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