Old impellers needed

[itstippy]

Calling all marine techs: If you tune motors for a living you must replace lots of impellers. Could one of you please throw the old ones into a box instead of the trash if the customer doesn't want them? If you could put a piece of masking tape on them with the year & make & HP (part #!) that would be great. Once you have a box full put it on eBay clearly stating that they are used and not suitable for repair work. I'll buy 'em.
I'm trying to determine what currently available impellers can be successfully modified to fit old outboards (various makes). I have a bunch of old outboards that need new rubber. It's way too expensive to experiment with new rubber. Once I know what part #'s will work by experimenting with old junk I'll order new and modify to suit. I'll also keep records of what works for what and find someplace to post it. Am I reinventing the wheel here? Has OMCOA already done something like this? Is there a place to find out what currently available impellers can be used as replacements for old outboards with minimum modification? I got some input earlier on another post about fabricating impellers that was very useful. If you've found a suitable replacement for an old model please post it on this link to share with others. Is there any place where manufacturers like Sierra show the inside diameter, outside diameter, and thickness of their impellers? Thanks!

 

[DJ]

Re: Old impellers needed

itstippy,

I think I've got two for you now. You can have them, I'll even pay the postage.

Send me your address at:

projectstoomany@juno.com

 

[itstippy]

Re: Old impellers needed

Thanks for the reply, DWJ. I can sure use 'em for my modification experiments. Very generous of you.

I've been thinking of how best to attack this project. The dream result would be a comprehensive Excel spreadsheet that allows people to look up a make, HP, and year outboard and find what currently available impellers can be used. That's a dream project, though. Putting something like that together would take a lifetime commitment. Just collecting a list of all the different outboard models took Peter Hunn many years. So what's next best?
I'm thinking a spreadsheet of available impellers that gives their part number, inside diameter, outside diameter, and thickness. Maybe number of vanes. That way someone trying to find a suitable impeller for his 1972 Arrow Outboard could measure what's left of his old ruined impeller, the diameter of the shaft it's on, and the diameter of the pump housing. Then check the chart to see what comes close enough to modify. I'll build a spreadsheet. Getting the parts numbers together won't be too difficult, it'll just take some time copying & pasting from websites that sell them (iBoats has 68 impellers available). But how to get the specs? I'll sniff around and see if Sierra and Bomby and Mercury have them and will provide them. It'd only help them sell more impellers, right? Maybe I'll post the spreadsheet in an open forum and ask people with access to new impeller stocks to spend some time in the parts room with a metal ruler and fill in the blanks. Gotta be a way.
Meanwhile I'll keep experimenting with modification techniques. The best so far are a drill press to enlarge the brass hub inside diameter and a belt sander to reduce thickness. I haven't tried trimming the vanes with an exacto knife yet but I will. That Arrow takes the dang wimpiest, whispiest impeller you've ever seen. I'll keep you posted.