volvo 275 water pump question

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Tommywalton

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 23, 2010
Messages
170
I have a 275 drive and after replacing the impeller i cant get the thing to pull water up from a bucket to the engine. I have the lower unit in a large bucket with plenty of fresh water. when i run the engine it will not pull water up. the impeller is good. when i put the water hose into the hose leading to the lower pump the system works fine. it wont pick water up through the unit. this is my opinion. the boat either needs muffs to force it up or put in the lake and once moving the water will begin to circulate. once circulating the system will work. does that sound right to you guys or what? does the water lower water pump on a 270 just "circulate" water with litte pressure or is it supposed to be pumping like mad? thanks
 
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Tommywalton

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 23, 2010
Messages
170
Re: volvo 275 water pump question

Ok, you know I was thinking I should do that. I've had EVERY other part off! Do u think I should try to pull a small vacum on the unit from the Hose on the inlet side of the raw water pump? With the intake ports below water, not enough to pull water up through the transom. Just enough to see if it will hold? I dl the PDF for the drive last night. What your telling me is when the system is working correctly the raw water pump will suck plenty of water when at idle?
 
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captmello

Captain
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Jun 30, 2008
Messages
3,848
Re: volvo 275 water pump question

You certainly could try the vacuum test. There are only a couple of places it could be leaking air.

There is an oring between the lower and intermediate housings that can leak, however if you have the outdrive submerged in water it couldn't suck air since its under water in your scenario.

From that point it is solid up to the fitting I linked you to. There is a seal under that fitting that can fail, as well as the fitting itself can corrode. From there its just hoses and hose clamps to the raw water pump.
 
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Tommywalton

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 23, 2010
Messages
170
Re: volvo 275 water pump question

ok captmello, you have been very helpful. i isolated my raw water pump inlet via 5 gal bucket in floor of boat. everything works fine it works like it never has. thanks. now it is sucking air because when i attach the hose to the pipe neck coming from the drive i suck on it, no funny jokes please, i can hear air bubbles. now my next question. i see no way to really do what i want to do without removing parts. like the whole lower unit and all pieces to the transom plate. I also noticed that my top boot, the one that protects the shaft and ujoints is split. way bad i know. so i want to replace that and pray my u-joints are not to worn out. also the bushings in the unit have tons of slack, causing steering slop. If you were me, what would you do about what i've described? Im sure i can get the two allen head bolts out with much cussing but that boot is what has my attention now. and i've never greased the u-joints. (one summer on boat since i've owned it) so im sure they are dry. I downloaded the manual posted by don. thanks for your help
 
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