Impeller Issues...will not go all the way down drive shaft!

[Allmand]

Hello,
I have a pre-alpha drive.....got a new impeller kit. I had to cut the existing impellar off with a dremel (would not come off shaft, but was moving up and down shaft about 1/8 of inch...so not frozen to shaft, so I am not sure why it would not slide up, so I cut it off. I think the brass ring inside the impeller was bent, or the shaft key was jammed. Anyway, got a kit from West Marine ( i know, bad idea). Unbolted bottom drive, the impeller was BAD! started with installing the new one. The bottom gasket, the metal gasket, and the top gasket matched up to the bolt pattern and the water port perfectly. Well, without even using the shaft key, I slid the impeller down the shaft to make sure it fit.

Well, it stops right above where it would normally make contact with the shaft key and now WILL NOT MOVE! Feels like it locked into place or something. Has not even made it down far enough for the shaft key to be causing the issue, so I know thats not the problem. But now the impeller will not come off the shaft! Totally stuck, will not go up or down? What the heck? I though most of the older merc lowers were basically the same. Anyone have any idea why the impeller stopped right above the shaft key and now is stuck on, completely locked on? I think I am going to have to cut this one off too!

a 1hr job has now turned into a weekend!

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Impeller Issues...will not go all the way down drive shaft!

There is a burr on the shaft , sometimes happens if the old impeller needs to be removed with a grinder after its been destroyed. a fine cut file should remove the burr , CAFEFULLY

 

[ziggy]

Re: Impeller Issues...will not go all the way down drive shaft!

agree w bt doc. sure sounds like a burr on the drive shaft. while i've not had that happen personally with an impeller install, i sure have with other stuff. the trick now is to remove the new impeller w/o damage now that it's locked in place by the burr. that no doubt the burr points in the direction of install, not removal. in other words removal will likely make it lock harder into place. finesse it off best ya can. maybe if ya damage it to badly ya can go replace it with a mercruiser impeller. + don't forget to file the burr off the drive shaft. which i'm sure ya won't...

 

[dollarten]

Re: Impeller Issues...will not go all the way down drive shaft!

agree w bt doc. sure sounds like a burr on the drive shaft. while i've not had that happen personally with an impeller install, i sure have with other stuff. the trick now is to remove the new impeller w/o damage now that it's locked in place by the burr. that no doubt the burr points in the direction of install, not removal. in other words removal will likely make it lock harder into place. finesse it off best ya can. maybe if ya damage it to badly ya can go replace it with a mercruiser impeller. + don't forget to file the burr off the drive shaft. which i'm sure ya won't...

Take a couple of big screwdrivers and a coupe pieces of wood and place the wood right by the gearcase attaching studs and pry upwords in order to disloge the pump / impeller, being carefull and logic must prevail here

 

[Allmand]

Re: Impeller Issues...will not go all the way down drive shaft!

Yeah, that sounds about right. There were a few nicks that had burrs on it. I should have known to smooth them out...first boat and learning the hard way. But as always you guys make it easier....thanks for the help!