Kohler 5e Impeller Life

[carterchapman]

When we bought "Reward" 10 months ago, the genny had 67 hours on it. MM performed a 200 hour service (engines had 157 hours), which they stated included replacing the impellers.

I start it once a week and run it loaded for 30 minutes as many of you have recommended. Now 25 genny hours later (92 total), water stopped coming out of the exhaust - no problems noticing this because it gets LOUD! As John H. stated, an impeller change is a 5 minute job.

What I found: All blades were intact, but the rubber appeared "loose" on its metal collar - allowing the collar to rotate, but not the rubber impeller. New impeller fixed the problem.

Now for the questions:
1. Place your bets - did MM change the impeller 10 months ago?

2. How long do these impellers last with regular usage?

Thanks,

 

[my3sons]

Hi Carter,
Good questions
According to the maintennance records provided by the PO, the impeller on our Kohler was changed in the fall last year. We put 20 hrs on the gen this year and labor day weekend I had to install my spare impeller. Bought another spare and had to give it to a buddy with a 5.3 E mid september to get him going again. His was not very many hours either.
Guess we will have to wait and see if this is a common problem. I know I won't go without a spare in the boat. The spare that I put in my boat and the one I gave by friend were Kohler parts. The one my friend replaced my spare with was a Shurwood. Don't know if one is better than the other or if they're made by the same manufacturer.
I put one impeller in the Westerbeke that was in my 330 in almost 10 years of ownership...???

 

[carterchapman]

Thanks Mark,

Yep - I just ordered two more for spares! We have two other 340's with 5e's on our dock, so someone will need them for sure. I ordered Kohler spares, but if I only get another 25 hours out of this one, I'll try a Shurwood next.

 

[carterchapman]

Found out that the Kohler gennys use Shurwood pumps - so all impellers are made by Shurwood - whether you get them in a Kohler box or a Shurwood box...

 

[Hampton]

The one that spun off sounds like it was defective. I've replaced mine twice in 3 years, and have put several hundred hours on the genny (can't remember, but maybe 6 or 800 hours). I think they like to be used. Also, mine is fresh water rinsed after use.

 

[carterchapman]

Thanks John,

That's what the parts man suggested also - possibly defective.

 

[Scupper Guppy]

A spun hub in the impeller is a defect. Check with whoever you bought the part from for their new parts warranty policy.

Other than that, the small Sherwood impeller will last about 1 year after it's been exposed to water. That's why the owners manual recommends replacing it yearly.