Winter Storage and Impellers

[skyaggie]

I understand that impellers function by being tighter fit to one side than the other to pump water which in turn causes some fins to be bent while the motor is not in use.
Since this causes damage over long periods of time is it possible to negate the damage by cranking the motor occasionally during the off season?

I know its late in the winter to be asking but just curious...

and just to clear it up the boat is not winterized, stored inside with outboard down

 

[86 century]

Re: Winter Storage and Impellers

Dont see what it would heart.

Not sure it would help either.

Best case would be to take it out so it could open all the way up.
This is my opinion I took the impeller out of my inboard for the winter but that only takes about two min.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Winter Storage and Impellers

The impeller shaft is slightly off-center from the housing to provide the "pumping action", but all the blades or vanes are bent inside the housing anyway...I doubt it's worth much to remove the impeller or by cranking the motor over, but if it makes you feel better, then by all means go for it!...Good Luck!

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Winter Storage and Impellers

If at hand, rotate engine each 15 days, have found that all impeller vanes will be in a better shape, last longer than not doing so, just letting engine sit for long periods of time at same impeller position. Outboard down ok.

Happy Boating

 

[5150abf]

Re: Winter Storage and Impellers

I personnaly turn my engine over by hand every couple weeks just because, I never gave much thought to the impeller and I though they were centered in the housing and are always bent over, just change it every 2-3 years and don't worry about it but if it helps you sleep at night by all means, don't think it makes any difference one way or the other.

 

[captain zac]

Re: Winter Storage and Impellers

Not sure if its worth the effort
Impellers are cheap why not just change it at the first of the year along with
your oil and filters and anything else you might do in the spring

Harry

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Winter Storage and Impellers

All is relative, as there are boaters that change impellers every 2-3 years, others change it yearly, some does the work themselve, some go to a shop. If the engine is not winterized like a Egypthian Mummy rotate flywheel from time to time, impeller vanes will last longer in better pumping shape. There are impellers and impellers, some wears more often if left for XX periods of time siting in same position inside WP, others lasts longer, will depend on the impeller material they're made, rubber, elastomer, etc

Happy Boating