Help! Volvo water pump isn't pumping!

[emarkd]

Hello all,

I'm a new boater and I bought an old boat. Don't assume I know anything because I probably don't. My boat is an old Bayliner with a Volvo AQ125A/270 stern drive setup. When I bought the boat the raw water pump wasn't moving any water. I took the water pump apart and replaced the shaft seal, shaft, bushings, and impeller but still no pumping. The only parts I haven't replaced yet is the housing and the cam.

First, is the impeller supposed to fit really tight? The "fins" on the impeller were overlapping the housing by a good bit and I had to twist and force it down in there. Is that right? Is there a wrong way to put it together?

If it sounds like my water pump went back together right, what else could be the problem? I'm to the point of tearing the thing apart to look for obstructions but would really like something easy to check first.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

-Mark

 

[emarkd]

Re: Help! Volvo water pump isn't pumping!

i hope it's not considered rude in this forum to bump your post back to the top...

 

[emarkd]

Re: Help! Volvo water pump isn't pumping!

nobody's got any advice on this one?

i made a bit more headway today. i took the rubber hose loose behind the motor where the water comes through the transom plate and slid a garden hose directly in. turned on the water and started the motor and it pumped like a champ. so the system is getting air in it either where the line comes through the transom or in the outdrive leg.

so after looking at the schematics pdf that someone on here pointed me to i dropped the lower gear housing to check the o-ring seal there. sure enough, it was all hard and worn down, so i replaced it. it seems to have helped some but there's still air getting in somewhere.

any ideas? there are two o-rings up higher in the intermediate housing steering assembly but i'm not even sure how to get to them. help! anybody?

 

[spktho]

Re: Help! Volvo water pump isn't pumping!

The water neck where you took the hose off of at the drive can also corrode and have the seal under it go bad which would cause air to enter. Also, how are you running water it through the drive? If on muffs, make sure the small hole on the bottom of the drive is plugged.

 

[maxxman04]

Re: Help! Volvo water pump isn't pumping!

are the fins on the impeller facing the right way? generally, impeller fins will end up seating themselves in the right direction after a couple turns, but not always. it should be installed with the fins already curved in the right direction.

 

[-JR-]

Re: Help! Volvo water pump isn't pumping!

I have the same boat ,It never pumps either with a garden hose on the leg .
Only when it is in the lake . Try that and see if it over heats .
You did but the half moon key in the shaft!
Do you know if one can buy just a shaft for the pump.
My dealer said no and wants $600 for a new pump !

 

[BLinindoll]

Re: Help! Volvo water pump isn't pumping!

*Deleted due to stupidity on my part.*

 

[-JR-]

Re: Help! Volvo water pump isn't pumping!

so what was it did you forget the key.

 

[emarkd]

Re: Help! Volvo water pump isn't pumping!

No, I've got the same situation as you. It pumps great in the lake but not on the hose or in a shallow bucket. I think I'm drawing air through the O-ring where the water tube runs up the outdrive leg and through the steering hinge. I'll tackle that soon but I've had other problems pop up lately to worry about first.

And yes, you can buy the shaft without buying the whole pump, but you need a new dealer. Mine quoted me 330.00 for the whole pump but sold me a rebuild kit with shaft, bushings, shaft seal, and screws for 90.00. Add another 50 for the impeller and I've basically got a new water pump (except the housing) for 140.00