Evinrude 9.9 impeller change: learned something new today.

[Elkins45]

I have a 9.9 Evinrude that’s probably late 90’s to mid 2000’s that I bought used. Given that the paint on the lower unit bolts was intact I doubt the impeller has ever been changed, so I decided to do that today. Imagine my surprise when I learned that the impeller isn’t attached to the shaft with a Woodruff key like I’m used to, but instead is jammed to a flat in the shaft with a small pin. I know this because I saw the pin for just a brief instant before it disappeared into the gravel forever.

I have a piece of 1/8” rod that fits the groove in the impeller perfectly but I can’t imagine using a piece of carbon steel is a good long term solution in that environment, so now I’m on the hunt for a piece of 1/8” stainless rod somewhere.

If you own one of these engines and have never done an impeller change be aware there’s nothing holding that pin in place other than friction.

 

[Rick.]

Sorry for your loss, thanks for sharing. Rick.

 

[Bream Killer]

Yep, mine slipped out and hit my foot or I would not have known it popped out.

 

[Elkins45]

I bought myself some stainless rod and put it back together today. I’m not used to impellers that small. It was harder to squeeze back into the housing than any of my other motors have ever been. On the other hand it’s nice working on a lower unit light enough I can hold it in one hand.

 

[racerone]

??------You put impeller on the shaft.----Lower the housing onto the impeller while turning the driveshaft.-----Easy as can be.

 

[Elkins45]

??------You put impeller on the shaft.----Lower the housing onto the impeller while turning the driveshaft.-----Easy as can be.

Yep, that’s how I ended up doing it. Because of that darned loose pin I thought the easiest approach might be to put the impeller in the housing and then lower it down on the pin. I was wrong. The fact my hands were all greasy didn’t help.