Water Pump Locking Up?

[centurion]

I have a 2003 Ski Centurion with a Mercruiser 350 MPI towsport engine, 315hp, v-drive, inboard. The last two weekends I've used the boat the first day it runs fine and on day 2, when I start the engine the drive belt won't turn after the engine is running and it makes a screeching sound, I assume from the belt trying to turn, as if something is frozen up in it and preventing it from turning. The first time this happened I let it sit for a few hours and then tried it again and it ran perfectly. I purchased the boat used and don't know if the impeller has ever been replaced although the boat only has 85 hours on it. I was told by a mechanic that impellers can sometimes get reversed. Any thoughts?

 

[I/O WALDO]

Re: Water Pump Locking Up?

Sounds like a locked-up accessory.Prob circulating pump or alt.Start the beast and note what is not turning while it squeals!

 

[Don S]

Re: Water Pump Locking Up?

You have 2 options. Start the engine and look at it while it screeching to see what is NOT turning, or pull the belt and turn each item and see what has a rough bearing.<br />A bad impeller will not cause the pump to freeze up. Bad bearings will. The idler and tensioner pulleys are noted for going bad and locking up.

 

[I/O WALDO]

Re: Water Pump Locking Up?

Isn't your raw pump drivin by a crank coupling?

 

[centurion]

Re: Water Pump Locking Up?

I unfortunately don't know enough about the engine to answer whether the raw pump is driven by a crank coupling. The engine is mounted backwards in this boat with a v-drive and its very difficult to get a close look at what all the belt is driving. I've tried seeing what is locked up with the engine running, and I couldn't really see anything turning at all and I was affraid to let it run to long. Would any of the possible problems mentioned: locked up accessory or bad bearings be such an intermittent problem like I seem to be having with it locked up one day and then the next its fine?

 

[I/O WALDO]

Re: Water Pump Locking Up?

Yep,Like Don says,get a Wrench Head to remove the belt(s) and hopefully find the bad part.

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Water Pump Locking Up?

I think your engine has the one piece plastic raw water pump and it will do exactly what you described. Odds are it was run dry at some point and you should not run the boat at all until it's been replaced. With only 85 hours, you won't likely need anything but a new impeller, not the whole rebuild kit. I think they cost around 40 bucks.

 

[centurion]

Re: Water Pump Locking Up?

Thanks to both of you. I've got a mechanic coming to look at it, but wanted to try to get some info myself to hopefully avoid being ripped off.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Water Pump Locking Up?

Originally posted by centurion:<br /> Thanks to both of you. I've got a mechanic coming to look at it, but wanted to try to get some info myself to hopefully avoid being ripped off.

Welcome to the Den of Thieves,..........<br /><br />And the forums here at iboats................... <br /><br /><br />It Could be Any,.... But Probably Not All of the accessories that are driven by the Belt..........