Impeller "to change or not to change"

[mlschmitz]

Hello Salty Dogs!

My engine specs:

Tracker by mercury 2 stroke 115hp
Model# 1115412zn
SN# ot463914

I dont have any cooling problems that I can see (ie. no buzzer sounding and peeing strong) I have heard that an impeller change is a good idea every couple of years. Dont know if the previous owner ever changed it.

I have a OEM Merc manual. Should I attempt it or take it to the shop?

Thanks

 

[gunner1]

Re: Impeller "to change or not to change"

Hello Salty Dogs!

My engine specs:

Tracker by mercury 2 stroke 115hp
Model# 1115412zn
SN# ot463914

I dont have any cooling problems that I can see (ie. no buzzer sounding and peeing strong) I have heard that an impeller change is a good idea every couple of years. Dont know if the previous owner ever changed it.

I have a OEM Merc manual. Should I attempt it or take it to the shop?

Thanks

I just did mine and it's an easy job. However, if you have a strong flow of water from the pee hole, I'd say let it go, but keep an eye on it. Here's a link to a video of my boats first run after changing the waterpump just this week. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY8cxeNk5lE

 

[Expidia]

Re: Impeller "to change or not to change"

Two weeks ago I had mine done at the shop for around $100 since I'm entering my 4th season or 3 years on the original impeller. Check around cause the first shop I called where I bought my boat from wanted $200 for the same job. Both shops were certified Merc repair shops.

I tried to do it on my other motor a 25hp Merc and I could not get at the clip to undo it without removing stuff on this model like the electric starter unit etc. It was a sunny day, the boat was parked in the street and it was hard to even see where the clip is even with a flash light! That rod still holds the lower leg on after you remover the 4 bolts under the cavitation plate. It's not as simple a job as others attest to here. And the clip itself sometimes breaks and needs to be replaced, so get an extra one before you do it yourself. Mine would have been only $70 to replace, but I had him use the OEM Merc water pump kit.

Why not ask the guy if you could hang out at the shop and watch him and the next time you can do it yourself! He knows he will get any future big jobs from you anyway.

For $100 every 3 years it is not worth it to me to do it myself. I do the plugs and gas filter and oil on my 4 stroke myself at the start of each season.

If you don't know the last time it was done:
Your title should be Impeller change " to burn up a 115 outboard or not to burn up a 115 outboard"

 

[DuckOfDeath]

Re: Impeller "to change or not to change"

I don't change mine nearly that often. I've made a habit of checking my water pressure gauge while running, just like I check my mirrors while driving my car. And I don't run on lakes so large my trolling motor can't get me back to the dock. If I didn't have a gauge or used my rig to run on the great lakes, for instance, I would probably follow the 2-3 years advice on changing it for peace of mind.

 

[gunner1]

Re: Impeller "to change or not to change"

Two weeks ago I had mine done at the shop for around $100 since I'm entering my 4th season or 3 years on the original impeller. Check around cause the first shop I called where I bought my boat from wanted $200 for the same job. Both shops were certified Merc repair shops.

I tried to do it on my other motor a 25hp Merc and I could not get at the clip to undo it without removing stuff on this model like the electric starter unit etc. It was a sunny day, the boat was parked in the street and it was hard to even see where the clip is even with a flash light! That rod still holds the lower leg on after you remover the 4 bolts under the cavitation plate. It's not as simple a job as others attest to here. And the clip itself sometimes breaks and needs to be replaced, so get an extra one before you do it yourself. Mine would have been only $70 to replace, but I had him use the OEM Merc water pump kit.

Why not ask the guy if you could hang out at the shop and watch him and the next time you can do it yourself! He knows he will get any future big jobs from you anyway.

For $100 every 3 years it is not worth it to me to do it myself. I do the plugs and gas filter and oil on my 4 stroke myself at the start of each season.

If you don't know the last time it was done:
Your title should be Impeller change " to burn up a 115 outboard or not to burn up a 115 outboard"

There were only 5 nuts I had to remove to take off the lower unit on ym 1995 115hp outboard in the video. Once they are removed, you just pull it apart then remove/replace the used parts. Hey expedia, I see you in Albany, NY. I live in Catskill myself. Are you getting ready for the spring striper run?

 

[Expidia]

Re: Impeller "to change or not to change"

There were only 5 nuts I had to remove to take off the lower unit on ym 1995 115hp outboard in the video. Once they are removed, you just pull it apart then remove/replace the used parts. Hey expedia, I see you in Albany, NY. I live in Catskill myself. Are you getting ready for the spring striper run?

We launch out of the Catskill dock many times during the season. We like cruising up and down the creek and checking all the boats out or stopping for ice cream at that place near the end of the creek.

Many times we launch in Catskill and cruise down to Kingston and hook up at the town docks, have lunch and walk around the town. Great harbor for cruis'in around. We also launch in Newburg and cruise down to NYC.

For stripers I've actually never went after them. I'll spend hours trolling lake George for Lakers though. I'll cruise by hundreds of boats on the Hudson in May going after them and I know catching them is a blast!

But for me, I like Bass fishing and going after Lakers and Salmon since they are all very elusive it's more of a challenge for me.

When it comes to strippers I always feel bad for them. They are only trying to go North to spawn and can't go any further than the troy lock and I think they die anyway on their way back to the ocean. When I see 100 of boats out there it reminds me of shooting fish in a barrel! Hanging a live herring off a line and a slip sinker and sitting in the same spot all day is more like deep sea fishing to me. And in May I'll freeze my @ss off on the river

I know a bunch of friends that can't wait to go after them each season though. I'll probably give it a shot this year, if the weathers decent. I was cruis'in around the Hudson already on May 22nd. It was 72 degrees and I didn't see another boat (except for a few freighters) all day!

I love the Hudson. Several years ago a 6-8 foot long Sturgeon came right up next to my boat as I was sitting a few feet off the Athens launch waiting for a space to open up to pull my boat out, around 7pm one night. Now THAT WAS A FISH It looked just like the sub in Jules Verne's 20,000 leagues under the sea. It scared the crap out of me

If the wind was not gusting up in the 40's today and if it wasn't only 50 degrees I might have taken boat trip on the Hudson today!

 

[Expidia]

Re: Impeller "to change or not to change"

I just did mine and it's an easy job. However, if you have a strong flow of water from the pee hole, I'd say let it go, but keep an eye on it. Here's a link to a video of my boats first run after changing the waterpump just this week. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY8cxeNk5lE

hahaha, when you said here is a video of my boat's "first run" I was expecting to see a video of your boat flying across the water . . . so I open it up and I see this motor just sitting there in a tank of water, hahahaha just not the thrill was expecting to see

 

[j_martin]

Re: Impeller "to change or not to change"

If in doubt change the impeller, and carefully inspect the rest of the water pump.

I consider this an annual maintenance item. I can buy 120 impellers for the price of 1 power head. First time you do it might mess with yer head a bit, but after that it's easy.

hope it helps
John

 

[mlschmitz]

Re: Impeller "to change or not to change"

I just dont understand why some guys say it is easy and some say DONT attempt it?

Is it skill level or are some engines more difficult than others.

Probably both

 

[j_martin]

Re: Impeller "to change or not to change"

I just dont understand why some guys say it is easy and some say DONT attempt it?

Is it skill level or are some engines more difficult than others.

Probably both

Some folks are so inept that washing their hands is a challenge. Most find doing a water pump to be an ordinary task.

Following instructions is critical, like when it says don't lift the shift shaft, don't do it, even accidentally. There's a reason for that. (parts fall away on some and require disassembly to fix.)