'95 60 HP Mercury Tracker sand/grit on top of impeller housing???

[1995merc60hp]

Newbie here. How can sand and grit accumulate on top of the water pump impeller housing on my 1995 60hp mercury tracker 2 stroke? Pulled the thermostat housing off and that area is clean. I am in the process of changing out the impeller with a complete kit since I noticed that water coming out of the "pee" hole is not as strong as it used to be. Discovered all the sand etc.(up to a half inch thick) was on top of the impeller housing. How can the sand get there? What can prevent it? Thought maybe that when I loaned the boat to someone, that they ran the motor in reverse in shallow water??? Maybe a bad plate gasket underneath and in front of the impeller housing? Thanks for your input

 

[GA_Boater]

Welcome aboard.

The top of the lower unit is not sealed so water, sand and grit can get in there. Was any sand there when you changed the impeller the last time?

 

[1995merc60hp]

Thanks for your reply. Yes, the same kind of sand grit was there. Cleaned it out and then loaned the boat to someone and after i pulled it down, The same kind of sand was there again. I know they are beaching the pontoon when they use it and I suspect they are not lifting the motor enough when they beach it. Guess it does not hurt anything for the sand to be there. Just seems wrong. I will try to post a picture. Thanks again

 

[1995merc60hp]

[No message]

 

[GA_Boater]

Sand and grit chew up rubber impellers. If it's on top of the pump, it's inside the pump eating the impeller.

 

[1995merc60hp]

Thanks. I will change out the entire water pump impeller kit. Just really concerned about how all the sand/grit gets in there on top of the impeller housing.See the picture on my previous post. I saw no sand in the impeller housing at all.Do you think that if motor was put in reverse in really shallow water or worse yet on the sandy bottom it would suck sand into that lower foot cavity?

 

[emoney]

I mean if it was beached in the sand and then reversed without anyone raising the motor it could I suppose. I've never seen that much sand on top of the housing, that's for sure. You dont' have any missing water inlet covers, etc?