no water pump gasket, 1998?

[longshanks]

So I dropped the lower unit on my motor, and lifted the water jacket, only to find that there is no gasket between the water jacket and the face plate / top of the jet pump on my motor. My shop manual shows that there should be one there. I am pretty sure this is the way it came from the factory.

It is a '98 jet 45, s/n OG661864, and I am in the process of replacing the water pump. I'm the third owner, and it doesn't look like it's ever been done. Old impeller looks good, but I see a stamp '97' on it, telling me it's the original.

Can anybody tell me if I should hunt down a gasket to put in there, even though there wasn't one on the motor when I took it apart? I'm scratching my head on this one.

cheers,

 

[CharlieB]

Re: no water pump gasket, 1998?

Usually, the gasket is necessary to seal the pump plate and prevent the pump from sucking in air as the drive raises while underway.

A jet pump supplies positive water pressure to the water pump even tho the water pump body is above the water line while underway.

It never hurts to have the gasket for peace of mind but a jet pump IS a slightly different creature.

Impeller replacement on a regular schedule NEVER toasted a motor from lack of cooling. It is a little more of a chore on a jet, but the cost of one engine rebuild makes it very worthwhile to do it at least every-other year.

 

[longshanks]

Re: no water pump gasket, 1998?

gasket is on order. thanks for this information Charlie, I appreciate it.