impeller installation, I did it, but where did I go wrong?

joetheis

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 21, 2014
Messages
308
This is on a '91 Evinrud 70 HP outboard.
Got the boat home and now to go over it with a fine tooth comb, (bought it a month ago, went straight to the water), winterize it.
I got a new impeller and figured the lower unit is a good starting point.
On my defense I've done 4 before, 3 smaller outboards, my Mercruiser, so I kinda sorta know how.
I've been spinning wrenches on things with wheels and tracts for 4 decades, so busting knuckles isn't new to me either.
Got it apart, old one was bad, not "Reeses Pieces", but soonth.
Watch a few "U Tube" on how... "Just turn shaft clockwise while putting pressure on cover and it'll fall right in. Lube plate and impeller with dish soup to lube".
Ok....................................... Well 3 hours later it's still out!
I tried that, kept peeling the "O" ring off, no way was that bad boy going in.
Tried zip ties, hose clamps to form the impeller and start.
Finally I took a long 5/8" threaded rod 2 large washers and a couple of nuts and slipped it in the cover and worked the impeller into the cover using the threaded rod and washers and nuts to put a bit of pressure on the impeller and work the fingers, slid the cover onto base!
Not quite like how the instructions and "U Tube" did it.
Now that it's in, (was too dark to install the lower unit, so I dropped the oil and called it a night), WHERE did I go wrong and what are the tips to getting those darn finger in place??
Joe
If it was easy, it wouldn't break!
 

racerone

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 28, 2013
Messages
39,235
Never have a problem with putting the pump housing down while spinning the shaft.--------Little bit of down pressure and it is together.-------What O-ring are you using on this motor ??
 

joetheis

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 21, 2014
Messages
308
I got the complete impeller kit form this site, (I didn't know what I'd find my first time in there and figured replace EVERYTHING.
I thought after a while MAYBE the impeller was too big or???, but when I straighten the old one out, it was a perfect match.
I had glued the cover "O" ring onto the impeller cover with gasket shelac, and that was the "O" ring it kept coming out of it's groove.
It was just a real pain in the a**!
Joe
 

emdsapmgr

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 9, 2005
Messages
11,551
The impeller is larger that the stainless cup that surrounds it, so it should be somewhat difficult to get the impeller to fold up inside it's housing. Couple of tips. You can put some light grease on the impeller tips. That will lubricate it during installation. When you get the impeller located, hold it's housing above the impeller with firm downward pressure, with the left hand. Twist the driveshaft in a clockwise motion with the right hand. As you slowly rotate the driveshaft, the blades of the impeller will fold up into the housing in the correct orientation once you re-start the engine.
 

joetheis

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 21, 2014
Messages
308
Pretty much that's what I did, but I used dish soap as a lube, (U Tube said it lubes and washes away, makes sense).
I pushed down and turned clockwise til my blood psi built!!
The others I did went 1,2,3, this one was just evil!
Joe
 
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