How do I tell if my Alpha One water pump is bad

[Lameduck2]

2010, 4.3L TKS, closed cooling system, belt driven seawater pump, Alpha One stern drive.

The engine cooling system is working great, but how do I tell if the pump in the outdrive is working correctly. I bought the boat used. I was originally told the I didn't need to put the ear muffs on the outdrive, just the toilet plunger on the seawater inlet. I ran it a couple of time that way. No telling what has been done before I got it. When I run it with the ear muffs there seems to be water forced through it - water comes out around the bellows.

The oil looks good. Is there an outdrive temp sensor? the manual says there is, but I think that is a misprint (I think it means oil level for the monitor, not temp).

Thanks for any help

 

[Bt Doctur]

The impeller in the outdrive is needed to cool the oil. when converted to FWC system ,the connector hose is cut and the inside part is capped.
Never run a outdrive without water. if you damage the water pump base seals, you lose the oil , then the drive.

 

[Lameduck2]

Is there a way to tell is the impeller / pump is good or bad without taking the unit apart? Can you tell if the water pump base seals are damaged without a tear down?

 

[Bt Doctur]

No and no.

 

[Starcraft5834]

How do I tell if my Alpha One water pump is bad?


your engine will overheat....... if your not overheating and it's running great.. what's the problem?

 

[Lameduck2]

Thanks Bt Doctur.
Looks like we're in for some exploratory surgery. The benefit for making sure it is ok seems better than the potential cost to wait and see. I know I ran it dry for a few minutes a couple of times, and who knows what the last guy did.
Do the pump kits I see include everything I'll need?

 

[Lameduck2]

All seals and O rings soft and pliable. Impeller in very good shape. Bottom plate a little scored. Pump housing looks good. However, the yellow seal carrier under the pump plate is melted. The seals and O ring in/on it seem fine, but the top of it is melted and mushroomed over.
I’m not sure that the melting would affect the seal carrier performance, and in another life I would probably have cleaned it up and reused it along with everything else. For $125 it’s getting everything new while I have it apart - and I’ll always make sure it has plenty of water when I’m running it on the beach.
Thanks again Bt Doctur