JB....Impeller?

[krosemond]

Hey JB, or any other wise fellows..<br /><br />I have been reading a lot of advice saying to change the impeller as a part of regular maintenance. I used to do that every year on my inboard diesel (raw water only). But it was a 10 minute operation. <br /><br />I assumed that my 1979 Johnson V6 150hp had a water pump, like a inboard, and it was a metal impeller, like my inboard's internal pump. I am not sure, but I don't think the impeller in this engine has ever been changed, and I know it hasn't since I adopted her 4 years ago. The clymer book shows how to change it, but does not outline a maintenance schedule. It also says that an option at the time for those motors was a chrome impeller for applications in areas of sand and silt. Since it was originally purchased in Morehead City, NC (an area with lots of sand and silt), I wonder if Dad bought that option. What are the chances of a 23 year old rubber impeller with 1000+ hours still being functional? I currently have no "overheating problems" and the flow is strong. I was planning on pulling the lower unit off in the off season, but am I safe to operate the boat (sometimes offshore) for the rest of the year? Until October, or about 50 hours?<br /><br />Whattaya think? Should I be nervous?<br /><br />Thanks for your input.

 

[JB]

Re: JB....Impeller?

Howdy, Krose. Yes, I think you should be nervous. I have seen impellers last lots of years with no trouble and others fail in 2. I think you misread Clymer; it was a chromed housing that was optional. It could be that your Dad got the chrome housing and that could have contributed to your impeller's long life.<br /><br />At least, carry a spare. Impeller failure not only gets you in trouble on the water, it can plug up cooling passages with debris. Then you have BIG trouble. <br /><br />Red sky at night. . . <br />JB

 

[krosemond]

Re: JB....Impeller?

JB, that makes sense about the housing. <br /><br />Should I change it before passing "go" and collecting my $200? Or can I just be aware of it and wait until the off season to replace it when I had planned to pull the lower unit for inspection and to replace seals. What are the warning signs, other than reduced flow and higher temps. The only one I ever had fail on the inboard was when my buddy jumped on the boat, and started it without opening the seac*ck. It looked like a crumbled oreo. I replaced it, went to Bimini and spent 4 days trying to get my exchanger cored because of all of the rubber pieces that ended up in there. But that impeller was very easy to get to and I carried a spare. I don't understand what carrying a spare would do for an outboard, it doesn't look like a fix could be made at sea.<br /><br />Just want to do whats right, but the season up here in NC has only 2 more months. Looking at the manual, pulling the lower unit off is something I don't want to do.

 

[JB]

Re: JB....Impeller?

Krose, if I recommended that you wait, the attached disclaimer would run 300 words. The idea of the spare is that, in a crisis it can be replaced on a sandbar or a remote ramp.<br /><br />Regretfully,

I think you should change it now, today. The consequences of losing it off Moorehead City, or, worse yet, Cape Fear are too dire to discuss.

<br /><br />Red sky at night. . . <br />JB

 

[krosemond]

Re: JB....Impeller?

JB, you are right. I called my brother, who had the boat serviced after Dad died, and said he spent about $1,500. He has no idea what was done, but said he thought he could dig up the service bill. That was in 93 or 94. He said it might have been done, but he has no mechanical aptitude at all. I kind of adopted it and maintain it. Good deal for him, because he only wants to use it once or twice a year. <br /><br />BTW, it is the waters off Cape Lookout shoals and eastward that is "the graveyard of the Atlantic", although Frying Pan shoals (Cape Fear) is not without it's disastrous history. We mostly fish inside the 20 fathom curve and in the lee of the of the Cape Lookout Shoals out of Morehead. But it is still "big water" for a 23 year old 20 footer.<br /><br />Thanks for your sound advice.

 

[JB]

Re: JB....Impeller?

Glad you are going to do it, Krose. I am familiar with NC offshore waters mainly second hand. My Great Grandfather blockaded Cape Fear and vicinity for the U.S. Navy through most of the late war for southern independence and the tales in his logs are hair raising. Beaufort became his main coaling station after it fell into Union hands. Beaufort is also the place that Adm. D.D. Porter gathered his fleet for the attack on Fort Fisher at the end of 1864. They weathered a force 5 storm outside the harbor there. . . more hair raising tales.<br /><br />Red sky at night. . . <br />JB