Do i need woodruff key?

[tampa973]

Hi, I changed my water impeller on my 15 hp mariner and the woodruff key would not come out for the life of it. So i flattened it down flush to the shaft and put the impeller over it. I turned the motor and no water would come out of the tell tale. Does that tiny little woodruff key effect the impeller that much or is there something else i'm not thinking about? I put a hose up the water tube and started the motor and water came out and ran fine. Thanks for the help

 

[lindy46]

Re: Do i need woodruff key?

??? The impeller should have a notch in it, and that fits over the key. That's how the impeller turns. With the key flattened down, I suspect the impeller is just free-wheeling on the shaft and not pumping. It needs to turn with the shaft.