Stuck Impeller

MNshortliner

Had a really tough impeller on a V-drive that wouldn’t budge. Last time I changed it was probably 3-4 years ago, this boat doesn’t get used but maybe 15-20 hours a year. Impeller still looked pretty good, no missing fins. I have an impeller puller but that did not work. Ended up taking the water pump off the fly wheel to work on it in a vise.

Tried letting penetrating oil sit over night and still did nothing. Put the pump in a vise to pull with 2 Vise Grips and still stuck. Also hit it with a hammer and punch on the inside of the impeller core but that did not break it loose. So I ended up using a wood chisel to cut slices down the rubber of the impeller and removed all the rubber off the core.



I did not have any short thin saws-all blades so cut down a shorty with a regular tin snips. Carefully cut trough the core about 80-90% thru the brass so not to hit the splined shaft.




Split the core of the impeller with a hammer and screw driver and it popped right off. After the core came off I inspected the splined shaft and could not find one mark on it from the saw blade. I did use some anti seize on the shaft but after a couple of years it may not keep it from doing this again next time.

Minelickskier

Wow! Never seen one like that...had you known it was going to be this bad maybe just get a new pump

Rednucleus

Moral of the story - take out impeller yearly and leave it out if you do a winter layup.

oldjeep

Why didn't the impeller puller work?

MNshortliner

@oldjeep the shaft of the water pump and the impeller where stuck together. The hooks on the impeller puller would just “slip” on the rubber.

I posted this to maybe help someone out in the future. Once I decided to cut it out, it was out in about 30 minutes not really a big deal. I don’t plan on pulling the impeller every year and leaving it out.

oldjeep

Weird, the puller is supposed to grab the hub. Good you got it out. I replace mine every 2 to 3 years and luckily have not had one get stuck like that.

2Valve

Replace yearly independent of hours. It's cheap insurance in the long run.

oldjeep

I don't know - in the long run it has been cheap to change it every 150 hours or so and keep a spare in the glovebox for an emergency. Even after 150 they are like new unless you are running them dry. Waste of resources to be throwing away perfectly good impellers.

A_B

Did you put antifreeze in the pump for winter?
I always thought that helped keep it lubricated over winter and initial fireup in Spring.
ab

oldjeep

Some antifreeze might make it into the raw water pump output side, because I fill the engine through the top of J hose on the circ pump. (pour it in)

jpwhit

I suspect you just needed a better quality puller that grabbed the hub instead of the rubber part of the impeller. Which puller do you have?

Jody_Seal

Might have to press the whole pump assembly apart. Change the seal and maybe even bearings while you have it apart. V

MDB1056

At the outset change every other year, regardless of hours or how it looks. You lose one blade into your cooling passages an it’s go fish.

A_B

what does a new pump cost?

oldjeep

$150 or so for the standard Johnson FB6 type pump

A_B

I would get a new pump and work on the old one when I found spare time... keep it as a backup for next time!

Minelickskier

For a pump you could call skidim at 800 345 0996. These guys are a great resource for ski boat parts and they are very knowledgeable. Ask for Vince

MNshortliner

@jpwhit This is the impeller puller I have. It is not designed to grab anything but the rubber core and dig its claws into the rubber to remove the impeller. I don’t see how you could get to the back of the impeller to bypass the rubber and get the hooks onto the back side of the metal. In the vise I had 2 vise grip needle nose pliers locked on and it did not budge while giving it a good “yank”. That’s why I ended up cutting it out.




@oldjeep i also have probably 5 impellers laying around and in boats from pulling them and installing new ones. All look new and great for back ups.

jpwhit

The metal hub molded into the impeller doesn't go all the way to the front and back of the impeller. This is what I use. If you put it all the way in and clamp the jaws down really tight, the jaws will push through the rubber and grab onto the hub.

pcmcon729

@jpwhit I like that puller design. Where did you get it?

oldjeep

It's a Jabsco puller
https://www.amazon.com/Jabsco-50070-0080-Impeller-Compact-Diameter/dp/B000O8D2Z8