Shaved Rubber In Ports of Impeller

[Merc4fun]

My Chrysler 125 only put out steam the last time I tried to run it. I thought it could either be the thermostat or the impeller. Followed my gut and took off the lower unit and found what looked like piles of rubber shavings in the ports leading to the impeller. It was nearly plugged with the stuff. My impeller looked like it had been held to a grinding wheel on the edges and strings of rubber hung off of it. What might be the cause of this? Obviously I need a new impeller. Also, any tricks on removing the thermostat when the screws that hold it on seem frozen in place?

Thanks!
John

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Shaved Rubber In Ports of Impeller

That'll teach you to run it dry! Either you ran the engine (to test it) out of the water OR the muffs you should have been using fell off.

OK! We'll give you the benefit of the doubt: If the inside of the pump housing is badly corroded and/or rough, it will wear the impeller too.

Two of the thermostat cover bolts enter the water jacket and they do corrode. An impact screwdriver helps as does heating with a propane torch, but be prepared to snap off one or two. Then, the only solution is to carefully drill and retap, or buy another head.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Shaved Rubber In Ports of Impeller

That'll teach you to run it dry! Either you ran the engine (to test it) out of the water OR the muffs you should have been using fell off.

OK! We'll give you the benefit of the doubt: If the inside of the pump housing is badly corroded and/or rough, it will wear the impeller too.

Two of the thermostat cover bolts enter the water jacket and they do corrode. An impact screwdriver helps as does heating with a propane torch, but be prepared to snap off one or two. Then, the only solution is to carefully drill and retap, or buy another head.

Still like your whimsicle (sp), no BS approach.

 

[Merc4fun]

Re: Shaved Rubber In Ports of Impeller

Thanks Frank,

I am pretty obsessive about not running my motor dry as the very first motor I ever owned I bought from a guy that showed me how well it ran as it hung from a rack in his garage and had not water going to it. He ran it about 4 or 5 minutes and kept revving it up! Needless to say, the first time I got it on the water, it was sucking water into the cylinders cause the seal had cracked. Anyway, I looked inside the housing and it WAS very rough (can sand getting in cause that too?). I sanded it smooth and will see if that doesn't help with the new impeller.

Thanks for the advice! It's striper time!

John