Mercruiser 3.0 raw water pump/impeller question

[jozzy27]

I have a '99 Bayliner 1954 in storage for the winter at the local marina. They also take care of winterizing the boat and check for any required or "suggested" maintenance" and send out an estimate. <br />Anyway, I received an estimate for said "suggested maintenance" in the mail today - here's the damage...<br />"Replace raw water pump impeller and gaskets. Parts: $36.85, Labor:$420.00."<br />I had a full tune-up done in May, the boat ran great all summer (heavily used). Never stalled, ran it for hours at a time w/o stopping.<br />Two questions. 1) Is this something I need to take care of by next spring? 2) Is this price outrageous?<br /><br />Thanks in advance.

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 raw water pump/impeller question

Parts are about right, but the labor is high. Should only take about an hour to hour and a half to replace an impeller in a Gen II drive.<br />Bad thing is, when doing a winterization, the gear lube should have been changed. That would have been the time to replace the impeller since you now have to change the gear lube a second time. The drive also should be removed to check things, lube the ujoints, and check the alignment.<br />Things like impellers should be discussed before winterization, not after.<br />If that is the original impeller, it's due. Or has it been replaced before? If so, when?

 

[rabidfish]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 raw water pump/impeller question

Ask why the quote is that much... Maybe that's not all they are going to do.<br /><br />Then...<br /><br />Get a quote from another local(reputable) marina.<br />You should see something like $250.00 for a water pump R&R.<br /><br />I'm with Don... If it's never been done... you're due.

 

[jozzy27]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 raw water pump/impeller question

The quote is for 4 hours of labor for ONLY the impeller and gaskets. I'll get another shop's opinion. I'm not sure if the previous owner(s) changed the impeller or not. <br />Thanks for the input!

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 raw water pump/impeller question

Too much! Parts o.k.....Labor, very high....Save yourself some $ & do it your self....You have another 4-5 months, correct? It ain't that hard.....If you are physically capable of lifting 70# or so, and are mechanically inclined at all....I say go for it....Especially if you have a bench/garage where you can work on it inside & at your leisure....+ you have the forum to help you out if you get stuck.....& there are some things that are outlined by Don that should be done as well...Your boat a'int a spring chicken any more.....The more preventative maintenence you do to it now will extend its service life.....The more you learn to do on your own, can save you thousands... ....JK

 

[jozzy27]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 raw water pump/impeller question

I'm going to pick up a repair manual and do it myself - thanks. Let this crooked SOB get his cash from some other sucker

 

[vipzach]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 raw water pump/impeller question

Originally posted by jozzy27:<br /> I'm going to pick up a repair manual and do it myself - thanks. Let this crooked SOB get his cash from some other sucker

Atta boy jozzy, the impellar is not that hard to do for most mechanically inclined people like JK said. Just pay attention to where things came from and to put the shifter in forward. Be sure and get a merc manuel, not one of the other manuels, if you want there is a pic on here somewhere that shows where those manuels should be used! <br /><br />Like Don said though, there are lots of preventative things that should be done and can be done by you and they will be in your merc manuel. Good luck there are lots of good smart peolple on here!

 

[elpaso]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 raw water pump/impeller question

This site will show you how to change impeller.<br /> http://www.mercstuff.com/howdoi.htm

 

[markvictor]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 raw water pump/impeller question

Somebody doesn't know how to read their flat rate manual....outrageous labor rate....However, it is a good practice to replace your impeller at the beginning of the season as opposed to the end, as the pump housing is eccentric in shape, and the impeller blades tend to take the shape of the housing during extended periods of inactivity.<br />Merc says to change them at the 100 hour mark or annually, this is cheap insurance,especially if you do it yourself...10 nuts and the speedo hose and the drive is in your lap...lol(I am a longtime mercruiser tech, it takes less than ten minutes actual time to remove your drive)<br />Regards,<br />markvictor<br /><br /> http://groups.google.com/group/badboatbiz

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 raw water pump/impeller question

Beg to differ on that 100 hour spec mark. Have never seen Merc say when to change the impeller. When to inspect yes, but not a time to replace.<br />From the mid to late 90's and earlier, here is copy of the spec from the number 6 manual (same as later Gen II owners manuals). It's the same for Alpha I's and Alpha I Gen II drives.<br />Note, they don't even give times for anything.<br />These same charts are also used for the Bravo and Inboard engines.<br /><br />

<br /><br />Now, the newer schecules look like this for the Alpha I Gen II drives. 300 hours or 3 years and only inspect and replace if worn.<br />Personally, If I went to all the problems to take it apart, I sure as he11 wouldn't put the old one back in no matter how nice it looked.<br /><br />

<br /><br />The Gen II floppy vane pump impellers last a LOT longer than the older Alpha I's MR's, R's etc.<br />I recommend to our customers with the older drives to change them after 2 years use. Again, it's more of an inspection, but with all the labor required, it's false economy to take it apart and just inspect.

 

[markvictor]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 raw water pump/impeller question

Thanks, Don,<br />I think I had the mie chart in mind..however I too wouldn't look without replacing, and there are other factors that come into play, such as silt, sand etc. where you operate...And you and I both know that Neither Spader nor Merc pay 4 or 5 hours labor to change it..<br />Regards,<br />Markvictor

 

[r1gal]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 raw water pump/impeller question

I don't know a lot about this subject, but I know the Gen 2 impellers do last a long time. I purchased a boat with this outdrive. It was a one owner (and he hardly ever did any maintence on the boat) said he's 'had' the U-joints greased "ocassionally". Never put a waterpump kit or even an impeller in it for that matter. I went ahead and purchased a complewte waterpump kit figuring the one that was in it was toast. When I removed it the impeller was still in good shape. I couldn't believe this, so I called him back up and he said he's NEVER replaced the waterpump and that part of the drive had never been disassembled. <br />The boat's a '91 and he purchased it new in '93.<br />So, I'm kinda going hmmm, while reading this.

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 raw water pump/impeller question

There are exceptions to every rule blackrain. If you boat where there is a lot of boat traffic, it's not a big problem. When you overheat, you just get someone else to take time out of their boating time to tow you in. Or you pay for commercial tow, or you have the insurance. Anyway you look at it, the day/weekend is shot for you.<br />Now, if you do some preventive maintenance and replace that impeller before it goes bad, do annual tuneups, do all the suggested preventive maintenance, then you have a better chance of boating during the summer instead of fixing a broken boat during the 4th of July on the water fireworks you don't get to see.<br /><br />Personally, I boat where I may only see 1 or 2 and maybe even 0 boats when away from the docks. So I just flat don't want to take the chance. Most places here have no VHF or Cell phone coverage, so you are on your own.

 

[r1gal]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 raw water pump/impeller question

Don-<br />Point taken! I was only making reference to 'pump housing being eccentric in shape, and the impeller blades tend to take the shape of the housing during extended periods of inactivity'.<br />I did in fact replace it, I was there and had the parts, why not. It was long overdue to say the very least. I just expected the impeller to crumble in my hand or be plum worn slap dab out. But as you say, their are exceptions.

 

[jozzy27]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 raw water pump/impeller question

Great info and I can't thank everyone enough - great link too. I have a buddy that has a Merc and he's replaced those parts before so I'll have a tutor watching over me as I do it.<br /><br />One last question...as I go to retrieve my boat from the marina in April/May, will having the raw water intake on the fritz going to inhibit them from finishing up the summerizing process?<br /><br />Thanks!

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Mercruiser 3.0 raw water pump/impeller question

you freshwater guys kill me. I just removed a bravo 3 drive tuesday, its a 2001 pursuit. took me 4 hours to wrestle the drive off and I got to invent some words. this is the same boat that took me 9 hours to change the manifolds due to no bolt heads left on any of the manifold to head bolts.<br /> on the alpha GenII in saltwater if you wait five years between pump changes odds are all the 6mm bolts that hold the housing on will break and usually the 4 nuts that hold the upper to the lower will be split. thats one of the big reasons for maint, if properly maintained its rare to have a failure. the object is to fix it before it breaks.