Lubricate new water impeller rubber ?

[rodsnguns]

I have seen various methods people use when replacing the water impeller in an older Johnson 60-70hp. Some say they like to apply a tiny film of some kind of slick um to the metal cup and I have heard some say to put er in the cup dry and that the water will.lube it enough. Not so sure. Opinions ? I have a small verbal spat going on with some friends. Haha.

 

[racerone]

Some dish soap makes it easier to assemble.-----Other than that , water is the perfect lubricant for an impeller !!

 

[Scott Danforth]

KY jelly works as a great impeller lube because it's water soluble

 

[saltchuckmatt]

I throw a little dish soap in there but it's not necessary. Who wins? Are you eating crow or your buddies?

 

[racerone]

The strut on a boat with straight inboard has a rubber bearing ( cutlass ) and it is water lubricated.----Most sailboats use this set-up.----They last for many, many hours if the water is clean,

 

[Captain Caveman]

The impeller is intended to be lubricated by water. The only time that you would consider using something besides that is if you intend on running the motor without water.

Some people think that for the initial startup, there isn't water in there to lubricate the impeller. This could be true of any motor that has sat all winter. It is usually not long enough to cause damage.

If anything, you could just wipe the metal cup with water. Dish soap and other things won't hurt but aren't really necessary.

 

[tpenfield]

+1 for dish soap.

 

[rodsnguns]

I throw a little dish soap in there but it's not necessary. Who wins? Are you eating crow or your buddies?

Since our yays and nays pretty much were even, we agreed upon "to each his own" . I take the thin film route, but I am an over doer with just about everything.

 

[Lpgc]

Always keep a tube of KY handy, it's for fixing the boat obviously lol

 

[Mc Tool]

It depends on the delay between assembly and the 1st run . If its straight away then a bit of water might do but if there is any significant delay Id go for the grease as even dish soap and KY will dry out and get real sticky and hard to turn ......maybe enough to damage the impeller.
When I built my motor I greased the impeller as I knew the the motor would be turned over by hand a few times as I race tuned (pottered and fiddled with )the motor, and that it would be a while before it was started .

 

[racerone]

A dry impeller will be submerged in water as soon as boat is launched.----There will never be any immediate damage to a properly fitted impeller.----No lubricant , other than water is needed !!

 

[rolmops]

I have seen various methods people use when replacing the water impeller in an older Johnson 60-70hp. Some say they like to apply a tiny film of some kind of slick um to the metal cup and I have heard some say to put er in the cup dry and that the water will.lube it enough. Not so sure. Opinions ? I have a small verbal spat going on with some friends. Haha.

spit on it and turn clockwise

 

[Jeff J]

What does the manual say?