Woke up Vortec

[FreeBeeTony]

Started the Vortec yesterday. put a hose in the water intake of the engine mounted sea water pump, cranked a few times and started right up.....by the time I looked over the transom to check for exhaust water........I realized I forgot to connect the ear muffs to the drive!!! I immediately shut the engine off.........then connected another hose to the ear muffs and restarted. The water flow coming out of the drive ( I can check it because the hose is cut) seemed to be fine. As I understand it the pump in the drive is only being used to cool the drive in my case. It only ran dry for maybe 10 sec.........was a new pump and probaby had some lube on the impeller.

Hope this isn't an omen.........

 

[Bondo]

Re: Woke up Vortec

Hope this isn't an omen.........

Ayuh,....... Me Too Tony.......

Hope you have a Long,+ Safe season Buddy...........

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Woke up Vortec

Thanks bondo..........what do you think?.......that impeller shouid be ok.........right?

 

[bomar76]

Re: Woke up Vortec

Considering the minor cost of replacing it (or at least inspecting) no way I would take a chance...

 

[Don S]

Re: Woke up Vortec

I wouldn't worry about it with only 10 to 15 seconds on it. Doubt you had the rpms way up, along with the lube on the impeller it probably is still perfect. Even if it was even slightly damaged it will still pump water thru the drive for cooling. At least you don't have to have it to cool your engine.
Don't forget Bravo drives with a thru-hull pickup don't have water going thru them and they get a lot hotter than an Alpha does.
Even if the impeller was not even in your pump, you probably couldn't tell the difference unless you make a LOT of LONG runs. Then the oil would turn black and smell burned after a seasons use.

Look at page 2 of this bulletin http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Bullet/87/87_14.pdf

 

[ziggy]

Re: Woke up Vortec

heres a pic of a impeller in my 1 drive. it was used a half season + it was run dry for about 10 sec. too. right shortly after i installed it....

has a little curl to it + some cracks starting to form on the inside of ea. blade....

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Woke up Vortec

Thanks guys.........think I'm probably good to go.........

 

[Lou C]

Re: Woke up Vortec

Thanks guys.........think I'm probably good to go.........

haven't we all had that happen....one time I was running on the muffs and my wife put in a load of wash...dropped the water pressure enough to make the engine run hot...the impeller just had a little nick taken out of it...fortunately those Cobra impellers are easy to R&R, 3 bolts and it's out...