Impeller question, ALPHA 1.

[Fordiesel69]

I know this is dumb, but the old impeller vanes were all bent in the same direction. Upon putting the new impeller into the housing, I was unable to get all the vanes in the same direction. Will this be a problem? Or when it gets turning they will all bend the right way.

Also on my alpha one, the drive slide back into the coupler VERY easy and I did not have to hammer or use the nuts to force it in. On my sea ray with the MR drive it went in all but 1/2 inch, not quite enough to get the nuts started, I had to use a block of wood and hammer to get it in far enough to get the nuts started. Any reason for this?

 

[bomar76]

Re: Impeller question, ALPHA 1.

1. Vanes will instantly swap to the correct direction as soon as it is turned by engine.

2. If you had to force the drive on it was most likely due to being out of alignment. You need to use an alignment tool at least once a year, I do it anytime I pull drive too. Tools are all over ebay cheap.

 

[Don S]

Re: Impeller question, ALPHA 1.

A new impeller on an Alpha I will flip the vanes to the proper direction, no problem.
Gen II drives, they won't.
You should really check the alignment, with an alignment bar every time the drive is off.
Why the one on your MR hung up, hard to say. Could be out of alignment, could be an oring on the shaft having problems going into the gimbal bearing.

 

[ken_23434]

Re: Impeller question, ALPHA 1.

The service manual says to rotate the impeller as you push down to help install it. If you are twisting it in the same direction as you install the impeller, all the blades will be bent the same direction.

A new impeller is flexible. I do not think it will hurt them when you start the motor and they are bent the correct way.

Although, if you have not put it together yet, I would just pull out the impeller and rotate it as you push it into the lower pump housing. The service manual states what direction that is. 50/50 chance I would remember incorrectly.

The drive should slide in like yours did. If you have to resort to a hammer, then your engine alignment is off.

Make sure you are using the genuine Mercruiser Manual. Free download available in the "adults only" sticky at the top of the forum.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: Impeller question, ALPHA 1.

Next time I will rotate when I install it. Thanks.

As far as the alignment, question for ya; on my MR drive the splines do enguage the coupler and slide in quite a bit, the drive almost makes it in place enough to thread the nuts but not quite. Also a local guy told me if the engine is operated out of aligment for very long, the coupler will be trashed and you will start to see wear marks on the splines of the shaft, and the gimbel bearing will wear out prematurly. None of which is the case with my drive, and it is was not replaced recently.

I ran it a good 50 hours last october and november and I see no wear. I will still see if I can borrow an alignment dowel and see what it feels like.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Impeller question, ALPHA 1.

None of which is the case with my drive,

Ayuh,... Yet....

 

[Don S]

Re: Impeller question, ALPHA 1.

If you are going to own outdrive boats with gimbal bearing, get your own alignment bar. Ebay has them in the $50 range all the time. As I said before, you need to check the alignment every time the drive is off, and at least once a year.