Should I change the impellor? 1977 Black Max 175

[dezmond]

Hey Everyone..

I have a 1977 Black Max 175HP motor that we got mounted on the boat on the weekend and fired it up with water muffs..

Lot's of water coming out of the propellor but I only saw a few times it coming out of the tell tail (peehole) spout. Should I be concerend that the impellor is not working right?

ANy suggestions or advice would be great. I want to get the boat in the water this upcoming weekend.

Thanks everyone!

Dezi

 

[j_martin]

Re: Should I change the impellor? 1977 Black Max 175

Run a coat hanger up the tell-tale to evict the spider family and see if it helps.

Check the temp of the heads. You should be able to touch them without getting scalded.

If the water supply to the engine is very cold, it might not pass much water through the thermostats. All the water at the tell-tale has to go through the t-stats first.

If there's a lot of water flow, and not much at the t-stats, and it's pretty hot, then you probably have a poppet valve stuck open.

hope it helps
john

 

[dezmond]

Re: Should I change the impellor? 1977 Black Max 175

I will try the coat hanger.. It is cold water from the hose at the hose and a lot of it.. So it may not be making ti's way up.. I guess for the cost of a water pump kit, it would be worth the change to be safe ehh???

Thanks John for the tip.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Should I change the impellor? 1977 Black Max 175

Dezi, Those impellers need to be replaced every couple of years. It sounds like your's hasn't been changed......

 

[dezmond]

Re: Should I change the impellor? 1977 Black Max 175

proly not knowing my luck. I am taking to the shop on Thursday to have them do it and also take a quick look over the motor before I go out with it.. I did have it running with the watermuffs on it on Saturday night. Block didnt get too hot. I want to make sure it is in good shape for the first launch... Got a little 9.9 kicker on backup incase we get stuck...

Wish Me Luck!

 

[mc3po]

Re: Should I change the impeller? 1977 Black Max 175

Re: Should I change the impeller? 1977 Black Max 175

As a rule of thumb. Any time you pull the lower unit on any marine out drive or outboard the impeller should at (at a minimum) be checked for cracking and wear. If any are present, the impeller should be replaced. It is cheaper to replace a pump than a power head.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Should I change the impellor? 1977 Black Max 175

Gee, Do you routinely pull the gearcase, if you do not have seal or waterpump problems? Is that some sort of periodic maintenance tasker that I am not aware of?

 

[j_martin]

Re: Should I change the impellor? 1977 Black Max 175

I pull mine once per year in the spring, specifically to check/replace the water pump impeller. I consider it preventative maintenance.

hope it helps
John

 

[dezmond]

Re: Should I change the impellor? 1977 Black Max 175

I think that is a good idea John. I am going to have the motor completly looked over before I go out.. I don't need anything to go too bad out there.. We are going to cruise the river and channels before we go out in the inner bay to open it up...

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Should I change the impellor? 1977 Black Max 175

Impellers will last several years, provided you stay in clean water. If you power thru the muck/sand/silt, the impeller will wear out quickly.