Driveshaft hard to turn?

[bcj.jones]

Just replaced the water pump/impeller and shift shaft seal on my 1989 evinrude 60. Once I tighten down the impeller housing bolts the driveshaft is really hard to turn? When the bolts are loosened the shaft turns much easier. Is that normal?

Another question. Anyone know the shift shaft height in this motor?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Joe Reeves]

No, that's not normal.... Wrong kit, impeller, something! What it might be is anybody's guess with out actually being there.There should be resistance due to the new impeller but not excessive resistance.

 

[danintruder]

impellor installed backwards ?

 

[bcj.jones]

I verified and made sure its the correct kit. The motor spins clockwise correct? If so then no, the impeller wasn't installed backwards. I'll double check when I get home that one of the fins didn't get pushed in backwards though. I definitely had to cram it in the housing. I'm assuming that's normal, though, because it came as a kit.

Is it possible I didn't push the impeller down all the way? I did have to lightly tap it on with a hammer once I got it started to get it seated all the way down. It spins pretty freely without the housing on it. Maybe I didn't use enough grease on the impeller?

Anything else y'all can think of?

 

[Chinewalker]

Should not need to hammer it into place. The impeller needs to be able to float a bit on the shaft, as the driveshaft can move up and down a bit while running. If the impeller is jammed onto the shaft/key, it can cause excessive friction when turning the shaft as it is pushing to hard against either the housing or base plate.

 

[racerone]

Factory parts or aftermarket ?

 

[bcj.jones]

I didn't think it should be so hard to get the impeller on. Key way is in the right place/direction and the chamfer on the impeller was facing down. I could put a good amount of pressure on it with the key way in lined up and it would get started but wouldn't go on even close to the base plate. I tapped it lightly with a hammer and it went down. I'll have to recheck everything when I get home.

It's a factory Johnson/Evinrude kit...I just triple check the part number. Only weird thing is the impeller on the new kit has more fins then the one that came off, but I assumed that was an improvement over the other design.

 

[bcj.jones]

Can anyone think of another reason why the impeller was/is so hard to slide on? Should it just slide on very easily?

 

[flyingscott]

Did you use the right key? 2 should have come in the kit a black one and a white one

 

[bcj.jones]

Maybe I messed that up then. I only saw one but I might have overlooked the other one. I used the white one..

 

[bcj.jones]

Yup, looking at the kit number it should have a black and white one. Sounds like I used the wrong one

Hopefully I didn't ruin a brand new impeller

 

[Joe Reeves]

Should not need to hammer it into place. The impeller needs to be able to float a bit on the shaft, as the driveshaft can move up and down a bit while running. If the impeller is jammed onto the shaft/key, it can cause excessive friction when turning the shaft as it is pushing to hard against either the housing or base plate.

In agreement with Chinewalker. The impeller slides down over the key... never needs tapping. You overlooked something in that department.

It is impossible to install a impeller the wrong way. The newer ones use a tapered plastic/nylon key whereas the impeller will only go over it one way.... The older models (steel key), yeah, they could be installed with the blades curved to be facing wrong ... BUT... as soon as the start cranked the engine over, the blades would flex to the proper direction.

 

[bcj.jones]

Thank yall for the help! Got home, impeller came back off pretty easy. Found the other key and it slid back on much easier. Installed the housing and the driveshaft still has some resistance but much easier to turn now! Thanks again!

Now just to find the correct shift shaft height!

 

[racerone]

Just google-------Johnson shift rod height--------Should be there.

 

[Joe Reeves]

For What It's Worth..................

With a slight bit of grease in the impeller cup that's already installed in the housing... hold the housing assembly in your left hand.

Now, with the impeller in your right hand, spin it into that cup with a Counter-Clockwise motion.

You can now apply sealer to the bottom of the impeller housing.

Slide the assembly down the driveshaft, aligning the impeller groove with the drive key. This prevents getting the sealer smeared all over the impeller.