water pump maintenance - need confidence boost

[trobinson017]

You folks at iboats.com have always given me great help with my many boat issues. So, I'm back seeking a confidence boost. In another post from last year I was told I should rebuild the water pump every couple of years. I've had the motor for 6 years and never rebuilt it. So not it's time. I've ordered a water pump kit for my '99 Johnson 130 Ocean Pro and a SELOC manual. I'm going to attempt the rebuild myself. Is it really as difficult as my brain thinks it is? Is it really a DIY task? My boat is on a lift over the water so the whole job will be done from my canoe. Is that just asking for trouble? How heavy is the part I have to remove to get to the pump? Any "gotchyas" I should be aware of? Any and all advice will be much appreciated!!!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: water pump maintenance - need confidence boost

borrow or rent a trailer, or pontoon boat. do not attempt with a canoe. the hardest part is the shift linkage. it is heavy and awkward.

 

[HybridMX6]

Re: water pump maintenance - need confidence boost

I'd suggest trying to locate a factory service manual for the engine on ebay, and would honestly send the Seloc back, it's useless for any in-depth repair work.
As TD said, I would not attempt this out of a canoe, either try to borrow a friends' pontoon, or borrow a trailer and get the boat out of the water to do the job. The shift linkage will be a pain, but I can'timagine trying to do this jog out of a wobbly canoe, especially for a first timer. The job itself is not hard to do at all, just be patient with it as it may take you a couple hours to do it the first time. After that, it's a lot easier, but the 1st time always has the "learning curve" to account for as well.

 

[bankerjohn]

Re: water pump maintenance - need confidence boost

Don't even think about trying to remove the lower unit on a 130hp motor from a canoe ... even if you're successful in disconnecting it, you and your lower would probably end up in the water!

As tashasdaddy said ... borrow or rent a trailer and pull it out onto dry land.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: water pump maintenance - need confidence boost

What they said... It's not hard, It's not rocket science, it is heavy and awkward and definitely NO CANOE!!!

This job calls for Terra firma

 

[trobinson017]

Re: water pump maintenance - need confidence boost

Very good advice and that's exactly what I was fishing for. I do have a friend with a 24' pontoon boat. I'll see if I can borrow that. As for trailering, I've never trailered a boat but could probably get one of my friends that have the experience to haul it for me. I'll shop around for trailer rentals and see if I can afford it.

Thanks!!!

 

[bankerjohn]

Re: water pump maintenance - need confidence boost

You might be able to drop the lower unit working from a pontoon ... but if it was MY motor, I wouldn't risk dropping the lower unit in the lake.

And even it you end up using a pontoon instead of pulling the boat onto dry land, I'd recommend bringing the lower unit onto dry land to do the water pump. New parts have a way of finding exactly where to pop off or drop to ... like in the grass, or shag carpet, or the lake ... where you'll never be able to find them!

 

[trobinson017]

Re: water pump maintenance - need confidence boost

I'd suggest trying to locate a factory service manual for the engine on ebay, and would honestly send the Seloc back, it's useless for any in-depth repair work.
.

Hybrid, I just got my SELOC manual and I have to say it's way more useful to a newbie like me than the factory manual I've been using the past year. It's much easier to understand the step-by-step procedures which are in layman's terms. Having both manuals tho seems to be the way to go for me. Where one is lacking it seems the other picks up the slack.

thanks for the tip tho!

 

[SS140]

Re: water pump maintenance - need confidence boost

Man. Wish I had responses as good as this. Already..

 

[F_R]

Re: water pump maintenance - need confidence boost

Hybrid, I just got my SELOC manual and I have to say it's way more useful to a newbie like me than the factory manual I've been using the past year. It's much easier to understand the step-by-step procedures which are in layman's terms. Having both manuals tho seems to be the way to go for me. Where one is lacking it seems the other picks up the slack.

thanks for the tip tho!

I have to agree, the Seloc is much better for the novice. There are tons of information and helpful hints in there that you won't find in the factory manual. The factory manuals are written for the dealer's service shop. The dealers' guys are supposed to have a basic understanding what they are doing.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: water pump maintenance - need confidence boost

If you use that pontoon. Tie it off really good, you will be pulling/pushing pretty hard to get the lower unit on and off, you wont want the pontoon sliding as your inserting it and trying to get the first bolt in.

 

[SS140]

Re: water pump maintenance - need confidence boost

Follow some of the other guys advice, take the boat out of the water. It's not worth the risk.

I have a boathouse with a lift and dock all the way around the boat, I can get to the lower unit very well but I never would work on a boat over the water, esepcially here, where the ground in the water is 3-4ft of muck.

 

[trobinson017]

Re: water pump maintenance - need confidence boost

Since I've posted the original query I've been coming up with more and more people I know that have trailers and experience with towing. So my first task is to find one that is willing to tow my boat to my house, and then tow it back to the ramp when the job is done. If I can't get anyone to do that then I'll look at renting a trailer and get one of the exp. friends to tow. If that doesn't work out then the pontoon boat. It's 24' long so it can fit under my boat pretty easily and I can tie it off to pilings to steady it. Not the best choice but a last resort. But, rest assured, no way, no how, will I attempt to do this in a canoe!!!

All of these responses is exactly why I continue to come to iboats.com with my boating questions. Everyone is very helpful and supportive and have helped me become a more confident and proficient boater and mechanic! You all ROCK!!!