Flip over old impeller and use it?

[PoorBaylinerGuy]

I've always wondered if I could just take the old impeller and flip it over so the teeth/splines or whatever go the other way. Never done it but will it work, should right?

 

[colbyt]

Re: Flip over old impeller and use it?

Why use new toilet paper? You can just flip it over or refold it. Right?

A $20 part or a several hundred dollar motor. Is this a tough choice?

 

[PoorBaylinerGuy]

Re: Flip over old impeller and use it?

LoL, hey you might be using $20 dollar impellers but I'm using OEM's.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Flip over old impeller and use it?

Poor guy Don't be foolish. NEW IMPELLER. OEM means nothing. Plus You did mention size of motor.Some cost 20 some cost 60 depending on hp.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Flip over old impeller and use it?

if you reuse impeller, it will likely fail catastrophically....I have had it happen.

 

[gm280]

Re: Flip over old impeller and use it?

I'm not sure people understand exactly how an impellor works. As your engine is running slow speed (or RPMs) the impellor acts as a displacement pump. That being the area gets reduced as the impellor turns on its off-centered rotation. BUT when the engine speeds up that all changes and the impellor becomes a centrifugal pump. The impellor blades don't displace the water anymore but slings the water towards the outer pump housing and out the pump. So turning over an impellor that has taken a set (from heat and time and design) it will most certainly NOT perform like either of those type of pumps anymore. And I can guarantee you it will fail very quickly. Would you turn tires inside out and reuse them? Or how about engine fan belts, would you simply turn them inside out and run them? Same principle... Once that impellor is installed its' time starts running out as to how long it can work before rubber's elasticity breaks down... That IS the prime reason for replacing them on a regular schedule... One of the best displacement type pumps I've ever seen is the pump in your transmission. It still amazes me how long they past by design...

 

[PoorBaylinerGuy]

Re: Flip over old impeller and use it?

Ok off the get I like the response I've been getting, and I would actually never flip my impeller over and use it, but I also get drunk like all the time, especially when replacing impellers! And when I'm looking at them drunk I just don't have any reason to tell if it would worked flipped over, I picked my new one up from a mercury dealer today, yes you heard it mercury! And I asked if that would work there and the parts counterman explained that once its in there and it's been seal and set , if you flip it over you could not get that seal again. And I said did you just say that to get my $25 dollars? And he laughed and said no.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Flip over old impeller and use it?

This question has come up before within the past year or so. Once an impeller takes its shape and then is made to bend the other way, it probably will not last too long.