to be a common problem on those motors. Not sure if it was grease quality, or lack of sufficient o-ring sealing at the top of the shaft, but lots of them have locked up. That's also indicative of a motor that hasn't had the unit off in awhile... I've had to go so far as to pull the powerhead off in order to remove the driveshaft. In less extreme cases, I was able to clamp onto the driveshaft in a NON-BEARING surface area with a pair of Vice-Grips and tap it out using a hammer.<br /><br />- Scott

 

[alombardi]

Re: 6hp impeller replacement

I was thinking the same thing....key in the gearcase....I'm going to be very careful and hopefully I'll find it on the floor...odds are it fell in. <br /><br />I'll pull on that shaft too...let you know. Thanks!

 

[rodbolt]

Re: 6hp impeller replacement

watch out for the tiny roll pin at the top of the shaft. it usually gets broken on shaft removal. buy a spare for reassembly.

 

[alombardi]

Re: 6hp impeller replacement

I soaked the drive shaft with PB Blaster yesterday with the engine up-side-down and tried to get it out last night....nothing, it won't budge. Vice grips on a non bearing surface with hammer and crow bars but still nothing. Any other suggestions short of removing the power head? I'm trying to avoid that because it's something I've never done before. Does removing the power head involve removing the flywheel, carb, and electronics? In other words, does it mean stripping down the whole engine?

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 6hp impeller replacement

Hi ABL1,<br /> No, you don't have to strip the powerhead to pull it off. You do have to disconnect throttle cable, recoil rope, knobs, fuel line, etc.<br /> Off the top of my head, there should be a single shoulder bolt and a cotter pin holding the throttle cable in place. <br /> The choke knob is held in place with a cotter pin. <br /> The idle mix knob will pull off. <br /> Pull the recoil rope out about 2-feet and then pull that slack inside the cowling and put a slip-knot into it on the inside. Then remove the handle and pass the cord through the cowling. <br /> Undo the knurled screw from the cap of the fuel pump - don't remove the screw, just loosen it enough to pull the cap off the pump. <br /> For the kill switch wires, remove the bolt that retains the ground wire and then dribble a little WD40 or CRC oil into the hole in the plug that the other kill wire goes into. Pull the plug apart and then gently pull the kill wire out of the plug. The WD40 will help it pull out easier. <br /> I think that all of them...<br /> Then, remove the six bolts that hold the powerhead in place. It should, with a little effort to break the gasket seal, pull straight up. Be prepared to have to replace that gasket.<br />- Scott

 

[alombardi]

Re: 6hp impeller replacement

Thanks Chinewalker! I'll let you know how I make out. Hopefully after soaking up-side-down for another day it will come off tonight! Nice directions, should be easy to follow!

 

[Vic.S]

Re: 6hp impeller replacement

The mistake you made i think was parting the joint between the lower unit and the extension piece. Corrosion on the drive shaft prevented it sliding through the bush in the extension so it pulled out of the water pump. If the impeller had a metal key you will probably have seriuosly damaged the top of the pump. If the key was plastic it will have pulled though with just a little shaving taken off, and only light damage to the pump. You may find the remains of the key in the top of the water pump housing.<br /><br />Make a note to separate the joint between the extension and the leg next time. That way the shaft stays with the lower unit. Then you can clean up the shaft and the remove the extesion to get to the water pump.<br /><br />The major problem i had was corrosion around the rubber sleeve at the top of the water tube compressing the sleeve over the top of the pipe and cutting off the water flow.<br /><br />removing the power head is a bit of a fiddle. Rock it fore and aft to break the joint ( it wont rock from side to side) mark the upper and lower elecronic modules as i think it may be possible to put them back the wrong way round and end up with an engine which just wont run!

 

[alombardi]

Re: 6hp impeller replacement

Vic.S, I couldn't part the joint between the lower unit and the extension because the bolt that holds it all together broke about an inch into the motor housing. The only choice I had was to cut the bolt between the motor housing and the extension. Then I separated the lower unit with extension from the motor The drive shaft wasn't budging. Anyway, I got all the bolt pieces out without any damage (lucky).<br /><br />I believe the motor has been greatly neglected because it looks like the impeller key simply corroded away over time.....it is nowhere to be found and the water pump housing only had a little ding in it where the shaft was removed. The area on the shaft where the key was supposed to be was corroded and pitted, leading me to believe that the key was gone a long time ago but I'll run a magnet thru the lower unit to see if I can pick something up. After investagating further, I realized that the feed tube to the pump was completely clogged and the plastic strainer had been painted over...I can't see how ANY water could get in to cool the engine. I wasn't even going to mention that when I took off the thermostat cover......there wasn't any thermostat inside!<br /><br />Well, I got the drive shaft off. Removed the powerhead (thanks Chinewalker) and put a torch to it. It was dry as a bone inside, no grease. While trying to get off the shaft, I damaged the seal around the boss that hold the drive shaft so I'll be replacing that too!<br /><br />I'm almost home, thanks everyone for your help!