Stupid impellar questions

[JRuggiero]

Lower unit is sitting in living room as I await solenoids ('71 evinrude 60hp) and I opted to pull the impellar out now for a checkup.<br /><br />a) When I pulled the housing up the shaft, the impellar came up with it and I SWEAR I heard a small clunk like something falling out. I also see the notch in the shaft, and the grove in the impellar - did something lock the impellar to the shaft and fall out?<br /><br />b) Should I just replace this impellar no matter what (motor is new to me) or can I safely put it back (still nice and flexible, seems to fit snugly in housing).<br /><br />Thanks.

 

[Hotrods]

Re: Stupid impellar questions

Sounds like the "key" fell out of the keyway.

 

[nimmor]

Re: Stupid impellar questions

No question is stupid if you are new to working on motors. Like Hotrod said it sounds like the key fell out, it is what turns the impellar. As far as replacing it that can be a tough question. If it is still fleible I would say it is still in good shape. But it is a good ideal to replace them about every 2-3 years depending on how many hours you put on the boat. They are not an epensive item so if you can swing it and it is apart it might be a good ideal to go ahead and replace it.