Both impellers junk

[charlg]

As I posted in another thread, I was noticing steam coming out of the starboard through hull exhaust, but the temp gauge read normal. I was lucky enough to get a mechanic to look at it today. He started with the impeller on the starboard side. 5 fins were missing!! He was able to locate all of them. He called me to ask if I wanted to replace the other side too. I said hell yes. That one was missing 3 fins with a couple more ready to fall off!! Seven hours and $750 later the boat is running perfectly.

So, all of the advice to faithfully replace your impellers, is good advice. Obviously, the previous owner never did them.

 

[Jimmy Buoy]

Anyone know why the gauges would show normal temps with impellers that bad??

 

[The Bill Collector]

Anyone know why the gauges would show normal temps with impellers that bad??

barely enough water still getting pushed thru to keep it cool or bad gauges...........:huh:

 

[osd9]

.....So, all of the advice to faithfully replace your impellers, is good advice. Obviously, the previous owner never did them.

Did you buy Wingturd's old boat????

 

[jim_m5]

Charlg,

How old do you think the impellers were?

 

[charlg]

Don't know. I bought the boat last October from a boat yard that had done all of the maintenance on the boat since new. The risers look original too.

The gauges work. The starboard engine overheated on me last week, but I was able to run in reverese and clear the blockage. I thought I may have just picked up something on the outdrive.

 

[Skip]

Do not forget your generator impeller as well if your boat is so equipped. I replace all my impellers annually, in the spring, during recommissioning. This is cheap insurance. I also carry spares and an impeller puller for the mains, and spare generator impellers onboard.

 

[Hampton]

Anyone know why the gauges would show normal temps with impellers that bad??

Under normal circumstances, you don't need 100% of the raw water cooling available to keep the temps in check.

 

[Alex D]

Ughh that was expensive. I pay $256 per side including impeller for R&R and inspect the pumps.

 

[Quint4]

Replaced mine last Spring just for preventative maintenance....glad I did.

 

[charlg]

Ughh that was expensive. I pay $256 per side including impeller for R&R and inspect the pumps.

I thought it was too. But, I know that he spent a lot of time fishing the broken fins out of the engines.

 

[TheJoker]

How many hours did yall have on yours before you changed the impellers? Mine is a 2006 with 90 hours and I havent changed it yet. Is it a good idea to do it this year?

 

[comsnark]

Impeller replacement is a TIME and HOURS thing. It's not just how many hours you put on the impellers. . it's how old the material is. Someone more familiar than I can tell you better numbers for replacement intervals. My impellers are done "just because" every other season (about 100 some odd hours). In my case, I am doing it because of age.

 

[Alex D]

Merc only requires checking and replacing raw water pumps and impellers (IF required) every three years or 300 hours.

I have mine changed every three seasons.

 

[Alex D]

Replaced mine last Spring just for preventative maintenance....glad I did.

How many hours on these and how old were they??

 

[Quint4]

Don't know...it was in there when I bought the boat (2008).

 

[adamgll]

I had an impeller that was 15 years old mind you with only 350 hours and it looked brand new just the fins deformed a bit.