Expensive Impeller Change??

[bjac]

I know I've seen other postings here for changing impellers but since I am not that mechanically inclined I asked the mechanic at our marina to change mine. I was at 150hrs running time and thought I would rather get it done now before the boat goes back in the water and also just to see how much wear was on it after that amount of time.
The impeller had very little wear, just a couple small nicks out of one of the wings. The mechanic charged me 4 hours at $78/hr plus parts. This totalled approx. $350. Is this charge normal for an impeller change on a single engine, 2008, Merc 350 Mag MPI. He did say this was his first on this engine and did have a little trouble getting the water pump out until he realized he had to loosen and move the fuel pump. But really................$350. That gets expensive if I decided to change it every 60 or 70 hours. Is this a normal charge?
Thanks for your input!

 

[r.j.dawg]

I just replaced mine. $59 for the water pump kit and $85 for 1 hour labor. ~$162 with tax.

 

[billnpat]

I know I've seen other postings here for changing impellers but since I am not that mechanically inclined I asked the mechanic at our marina to change mine. I was at 150hrs running time and thought I would rather get it done now before the boat goes back in the water and also just to see how much wear was on it after that amount of time.
The impeller had very little wear, just a couple small nicks out of one of the wings. The mechanic charged me 4 hours at $78/hr plus parts. This totalled approx. $350. Is this charge normal for an impeller change on a single engine, 2008, Merc 350 Mag MPI. He did say this was his first on this engine and did have a little trouble getting the water pump out until he realized he had to loosen and move the fuel pump. But really................$350. That gets expensive if I decided to change it every 60 or 70 hours. Is this a normal charge?
Thanks for your input!

Not being mechanically inclined, i would say since he admitted it was his first on your engine, seems to me it was a learning experience for him at your expense :smt009

 

[jason78]

I have been told 3 hours is what the book says but I don't know for sure. On the impeller changes alot of it depends on how easy it is to get to. On a 260 it is a good bit easier to get to than other boats. I think I remember someone here reported after he had a "system" worked out, he was able to change impellers on a 280 (harder to get to than yours) in about an hour each.

How long has this mechanic been in business? This pump is the same on the other Merc MPI Small Blocks equipped with a Bravo 3. Quite possibly one of the more common in the last 9-10 years. It seems strange to me this is his first time changing an impeller on a Merc Small Block/Bravo 3 unless he just started out or specialized in Volvo or something else until recently.

 

[tbirdvet]

Not sure about how much your mechanic charges but change the impeller every 200-300 hrs depending about conditions and time. Changing every 60 hours is too soon and expensive in my opinion.

 

[Presentation]

I have a different Merc V8 so I’d like someone who does their own impeller changes with 5.7L Mag like your engine to comment.

I do not need to loosen my fuel pump to change my impeller. Just because the mechanic did it does not mean it had to be done.

My marina’s charg of $115/hour x 2 ½ hours + shop supplies plus a very big markup on the part would put their price similar to yours. So the price is in line to a maximum of $50 high if they did not include the part and that is not worth arguing with them.

You and I need the impeller 862232A 2 $33/each @ JMS online. This kit comes with the impeller and a O-ring.

The tools needed to do this job are open end wrenches and a socket set. The most exotic tool is a 9/16 deep socket.

This is a job that is most difficult the first time you do it.

Do you have a desire to learn how to do this job yourself? If fear of messing something up is holding you back we can give you step by step directions and be here for you if you get into the project then have a question. If you don’t know what to do we can teach you. If you just want to make sure you were not ripped off, then I can tell you that you were not. If your price was high, it was not crazy rip-off high.

If you just don’t want to spend your personal time turning a wrench on your boat due to a lack of desire or your value of your personal time I do respect that but I cannot solve that issue.

Please note: I have nothing but respect for professional mechanics. I need them for the more advanced items. I’ve simply chosen to become a DIY do it yourself person for the items I can for the benefits of seamanship (education/understanding), self-satisfaction, and cost savings.

On the subject of seamanship, this project will force you to know how to remove and reinstall your serpentine belt. Belts sometimes fall off. This project would help you have one more item on your list of things you could correct at sea. If you then choose to carry onboard a spare serpentine belt plus some basic tools like I do you can change a weekend ruining issue into a brief break from the boating activities.

An impeller change is a reasonable DIY project for a person with desire to do DIY projects regardless of their mechanical history. Do you have this desire?

 

[Presentation]

I just replaced mine. $59 for the water pump kit and $85 for 1 hour labor. ~$162 with tax.

Marc, I am happy for you but to be clear, you got a very unusually low price on the labor portion of your bill. Again, good for you but it’s not reasonable for others here to expect this price.

 

[JerryS]

I change the impeller every three years. Mechanic charges around $320. I would do it myself, but, it is just too difficult for me to get to the pump.

 

[330DA]

My SR Dealer charges $350,or $700 for twins. I think I paid about $60/each for a complete kit on-line (housing, impeller, o-ring, backing plate, bolts). Rule of thumb is 2 years or every 100 hours to change them out.

Here is one thing most DIYers don't do. You should use Mercury Special Lube 101 on the shaft and base of the pump where the impeller is seated. It's light green in color. A tube is about $14 and there is enough to last many life times doing it yourself.

 

[bjac]

I have a different Merc V8 so I’d like someone who does their own impeller changes with 5.7L Mag like your engine to comment.

I do not need to loosen my fuel pump to change my impeller. Just because the mechanic did it does not mean it had to be done.

My marina’s charg of $115/hour x 2 ½ hours + shop supplies plus a very big markup on the part would put their price similar to yours. So the price is in line to a maximum of $50 high if they did not include the part and that is not worth arguing with them.

You and I need the impeller 862232A 2 $33/each @ JMS online. This kit comes with the impeller and a O-ring.

The tools needed to do this job are open end wrenches and a socket set. The most exotic tool is a 9/16 deep socket.

This is a job that is most difficult the first time you do it.

Do you have a desire to learn how to do this job yourself? If fear of messing something up is holding you back we can give you step by step directions and be here for you if you get into the project then have a question. If you don’t know what to do we can teach you. If you just want to make sure you were not ripped off, then I can tell you that you were not. If your price was high, it was not crazy rip-off high.

If you just don’t want to spend your personal time turning a wrench on your boat due to a lack of desire or your value of your personal time I do respect that but I cannot solve that issue.

Please note: I have nothing but respect for professional mechanics. I need them for the more advanced items. I’ve simply chosen to become a DIY do it yourself person for the items I can for the benefits of seamanship (education/understanding), self-satisfaction, and cost savings.

On the subject of seamanship, this project will force you to know how to remove and reinstall your serpentine belt. Belts sometimes fall off. This project would help you have one more item on your list of things you could correct at sea. If you then choose to carry onboard a spare serpentine belt plus some basic tools like I do you can change a weekend ruining issue into a brief break from the boating activities.

An impeller change is a reasonable DIY project for a person with desire to do DIY projects regardless of their mechanical history. Do you have this desire?

I agree with you on the learning curve idea. Yes I want to learn how to do the basic service items like this. Since this was my first impeller change I wanted him to do it so I could see the proper way etc. I did learn a lot. My 2008 engine model has the fuel pump just left of the water pump and when you go to slide the water pump out after undoing all the bolts and hoses it hits the front port side engine housing....so you have to loosen the fuel pump and move it to the left in order to slide out the water pump. The other problem I noticed when he was doing the job was when he got the bolts out, the hoses free, the fuel pump moved, he grabbed the flywheel on the front of the water pump to pull it out and the whole darned flywheel and shaft came straight out leaving the pump there. It has never leaked or given me any problems but it took little effort to pull that wheel and shaft out of the pump. He obviously later re-seated the wheel and shaft after changing the parts with the kit. I did not see him do this part but I assume it was done with a puller of some kind.
I appreciate your input here and I have used the forum on several occasions for questions, my input regarding others problems etc. I find the forums very good for information and my saved threads file is going into a rather large information package.

Thanks again to all!


I

 

[Hellman Huddle]

It's about an hour job! I did mine, the hardest part is jamming the impellar in that small hole. No way I would pay $350, you got hosed!

 

[Angry Ranch Hand]

When I've had the shop do it it included other services as well.
Oil change, battery load check etc., impeller change out(s), (direct drive alignment) and we use the off-season discount service card we got from the dealer in the mail.

Just a straight impeller change-out should be $175 for a single engine. Unless it's the Jabsco pump, which should be much cheaper.
Dealers always charge way way more, so I'll find a independent shop if price becomes an issue and the pump is awkward and hard to get at.

 

[rondds]

I had the marina do my port engine back in 2004. I gave them the impeller (I picked it up b/c my original intention was to do it myself) and the bill, with tax, was around $380.00. That was the last one they did for me. Just did it for a second go around (every 3 seasons) and it takes me about 1h15m per engine. This boat has extremely bad access so it is exhausting but quite do-able once you figure out how to lay just right. I use dish soap on install - works fine and despite that 5 seconds of running dry (if that), I have never lost a vane on an impeller. Save the $14 for gas money.