Water pump gasket/sealant question

[utskicat]

I'm confused about whether to use gasket sealant (perfect seal) or not when replacing my pre-alpha water pump. The Seloc manual I have says to do it and Ed at sterndrives.com (http://www.sterndrives.com/replace_alpha_one_waterpump.html) says to do it. However, Chris's video on YouTube says NOT to use any.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev4NVyyyIkU (at 10:20).

Which is it?

 

[hosteter]

Gasket sealant is not bad.i use it on almoust every gaskets i replace.it helps to seal better if there are any bumps.but not too much.just apply a little on each side.that is my opinion.

 

[ziggy]

I'm confused about whether to use gasket sealant (perfect seal) or not when replacing my pre-alpha water pump

i assume yer talking about using it on the gaskets them selves.

Which is it?

it's no sealant.
ditch the seloc manual and get a real mercruiser manual. the mercruiser manual is the facts from mercruiser, the seloc is someone interpretation of the real one.
i just read the real manual, #2 (memory refresh, i've read it over and over many times). it does talk about using perfect seal. but it's regarding the stainless steel insert to the housing (which is irrelevant today as the ss insert come preinstalled on a new housing). not the gaskets.

i've been putting them on dry (the gaskets) for years w/o issue.
sure would be a bummer to have to take the water pump housing off if it was glued on.

 

[flipbro]

X2 No sealer.

 

[stonyloam]

3X No sealant. Since the impeller replacement is part of routine maintanance using sealant on the gaskets would only make it more difficult. Any tiny leakage between the housing and gasket would be insignificant, as the impeller pumps gallons of seawater per minute and especially since the area around the pump (exhaust passage) is filled with water anyway.

 

[thumpar]

X2 on ditching the Seloc manual. You can use it as a knee pad but that its only use. X4 on no sealant. I have never used it on the seawater pump.

 

[utskicat]

Okay...I will ditch the Seloc. Is there anywhere I can still download the Merc manual? Most of the links I've seen posted here no longer work.

Also, I am replacing the water pump base as well. Same thing...no sealant on the gasket under the base either?

Lastly, my lower drive shaft (coming out of the water pump) has the o-ring groove. Do you guys agree to NOT replace the o-ring and just leave it off as many how-to videos on youtube suggest due to the problems it causes?

 

[ziggy]

Is there anywhere I can still download the Merc manual?

i can't help ya there, sorry. but if yer gonna have yer boat for a while, perhaps just buy the book. i've had two boats, one the needed manual #1 and the next boat needed manual #2. i got both off ebay. i never shop ebay, but for them two manuals it worked well. had me a couple jet skis too. both of them i got the oem manuals for too. imho, the factory manual is the best tool in the tool box.

can't help ya on the base either. i've never had to service mine, yet. when i need to, i will consult my oem manual and use whatever sealant is recommended.

Lastly, my lower drive shaft (coming out of the water pump) has the o-ring groove. Do you guys agree to NOT replace the o-ring and just leave it off

yep, leave it off. i haven't had mine on for years w/o ramification. my proof for that is that if ya were to buy a new replacement drive shaft from mercruiser, it would come w/o the groove and you'd be forced into not using the o ring cause there'd be no where to install it. while to oem s/m does say use the o ring. there are times when updates come into play. imho, this is one of them times.

 

[flipbro]

No sealer on base gasket. Just a little gear lube on O ring and seal lips when assembling.

 

[stonyloam]

Boatinfo http://boatinfo.no/lib/library.html# Has manuals. You can't download them, but I think you can print the pages you need. I think the Gen II is manual # 14. You need a computer with Adobe, can't see them on a iPad.

 

[thumpar]

What year are you working on? I may be able to help with a copy of the manual.

 

[utskicat]

Okay, I got the whole set of Mercruiser manuals in pdf form. I have a 1975 MC1 drive (from an 888). I can't seem to find the location of the water pump replacement. Anyone know where to look?

 

[ziggy]

s/m #2. pp 6A4 and 6A12

 

[utskicat]

s/m #2. pp 6A4 and 6A12

Thanks! Found it!