Water pump on 25HP outboard

[alfa]

Hello everyone,
I have a 1993 25ESHR outboard mounted on a RIB that purchased last fall and trying to get it to work. When I started it there was no water coming out of the peehole and the alarm went on in about a minute so I opened the lower unit and the impeller was pretty much gone.
No big deal I thought - ordered a new pump kit and changed impeller, plates seal and cup...used old housing and the rubber seal that goes on top of it as well as the old housing bolts and plates.

Have tried the boat with earmuffs and the drive submerged in a garbage can with water and nothing out of the engine. Removed lower unit again and stuck my garden hose nozzle where the pump housing connects to the tube going up the drive and water came out the peehole like a charm so I think thermostat and the rest aren't clogged. The water pump inside the cup is dry as if no water has gone in at all, some rubber burn marks from new impeller spinning dry and nothing else. Also water goes in the lower unit as I can see level rising when I submerge jsut lower unit in the tub full of water...

So seems like the pump is not sucking up any water and pushing it in - any ideas? I'm really dumbfound at this point and it's killing me that is not working.

Please help - I've looked at many threads before posting and though many on water pumps and cooling, nothing like this as far as I've seen.
Any ideas?

Thanks and have a nice day

 

[passingwindII]

Re: Water pump on 25HP outboard

you sure you installed the impeller going in the correct direction?

 

[alfa]

Re: Water pump on 25HP outboard

as far as I understand there is only one way for the impeller to go in as only the under side has the groove for the half circle pin on the shaft (forgot what that little thing is called)...besides there is no slant on the impeller wings and I'd think it should push water both ways on forward and reverse so it looks symmetric....

 

[dbakara]

Re: Water pump on 25HP outboard

If the pump housing is dry inside, you are either misaligning the drive shaft when reattaching the lower unit thus the engine runs but the drive shart isn't turning or the lock key isn't engaging correctly. Try lubricating the impeller good with mechanics hand wash(the kind in the tub that looks like cold cream). It will easily turn the impeller in the correct direction(It is very slippery and breaks down quickly w/water) if you install it backwards. Make sure you turn the drive shaft and feel the impeller turning before you install the lower unit. You can have someone slowwwwllly turn the flywheel as you insert the driveshaft so you can feel the shaft slip into place. Make sure you put a little grease on the driveshaft splines first.