Life span of impeller

[RobertGary]

Just changed my impeller after 7 years. It's almost hard to tell the old vs the new. The one before that I still have as well and it too looks good. I'm in California so there isn't much winter. I know some guys who think it's a sin to not replace them annually but I wonder if nowadays the rubber is far better than when people established the annual rule. Or maybe our mild climate makes them last longer???

Do some still advocate replacing the impeller annually?

alpha 1 gen 2
-Robert

 

[achris]

Hi Robert and :welcome: to iboats...

Annual replacement is for the earlier 'short vane' impellers. The book for the long vane (gen II) is 3 years, but like you I have seen them last MUCH longer. It all depends on how well they are cared for. Run only in clean clear water, never run dry (or sucked up sand), always flushed out when finished... All helps them last longer. The main issue with leaving it so long can be corrosion making the drive difficult to split.

Chris..........

 

[Scott Danforth]

Welcome aboard

The rule of thumb I like to use is 3 years max in salt water, 5 years max in fresh water

yet there is still the annual removal of the drive for inspection of gimbal bearing, etc.so while you have your tools out, its cheap insurance.

 

[Scott06]

On my gen 1 at 30-40 hrs per year I'd get 5-7 years in fresh water. Noticed that hot idle temps would creep up from 150-170 over the years, probably should have changed a little sooner, but only had one fail.

 

[RobertGary]

Thanks all

 

[Starcraft5834]

Fresh water use only for me..replaced 3 years ago, looked at it last year, looked new still, then again it's # hours, salt vs fresh..I'm only out bout 5 times year..10 hrs use approx...