Water pump replacement 1979 80 HP

[heyblue]

Ordered kit and dropped lower unit. Removed three nuts and one screw from top of pump. Top cover slid up and off the drive shaft. Slid the impeller up and off the shaft, the pin that keeps it turning with the shaft dropped out. Looks like that will be a pain putting back together. The lower pump housing seems to not want to move. Got a new one with the kit. Do I just use force and if it breaks so what, or it there something keeping it in place that I am missing? Thanks

 

[tlh 178]

put alittle 24c grease in the opening, then put the key in. the grease will hold it in there. go to youtube and put in mecury water pump and watch how to put it back together.

 

[Chris1956]

It normally takes two heavy screwdrivers to pry out the waterpump base. Make sure the new pump base is well seated. Clean and grease the driveshaft before installing the new pump base, or it may tear the seal.

Installing the drive key into the waterpump impeller is child's play. Hold the key against the flat spot of the driveshaft and push the impeller down over it. I never needed anything to hold it in place, except 1 finger.