Water pump change

zippy83

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 1, 2013
Messages
491
Hello All,

I am getting ready to change the water pump. Never done it myself. One question I have is do I need to put the throttle in forward or keep it in neutral?
I got a 1974 Merc 50HP

Thanks
Zipp
 

racerone

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 28, 2013
Messages
37,828
Forward is likely the easiest.----------Keeping it in neutral also works , but there is a tendency for it to jump into forward while working on the lower unit.
 

Chris1956

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
27,852
Leave it in neutral. After replacing the impeller, wearplate and two gaskets, check to make sure the gearcase is still in neutral and then reinstall. Remember to grease the splines on the drive and shift shafts and mate the driveshaft and shiftshafts before using wrenches to tighten the nuts.
 

zippy83

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 1, 2013
Messages
491
All Done.. Had a small issue getting it in all the way. Had to turn the flywheel with one hand until it clicked in and then it went all the way in.
 

boobie

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Messages
20,826
I always found forward was the easiest. Less chance of it jumping into gear if left in neutral when working on it.
 
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