impeller replacement ,what have you found

[steelespike]

Just wondering when doing that routine impeller replacement, what you have found?I realize operating conditions vary greatly so if you could describe that as well.<br />As stated before I just changed my 88 50 evinrude after 17 years.I know, dumb.<br />There was still a strong telltale and no indication of a cooling problem.I suddenly realized I had overlooked the most basic of maintenance procedures.I was probably lucky.

 

[OBJ]

Re: impeller replacement ,what have you found

Yeah Spike...you wuz lucky....operating on borrowed time, so to speak.... <br /><br />I change out a ton of impellers every year and have seen a lot....everything from impellers still good (owners just want to be sure) to nothing left but the impeller hub. The most common thing I find is the impeller that's lost it's memory....it got hard and the "fins" take the form of the impeller cup. It's cheap insurance that can be done by most boaters in the drive way. <br /><br />What did yours look like after 17 years "at sea"?

 

[dakk1]

Re: impeller replacement ,what have you found

My impeller was only a year old with very few hours on it and the edges were really chewed up. However, I had been doing a lot of troubleshooting on the muffs trying to track down a performance issue, which leads me to believe that was a contributing factor.<br /><br />Dave..

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: impeller replacement ,what have you found

Here in salt water, changing the impeller is sometimes done just to make sure it can still be done next time. A lower unit that hasn't been off in 17 years isn't going to come off without some serious convincing.<br />But I suspect those largish OMC impellers operating in clean water will last a long time, as long as the engine is running well (no misfires/rich running to soak the thing in gas). Some other outboards have real marginal impellers in them.

 

[BF]

Re: impeller replacement ,what have you found

All my outboards are freshwater use, and not many hours per season. Some are from the 70's and had never had impeller replaced until I got the motor and did it. I've found:<br /><br />1) Impeller(s) that look fine, but when replaced the new one pumps lots more water.<br /><br />2) Impellers with various degrees of wear, hardening of the rubber and taking a "set". New one pumps more water.<br /><br />3) An impeller that seemed to pump OK, actually had a vane broken off that was riding around in the pump housing. New one pumped more water.<br /><br />4) And just lately, an impeller that looked good/new, replaced anyway, new one pumps about the same. (first time for that!) At least now I know when it was done last. I kept the one that I pulled out... maybe it'll go back in someday in a crunch.