I think I fried my water pump

[rad1026]

I don't know why I did this, but while changing the gear oil in my Alpha 1 outdrive I loosened the water muffs. After I finished all the fluid changes I turned on the hose and started up the engine, 5.7L. Engine ran for maybe 3-4 minutes when I saw the temp getting higher then normal and remembered I had loosened the muffs. I jumped out of the boat and put the muffs back on, but by now the temp had gone to about 190. I let it run for a little while longer hoping that the temp would start to go down and it didn't, so I shut it down. I let things sit for about 45 minutes then started it up again but the water never started flowing through the transom. This is the third season on the water pump and I wasn't going to change it but now I don't think I have a choice. I've changed the pump one time before and it wasn't a big deal, just wondering if anyone has done this by leaving the upper attached and just splitting and dropping only the lower unit? It just seems like the job could be done with the upper unit in place. Is it stupid to try it like that?

 

[Bondo]

Re: I think I fried my water pump

Ayuh,...

I do it that way all the time....

Btw,...
I'd swap out the waterpump KIT,....
I gotta believe you probably Smoked more than Just the Impeller....

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: I think I fried my water pump

Did you remove the drive & lube the ujoints at layup?.....
If not pull the whole drive, because you should do that for normal PM anyway......
I find it easier to do on the bench + you will be able to get a better look at the water pocket cover, let's hope that you did not fry that.....
I agree with Bondo on the whole pump assy.....
I'd inspect it before I just bought an impeller.....​

 

[rad1026]

Re: I think I fried my water pump

Yes, I just finished removing the drive and lubing the bearing and inspecting the bellows. My u-joints are new and are the sealed type. I think I'm just going to go ahead and order the whole kit including the housing. This will be my third season with this 1989 boat. I replaced the impeller the first season I had it, but I don't know the last time the housing was replaced. Thanks guys!

 

[rodbolt]

Re: I think I fried my water pump

carefully check the lower housing too, any sign of melt is grounds for replacing.

 

[rad1026]

Re: I think I fried my water pump

Lower housing? The Alpha one gen one just has the upper plastic housing and the lower plate, right?

 

[rodbolt]

Re: I think I fried my water pump

all the alpha,R and IR units up to the GENII used a nylon lower base, at least your alpha unit wont require lower base shimming if replacement is nessasary.
but in a dry run it will melt and distort just like the upper housing. then it tends to leak air creating overheat issues.

 

[rad1026]

Re: I think I fried my water pump

Ordered a kit from Doug Russell Marine. Looks like it includes everything. I can't wait to crack it open and see what happened.

 

[bishop1976]

Re: I think I fried my water pump

What happened?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: I think I fried my water pump

located in the upper unit

 

[cbear34]

Re: I think I fried my water pump

Looks pretty fried!
Is that the water cover?

 

[rad1026]

Re: I think I fried my water pump

I haven't received the parts yet. I will take some pics when I get it apart.

 

[rad1026]

Re: I think I fried my water pump

Ok here is a pic of my impeller. I definitely needed to replace it. I did the job yesterday. Didn't take me too long. It's a little cumbersome by yourself but I managed. So I started up the engine every thing ran nice and cool and water was flowing through the manifolds and back out the transom like it should. I do have a question, I probably just have never noticed before, but is water supposed to be shooting out the little hole on the lower front part of the outdrive? I took a pic, its on the starboard side. Just want to make sure this is normal. Thanks for the help.

Well I can't get the pic small enough to post, hopefully someone is familiar with the little hole I am talking about on the alpha I.

 

[bishop1976]

Re: I think I fried my water pump

Thats a drain for the lower unit. Mine does the same thing....it's normal.

 

[bishop1976]

Re: I think I fried my water pump

How bad was the old pump?

 

[rad1026]

Re: I think I fried my water pump

I wish I could get the pic posted but I don't have any software to resize. I wasn't horrible, but it had definitely melted on the upper edges and left some rubber on the housing. I won't make that stupid mistake again.

 

[Missxena]

Re: I think I fried my water pump

I wish I could get the pic posted but I don't have any software to resize.

Try this. I use it and it works great and is free. Scroll down to
lower left and you'll see Vso image resizer download.
http://www.vso-software.fr/download.php

I want to see what a messed up water pump looks like.
Mine wasn't bad when I put a new kit in last Fall.

 

[bishop1976]

Re: I think I fried my water pump

Mee too....SHOW ME YOUR FLAPPERS!!!!

 

[rad1026]

Re: I think I fried my water pump

Lol, Alright already. I'll get it on tomorrow. I have the pic on my computer at home.

 

[rad1026]

Re: I think I fried my water pump

Ok lets see if I can get these pics up. Water pump and housing. Hopefully you can see the melted edges of the rubber and the rubber on the inside of the housing. I didn't find any chunks anywhere. Second pic is the hole I was talking about in the lower part of the outdrive. There was a thread yesterday about doing a compression check and asking if you should be running water to the outdrive while cranking the engine. Someone responded, if the water is available why wouldn't you use it to keep the water pump lubed. I agree. Even a few turns inside the metal housing sleeve with a dry pump can't be that good.