Electrical Tape In Impeller Housing???

[NORTH81]

So I got the lower unit off and I will be replacing the impeller. However, I was wondering if someone out there could tell me why there was electrical tape blocking two holes in the housing. One was at the bottom of the housing, and the other was blocking a hole under the plate at the top of the housing. Pics are attached. This definitely threw up some red flags and lots of question marks. Has anyone out there ever heard of this and/or can you provide the logic behind blocking these holes? Thanks in advance guys!

 

[NORTH81]

Re: Electrical Tape In Impeller Housing???

I neglected to mention this is on a 1982 Johnson 140.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Electrical Tape In Impeller Housing???

it sounds like the last person that changed it either had a problem keeping the key in place or couldn't work out how to get the impeller into the housing so they kinda rednecked it with some electrical tape and hoped it would burn off when started. (thats just my guess)

 

[nwcove]

Re: Electrical Tape In Impeller Housing???

hard to tell from the pics, but are you sure its tape, and not melted rubber from an impeller thats been "dry ran"?

 

[NORTH81]

Re: Electrical Tape In Impeller Housing???

Thanks Guys. Glenn, I think that may be the case. I just can see how anyone would think this was a good idea for any reason. nwcove, it is absolutely electrical tape. I unwound it and everything. The pic of the chunk at the bottom is not terribly clear. The one in the passage under the plate was obviously intentionally rolled up and put there. I just don't understand why...