Does this impeller look OK?

[skargo]

It's my engine mounted pump's impeller.

I know! I couldn't believe how bad it was, and my boat had no symptoms! I was changing it just for the hell of it. Man, it's tight in my bilge. I had a tough time getting the hoses off, and back on again. Still have to put the belt and pulley back on.

 

[Don S]

Re: Does this impeller look OK?

It's usually a lot easier to remove the whole pump and usually brackets to get the pump up where you can work on it. Putting it back together in a tight space is a lot harder than taking it off.

 

[skargo]

Re: Does this impeller look OK?

That's what I did. I guess I should have put the pulley on before I put the pump back on. It's very tight, and a slot is cut to allow for the pulley, not sure if I can get the belt back on that way.
I THINK I got all the pieces, but is there anything I should check? It's a FWC Mercuiser 260.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Does this impeller look OK?

A little on the worn side.

 

[Don S]

Re: Does this impeller look OK?

If that has the black plastic pump housing, I sure hope you checked the housing for wear. They don't put up with a lot of wear.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Does this impeller look OK?

Ayuh,... There Might be 1 more lap in that 1,... Donno,...

Any debris will be Downstream.....

 

[skargo]

Re: Does this impeller look OK?

If that has the black plastic pump housing, I sure hope you checked the housing for wear. They don't put up with a lot of wear.

It's a metal housing. I guess we'll see how she does, if it needs replacement looks like a Jabsco pomp is 4 bills or so.

Ayuh,... There Might be 1 more lap in that 1,... Donno,...

Any debris will be Downstream.....

I'll have to study the flow chart, but I'd guess the HE is the only thing downstream. Guess I'll pull that apart next.

I did notice the impeller I replaced had a round hole, and had two keys in it, while the replacement had a D shaped hole that fit right on the shaft.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Does this impeller look OK?

personally I'd reconstruct the impeller and see if any peices were missing.... then I'd back flush the he and call it good

 

[skargo]

Re: Does this impeller look OK?

personally I'd reconstruct the impeller and see if any peices were missing.... then I'd back flush the he and call it good

Would any stray pieces get hung up in the HE? How would you go about back flushing it?

 

[Fun Times]

Re: Does this impeller look OK?

To me from the photo you got lucky, Because it looks like most everything is still attached to the impeller but "one" blade, And I bet you either did or will find that one blade stuck in the water passage holes of the housing, And if that is the case then you should be fine to just install a new impeller or housing depending on how the housing looks when you remove the old impeller, But if you can not find the blade, Then you have your work cut out for you with back flushing. Good luck with it.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Does this impeller look OK?

use a garden hose in the output side.... honestly one little peice shouldn't be the end ot the world tho

 

[skargo]

Re: Does this impeller look OK?

Thanks guys!

One more question that I can't seem to find the answer too. I have an alpha one that was added at some time, since obviously my boat, a 1978, didn't come with one. I have the engine mounted sea water pump, and closed cooling. I'm assuming I have NO impeller in the drive, is this the case? Would there be 2 to deal with possibly? And if there is no impeller in the drive, what cools it, the oil?

 

[Dshow]

Re: Does this impeller look OK?

Skargo,
What engine and outdrive do you have? I change my outdrive impellar every few years, but have not looked at the engine mounted water pump. With my engine, is this something I need to look at as well?

 

[skargo]

Re: Does this impeller look OK?

Skargo,
What engine and outdrive do you have? I change my outdrive impellar every few years, but have not looked at the engine mounted water pump. With my engine, is this something I need to look at as well?

I have a freshwater cooled Merc 260. I have an Alpha one gen one with a thru hull water pickup, feeding the engine mounted pump.

Not sure if you have an engine mounted pump, if you do it's down low on the starboard, front of the engine, belt driven off of the crank pulley.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Does this impeller look OK?

I'm assuming I have NO impeller in the drive, is this the case? Would there be 2 to deal with possibly? And if there is no impeller in the drive, what cools it, the oil?

It is very possible you also have the impeller still in the outdrive. I had the same setup in my boat. Mercrusier recommends that you keep the impeller in the drive to cool the drive. The water hose is simply cut and the water splashes against the transom with a block off plate on the inside.

The only way to find out if you have an impeller or not is to look. If you do, make sure you use muffs when flushing, in addition to however you are supplying water to you engine mounted pump.

 

[skargo]

Re: Does this impeller look OK?

It is very possible you also have the impeller still in the outdrive. I had the same setup in my boat. Mercrusier recommends that you keep the impeller in the drive to cool the drive. The water hose is simply cut and the water splashes against the transom with a block off plate on the inside.

The only way to find out if you have an impeller or not is to look. If you do, make sure you use muffs when flushing, in addition to however you are supplying water to you engine mounted pump.

Interesting. The PO had installed a T fitting to the through hull input hose, so you can hook a hose right to it. He said he used that, and no need for muffs, that's why I assumed it had no impeller in the drive. I will certainly look now!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Does this impeller look OK?

my understanding was that the drive is cooled by being imersed in the lake....

 

[skargo]

Re: Does this impeller look OK?

well IF there is an impeller in the drive, I'm sure it's long gone as I run my boat on the hose fitting, and not muffs before every trip. So I ran it with no muffs way more than 20 times last year!

 

[Don S]

Re: Does this impeller look OK?

What outdrive do you have?

 

[skargo]

Re: Does this impeller look OK?

What outdrive do you have?

Don,
it's an Alpha one, first gen.