Mercruiser 3.7 water pump impeller removal????

[vjcthree]

I was trying to do the cam seal repair this weekend, I got to the part where I take off the impeller and it will not come off. I have tried everything, It is the impeller with the head shape on it. It is now all stripped and I am not feeling to good about the rest of the way. I am turning the engine when I try to get it off. Should I put the balencer back on and use it to stop the motor from rotating? any help would be great at this point thanks

[boattoy]

its left hand thread... turn CLOCKWISE to remove. try heating up a little with torch to loosen any loc-tite.

[vjcthree]

I tried its just rotatating the engine and stripping the head

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Here is a page out of book with two types of mounting, which do you have?

[vjcthree]

The new style do I need to take the center bolt out ?

[stonyloam]

The new style do I need to take the center bolt out ?

That would do it. Will probably have to heat it to loosen the locktite. It looks like the bolt in the left photo has notches in it indicating left hand thread also. Better check with a Merc dealer so you will know which way to turn the stud to remove it.

[vjcthree]

The impeller has the word off with arrows pointing clockwise so I thought the whole impeller would come off with the bolt still in the center. Why is the impeller shaped like a bolt if not to pull it off? I will try that when I get home tonight or tomorrow after work

[stonyloam]

The impeller has the word off with arrows pointing clockwise so I thought the whole impeller would come off with the bolt still in the center.

It is supposed to, but in your case it looks like you will have to unscrew the stud. Careful it is a $50 part.

[Drewmeister]

I hope it's OK to jump in here with another question. I have been reading alot of the Merc 170 forums over the last 2 weeks, as I have been working on my old boat getting it back in shape and it has a 1986 Merc 170. I had to have the starter rebuilt and did the other standard maintenance (plugs, new coolant and oil/filter, etc.). I have brought it back to life, but even just idling for 5 mins the temp gets up to 180C. I am going to check the coolant pump this weekend and will test the water pump by pulling the inlet line off of the HX. The only other thing is to possibly replace is the thermostat (if it isn't one of the pumps). So my question is IF the water pump is bad, how do I access it? The coolant pump is easy access of course. I have ordered the manual for the Alpha 1 outdrive, but hoped maybe the experts here could help me. Do I need to remove the outdrive? Is the water pump on the engine or on the outdrive? From what I have read, working on or replacing it requires either lifting/ tilting the engine up with a hoist (which I do not want to have to do), or removing the outdrive. How hard is removing the outdrive?

Another question, the outdrive is rough going into and out of gear and there is some smoke coming from behind the engine when the drive is engaged. What would you quick-diagnose here? I don't know the architecture of the engine-outdrive linkage, but will once I get that manual.

Drewmeister (NEWBIE)

[alexr254]

Drewmeister:
Please start you own thread. This is considered hijacking someone elses, and not a very nice thing to do.

[Drewmeister]

Sorry all, I thought since I had primarily a question about the water pump I'd include it here. I have been on other forums that go off on tangent threads with no issues. I'll start my own thread.

Drewmeister