Do I need to replace seals on lower-unit when water pump is changed

[Cherokee-Runabout]

Hi, I had a couple of quick questions for anybody willing to give it a shot. I have a 1977 70hp Johnson Model: 70EL77. The tell tale is weak and I had planned on replacing the water pump, impeller, and thermostat. I am going to purchase a thermostat and water pump kit on here. Now for my questions. Should I replace the pump housing when I replace everything else? Is there a seal kit that I need as well or a new lower-end gasket that I need to replace?

 

[Daviet]

Re: Do I need to replace seals on lower-unit when water pump is changed

Your pump housing has a stainless steel liner in it, you would not need to replace the housing, just the liner. I would pull it apart and check it out, might need to just replace the impeller.

 

[Cherokee-Runabout]

Re: Do I need to replace seals on lower-unit when water pump is changed

Thank you, will tear apart this weekend and investigate!

 

[gozierdt]

Re: Do I need to replace seals on lower-unit when water pump is changed

Inspect the inner metal housing and the metal plate below it. If they show a lot of
wear (which can happy if the engine is run in silty or sandy conditions), then they
should be replaced as well. There is a seal in the upper part of the plastic housing
which can be replaced. Also inspect the driveshaft surface where the seal rubs to check
for how deep the wear groove (if any, sometimes the area is just polished) is.