acceptable to just buy new impeller or do i need a full kit ?

[Lund_bC]

NS8b
I am curirous if i really need the full kit to replace the impeller. It's still working but i have had the outboard for 5 years and use it a lot, i noticed a bit less pressure when i start it out the pee hole but am on a big budget with this thing as i have another boat project. I was thinking of only getting and replacing the impeller. does this seam reasonable ? thanks

 

[ThomW]

It really depends on the condition of yours. Sometimes you'll get into it and see the housing has melted a bit. Its always a good idea to have replacement gaskets in case those are shot or don't come off in one piece. If its working good and your just doing a maintenance repair, you should be ok with just swapping out the impeller. A torn gasket during removal would be my biggest concern.

 

[GA_Boater]

Tear it apart and examine the cup and wear plate for scores and wear. Both will have rub marks from the impeller, but a fingernail shouldn't catch and you shouldn't be able to feel the rub marks. Sand and silt cause most impeller wear and that's from running in the cup and against the wear plate.

Gaskets on hand is a good idea. You never know if they will get damaged until you open up the pump. Can't be too much dough for the impeller and gaskets.

 

[Scott Danforth]

if you cant afford boat maintenance, you need a different hobby. Boating is more expensive than racing (car racing, not horse racing)

 

[Sea Rider]

To stay cheap you can :

-Remove impeller from liner, if all vanes springs back fully open flip the impeller and use the other side which is 100% in mint cond.

-The gasket on which the housing sits on is bit thick, if removed carefully can re use it again.

-Polish liner with toothpaste and finger in round circles to remove those tiny scratches that degrades impeller vanes till liner looks very smooth and shinny. Repeat polishing till this cond is met.

Have seen cases where after changing a complete water pump kit, the pressure was still somewhat low, it's due to the internal salt buil-up all OB's thar deals with salt water will experiment sooner or later, much worse if not flushed at all. Nope, flushing the OB with fresh water all day long won't bring water presure back to where the OB was when brand new.

Happy Boating

 

[ahicks]

If you aren't up against the wall with a scheduled trip, and assuming all was good on your last trip, I wouldn't hesitate to have just the impeller on hand when starting the job. Worst case is you do need a gasket (or a new housing/cup), and you have to wait a couple of days for it to arrive to reassemble.

What you want to avoid is the potential for that impeller to self destruct, without being noticed, which will lead to a very overheated engine very quickly - possibly leading to internal damage.

 

[Lund_bC]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I think i will order the impeller and inspect and put it back together. If I need more parts I will oder them.

if you cant afford boat maintenance, you need a different hobby. Boating is more expensive than racing (car racing, not horse racing)

Honestly I don't agree Scott. I think you might totally miss the point of being on the water and the roots of boating if it's just a hobby. Where I live it's a way of life afforded to anyone who wants it and is generally a means for catching fish or crab or prawn, and for camping on islands or saving money on ferries or getting to our friends or families cottages, or for working. Some of us buy nice boats, most of us fix up old boats and beat on them and fix them as we don't have a spiffy shop to fix up everything for us while sit on the couch. Just saying lol. Boating isn't a "hobby" to me.

 

[Lund_bC]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I think i will order the impeller and inspect and put it back together. If I need more parts I will oder them.

if you cant afford boat maintenance, you need a different hobby. Boating is more expensive than racing (car racing, not horse racing)

Honestly I don't agree Scott. I think you might totally miss the point of being on the water and the roots of boating if it's just a hobby. Where I live it's a way of life afforded to anyone who wants it and is generally a means for catching fish or crab or prawn, and for camping on islands or saving money on ferries or getting to our friends or families cottages, or for working. Some of us buy nice boats, most of us fix up old boats and beat on them and fix them as we don't have a spiffy shop to fix up everything for us while sit on the couch. Just saying lol. Boating isn't a "hobby" to me.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Boating isn't a "hobby" to me.

If boating is that much more critical than a hobby to you, then why are you trying to skimp on required maintenance?

the minimal amount of critical maintenance such as a properly working waterpump and other maintenance items such as grease for trailer bearings, u-joints and bellows for I/O's, etc should be budgeted for.

I am not missing the point. I own multiple boats, and used to own multiple recreational cars, including ones I would take to the track. Boating is expensive, no mater if it is your lively hood, or a hobby. The maintenance required to keep a boat and motor running in a safe and reliable manor is not something you skimp on.

you asked for advice if you could get away with just an impeller or a whole kit. everyone has stated, get the whole kit. mostly because we have all been there and needed the whole kit.

you have ignored everyones advice and are just going to order an impeller anyway.

if boating is that critical to you, you would have a complete water pump kit and a shift-shaft seal along with lower unit gear lube coming. because once you crack that lower and pull it apart, you may need all of them. since that motor operating is that critical, why are you skimping out on maintenance.

Id give up beer and eat raman noodles for boat maintenance if boating was as critical as you say.

 

[pvanv]

For the few extra bucks, I always do a complete lit. The side clearances are critical, and both the cup and wear plate get a couple thousandths of wear... that reduces the flow. A full kit pumps better and lasts longer. It's the same labor, so in a shop environment at $100 an hour, the price difference is insignificant.