Water pump replacent questions

[CorvetteOnWater]

In the process of changing the water pump assembly on an Alpha 1 ist gen.

Couple questions, the water pump kit cam with more o-rings and gaskets than I removed from the set up. What are these for?

Second the impeller is larger than the pump housing is that the way it supposed to be? basically wedged in there curved after turning the shaft?

Plus how do you pressure test the system?

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: Water pump replacent questions

Did you buy a kit for a Gen I or a Gen II? Second, yes, the impeller should be a little bigger, when you put the impeller in, you should turn it counter-clockwise (I'm 95% sure) so all blades are curved into form.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Water pump replacent questions

Some kits are "multi-use" .The Sierra hit 3317 includes 3 different gaskets and O rings for the 3 different water pump base that were used also this kit is used for the larger mercury outboards.
just match up the old and you`ll be fine.
Impeller is slightly larger but the "counterclockwise rotation" is holding the housing in your right hand and turning the impeller into the housing with your left hand counterclockwise.Another way is to insert the impeller on the driveshaft and lower the housing ,turning the shaft clockwise.
Pressure testing can be done with a hand tire pump,not sure of the exact setting but I use 15lbs holding for 15 minutes.

 

[CorvetteOnWater]

Re: Water pump replacent questions

Some kits are "multi-use" .The Sierra hit 3317 includes 3 different gaskets and O rings for the 3 different water pump base that were used also this kit is used for the larger mercury outboards.
just match up the old and you`ll be fine.
Impeller is slightly larger but the "counterclockwise rotation" is holding the housing in your right hand and turning the impeller into the housing with your left hand counterclockwise.Another way is to insert the impeller on the driveshaft and lower the housing ,turning the shaft clockwise.
Pressure testing can be done with a hand tire pump,not sure of the exact setting but I use 15lbs holding for 15 minutes.

Please explain hand tire pump and where does it hook up?

As for inserting the impeller I've read to lube up the housing with grease, and I've also heard dish soap, which should I use?

This is really the first time I ever tried working on a drive, I am fairly competent with auto work. The big thing is some of the part names are unfamiliar with me.

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: Water pump replacent questions

I prefer soap or silicone spray. I just don't like putting grease on rubber. I know, I know, it's washed out. It's a personal thing...Leave me alone
Don't forget the little Quad ring between the upper and lower unit.

 

[CorvetteOnWater]

Re: Water pump replacent questions

I prefer soap or silicone spray. I just don't like putting grease on rubber. I know, I know, it's washed out. It's a personal thing...Leave me alone
Don't forget the little Quad ring between the upper and lower unit.

Whats the "quad ring"?

 

[cannonford57]

Re: Water pump replacent questions

its actually the seal for the oil between the upper and lower sections.looking from the top of the wp housing is should be about 2 oclock or so to the ds.small recessed area

 

[ziggy]

Re: Water pump replacent questions

Second the impeller is larger than the pump housing is that the way it supposed to be? basically wedged in there curved after turning the shaft?

i think when the water pump is all put together. that some of the vanes will be straighter and other will be real curved. this is because the impeller is offset from center. the vanes of the impeller strighten out then get bent over then striaghten out again thru a revolution of the impeller. the water gets collected when the vans are the straightest. the water gets squished out as the vanes get bent over. the water exits towards feeding the engine it's water supply.

Plus how do you pressure test the system?

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=288430
check out #8....

Another way is to insert the impeller on the driveshaft and lower the housing ,turning the shaft clockwise.

that's how i do it. learned to do it that way from the mercruiser service manual...

Please explain hand tire pump and where does it hook up?

see sticky #8 again..

The big thing is some of the part names are unfamiliar with me

read the service manual. you get that from #9 in the sticky. you'd want #6 for your genI drive...

I prefer soap

me too. soapy water...

Whats the "quad ring"?

a quad ring. it's the only seal between the upper and the lower. as noted before. it's location is starboard side, slightly fore of center...

get your service manual and have a read. a lot of info in it... part names, service proceedures. pics. lots of stuff...

 

[Mike250]

Re: Water pump replacent questions

I've always used dish soap and it seems to work well. Greese is just a pain in the backside.

 

[CorvetteOnWater]

Re: Water pump replacent questions

Can I reuse the quad ring if it's undamaged?

 

[ziggy]

Re: Water pump replacent questions

i wouldn't. that's the only seal between the upper and lower... do you really want to take a chance of water intrusion or letting the gear lub leak out for a silly little oring..

 

[CorvetteOnWater]

Re: Water pump replacent questions

My issue was not cost on the quad ring but availability. I am 30 miles from a boat dealer. Alas it turns out the waterpump kit came with one I just did not see it.

Now on the drive shaft coming out of the water pump housing, at the top of the shaft is the teeth and below that there is a recess carved into it. Is that where the rubber 3/4 or so size o-ring goes?

 

[ziggy]

Re: Water pump replacent questions

Alas it turns out the waterpump kit came with one I just did not see it.

yep, comes in the kit..

Now on the drive shaft coming out of the water pump housing, at the top of the shaft is the teeth and below that there is a recess carved into it. Is that where the rubber 3/4 or so size o-ring goes? Today 09:50 AM

yes. but that one is obsolete... i can't even tell you what the oring does. maybe keep grease in the splines, i've really no idea. what i do know is that as the 1 drive progressed thru revisions towards the alpha1. that slot for the oring was eliminated on the drive shaft. so ya can't put it there since there's no where to put it. that oring can cause problems if it becomes dislodged during assembly too. i guess it gets caught between the seal in the upper and the drive shaft thus creating problems with the lower seal in the upper....
i've personaly replaced that oring on several counts on my drive and got away with it. but it is painful to replace. it comes off everytime your seperate the halfs. this year i left it w/o. i've read it enough to believe that it is not nesseasay. so far so good. and i really don't expect any ramifications from going w/o that oring..

 

[meesh]

Re: Water pump replacement questions

Re: Water pump replacement questions

Did away with that O ring a couple of years ago, you'll be fine. There was a Mercruiser bulletin that said not to use it, Don can probably lead you to that.

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: Water pump replacent questions

That carved recess is for the impeller key. The impeller key is that little piece of metal, it should fit in there perfectly.

 

[CorvetteOnWater]

Re: Water pump replacent questions

That carved recess is for the impeller key. The impeller key is that little piece of metal, it should fit in there perfectly.

No I was not alking about the impeller key, the previous two posts addressed it.

The pressurizing process. I'm not sure how the hook ups go, anyone have a picture of it set up?