VP 5.7gxi Seapump died again - Possible causes?

[winbasic]

Hi,

In April the sea pump died so I had a local repair shop have a look. The fan belt was shredded and there was salt water spewed all over the engine bay. They said that because there was no corrossion (thanks Neutrasalt!) that they could refurbish it with a new bearing, seals and impellor and reinstall as well as installing a new belt. They said they checked the alternator, rollers and alignment and everything was fine.

The pump appears to have died again. After only 20 hours engine time in probably 6 trips, there are bits of belt dust over the engine and flecks of paint in the bilge as well as water in the bilge and sea spray over the engine.

Is it possible the bearing has failed and got out of alignment or are there other areas I should be looking at which may be causing the sea pump to fail rather than it failing on its own?

 

[Don S]

Re: VP 5.7gxi Seapump died again - Possible causes?

Just replace the pump. If that bearing locks up, even for a second, it spins out the inside of the housing. After that, things keep breaking.
Also clean all the pulleys, as any rust and corrossion on the pullies will eat up new belts in no time. Also make sure the pump is installed properly. IF it wobbles at all, it's not installed right.

 

[winbasic]

Re: VP 5.7gxi Seapump died again - Possible causes?

Just replace the pump. If that bearing locks up, even for a second, it spins out the inside of the housing. After that, things keep breaking.
Also clean all the pulleys, as any rust and corrossion on the pullies will eat up new belts in no time. Also make sure the pump is installed properly. IF it wobbles at all, it's not installed right.

Thanks Don - is the pump difficult to replace? I have a workshop manual and understand the process but wondering if it's something that I need an expert to do. Having had it done once by an expert, I'm inclined to spend the money I'd spend on labour, on a new pump and fit it myself.

 

[Don S]

Re: VP 5.7gxi Seapump died again - Possible causes?

is the pump difficult to replace?

Depends on if you can access it or not because of how the boat designers designed it.
It's right on the front of the crankshaft pulley. Can you get to it, can you see it?
Do you have the OEM manual? cause the seloc or clymers aren't going to tell you anything worthwhile.

 

[winbasic]

Re: VP 5.7gxi Seapump died again - Possible causes?

Depends on if you can access it or not because of how the boat designers designed it.
It's right on the front of the crankshaft pulley. Can you get to it, can you see it?
Do you have the OEM manual? cause the seloc or clymers aren't going to tell you anything worthwhile.

I've got a Seloc - do I need to contact Volva Penta to get an OEM manual? As for location, here's a couple of photos. I believe it's pretty good access but what I'm not sure about is when I undo the bolts, are there key locks or anything connecting it to the crank or a sequence of events I need to follow?

 

[mikeneal]

Re: VP 5.7gxi Seapump died again - Possible causes?

All kinds of room there. I vote do it yourself. Get the factory manual, I think Don has a link might post. I bought mine thru local dealer, they are not that expensive. Seloc and aftermarket manuals are junk. You need a allen socket (I think 3/8". and typical hand tools.
remove the two bolts holding the anti-rotation arm, remove belt, remove allens holding pump to harmonic pulley and lastly hoses (pay attention to which one is inlet and outlet). Reinstall pump. With the access you have there the job is pretty easy IMO.

Don can you elaborate on the wobble/installation? I semi recently replaced mine and the new one wobbles. Took it back off and for the life of me could not figure out what was not true or seating properly. Only wobbles at idle, bounces on the rubber foot on the anti rotation arm.

 

[Don S]

Re: VP 5.7gxi Seapump died again - Possible causes?

Start a new thread Mike.

 

[winbasic]

Re: VP 5.7gxi Seapump died again - Possible causes?

All kinds of room there. I vote do it yourself. Get the factory manual, I think Don has a link might post. I bought mine thru local dealer, they are not that expensive. Seloc and aftermarket manuals are junk. You need a allen socket (I think 3/8". and typical hand tools.
remove the two bolts holding the anti-rotation arm, remove belt, remove allens holding pump to harmonic pulley and lastly hoses (pay attention to which one is inlet and outlet). Reinstall pump. With the access you have there the job is pretty easy IMO.

Thanks Mike - so there's no key lock or anything behind the pump that I need to beware of? It's just a case of removing the bolts and replacing? Any gaskets or do I need to use a sealant when reapplying?

 

[mikeneal]

Re: VP 5.7gxi Seapump died again - Possible causes?

Nope no key or anything. The only gasket is the o-ring between the housing and the pump body where you swap out the impeller. If you are replacing entuire pump assy. then not applicable.

All kinds of room there. I vote do it yourself. Get the factory manual, I think Don has a link might post. I bought mine thru local dealer, they are not that expensive. Seloc and aftermarket manuals are junk. You need a allen socket (I think 3/8". and typical hand tools.
remove the two bolts holding the anti-rotation arm, remove belt, remove allens holding pump to harmonic pulley and lastly hoses (pay attention to which one is inlet and outlet). Reinstall pump. With the access you have there the job is pretty easy IMO.

Thanks Mike - so there's no key lock or anything behind the pump that I need to beware of? It's just a case of removing the bolts and replacing? Any gaskets or do I need to use a sealant when reapplying?

 

[winbasic]

Re: VP 5.7gxi Seapump died again - Possible causes?

Went down to the boat and ripped the pump off. I noticed no gasket between the housing and the wheel - I'm assuming there's meant to be one?

Images below - it looks like the lip of the bearing has busted off. I'm assuming this is what's caused the scoring on the housing and top of the bearing. Question being - is the bearing salvageable or do I need to buy whole new seapump assembly ($600 AUD)?

Also, how do I clean all the corrosion and rust off the alternator and idler tensioner arm?

 

[Don S]

Re: VP 5.7gxi Seapump died again - Possible causes?

You need a new pump. The metal surface of the pump housing is worn down the housing base and allowing the impeller to take out the seal.

Clean the corrosion with a wire brush, then repaint any bare spots. When it dries coat it with VP corrosion guard (Best stuff I have found).

 

[winbasic]

Re: VP 5.7gxi Seapump died again - Possible causes?

You need a new pump. The metal surface of the pump housing is worn down the housing base and allowing the impeller to take out the seal.

Clean the corrosion with a wire brush, then repaint any bare spots. When it dries coat it with VP corrosion guard (Best stuff I have found).

Do you mean the metal edges of the impellor casing and the edges of the pump where the two screw together or the large flat plate with the scorings on it? How would it have got so worn after only 300 hours?

 

[mikeneal]

Re: VP 5.7gxi Seapump died again - Possible causes?

It looks like the thrust surfaces are scored badly in both the housing and plate. Typicall ingestive sand/dirt does that. I was away on time and we got caught returning to the dock at low tide and the channel needed dreged. Long story short I injuested some sand and wore the pump body out in one day.

Do you mean the metal edges of the impellor casing and the edges of the pump where the two screw together or the large flat plate with the scorings on it? How would it have got so worn after only 300 hours?

 

[winbasic]

Re: VP 5.7gxi Seapump died again - Possible causes?

It looks like the thrust surfaces are scored badly in both the housing and plate. Typicall ingestive sand/dirt does that. I was away on time and we got caught returning to the dock at low tide and the channel needed dreged. Long story short I injuested some sand and wore the pump body out in one day.

I thought a bit of the seal that has broken off might have been spun around scoring the surfaces but sounds like a bit of sand or mud ingestion then. Ok - so its these surfaces which are buggered and not so much the pump housing - as Don and yourself suggest, looks like a new pump is in order but at least I now have an idea of how it's all happened.

Thanks again to you both for your help - has been greatly appreciated!!

 

[winbasic]

Re: VP 5.7gxi Seapump died again - Possible causes?

I've got a new pump on order and a new belt. Once I clean the harmonic balancer and bolt the pump on, whats the easiest way of moving the idler tensioner arm so I can get the belt in? The supplier said that you use a 1/2" breaker bar and put it in the square hole but I can't see any square hole on the side of the tensioner arm in any photos I've taken.

 

[Don S]

Re: VP 5.7gxi Seapump died again - Possible causes?

There is a square hole in the end of the tensioner. You can stick a ratchet & small extention in it and lift it up. It only moves a short distance, so Don't try to move it too far or you will break the hole out.

 

[winbasic]

Re: VP 5.7gxi Seapump died again - Possible causes?

There is a square hole in the end of the tensioner. You can stick a ratchet & small extention in it and lift it up. It only moves a short distance, so Don't try to move it too far or you will break the hole out.

I couldn't find the hole in the end of the tensioner that would fit a 1/2 drive extension in it so I ended up using the end of the breaker bar and lodging it against the block and leveraging the tensioner arm up.

New pump is on but I couldn't get much tension on the hex headed screws so I've ordered a hex driver set. I put a small amount of locktite on the screws but I'm still concerned they may come loose.

Engine started and the belt makes a bit of a screaching sound intermittently but maybe it's just trying to find the correct position. Will it adjust to the most central point of the pulleys or is there some adjustment I need to make?

Also, with regards to the old pump - is it worth getting repaired as a backup or should I throw it?