40hp water pump impeller. what about the bits?

[plumbob]

Hi guys, I'm working on my dad's1980 40hp mercury outboard. the water pump wasn't working so i rebuilt it. all of the impeller blades were missing and I found three of them in the water pump. the other three I don't know where they are. the engine squirts a steady stream from the tell tale hole and blows water from the exhaust. do I need to tear into the motor to try and find the rest of the bits?

 

[corm]

Re: 40hp water pump impeller. what about the bits?

Hi,

Sometimes they fall down into the lower unit water intake or pickup area.
Other times they get caught in the thermostat area or cover. I guess I have always tried to find them if the impeller blades were large. They can be in the exhaust plate or exhaust cover. If the impeller blades were crumbled I was less concerned but very watchful. The tiny bits can still get caught in a few of the small water passages. Which will restrict the water flow. That is never good.