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Author Topic:   Water pumps/Impellors

jimithing posted 04-08-2002 08:54 PM ET (US)
What is the timeline that one should use to determine whether or not a water pump/impellor needs to be replaced. Do you approach it like changing oil in the car???
I have a 1994 yamaha 225 I bought new and have done very little maintenence to it since I bought it over 8 years ago...other than the usual winterizations. Also checked the owners manual for guidence and found notta. Thanks for all responses.
Outraged posted 04-08-2002 10:03 PM ET (US)
I would make sure to change the impellor & lower unit oil.I like to change mine every 2 yrs. If the lower unit oil is milky, you've probably got leaky seal which needs replacing. New spark plugs also.
lhg posted 04-08-2002 11:48 PM ET (US)
About 300 hours or every two seasons is a good rule of thumb for an impellor. A strong telltale stream is an indicator it's in good shape.
jimithing posted 04-09-2002 11:09 AM ET (US)
the engine currently has a very strong stream.....question is how do you tell when its about to go or beginning to fail. Also what does a service call usually run to replace the impellor and the thermostat, something else I was told should be replaced.
NEVER SCARED posted 04-09-2002 03:39 PM ET (US)
Jimithing
I bought a used 1992 Evinrude and I ran the hell out of it for another 6 years. Never replaced anything but plugs. If the stream of water is still strong, keep your money! You would probably have to run in shallow water full of sand or crushed shells a lot, or run the engine out of water to need impellor replacement. Dealers love to cash in on our fear. Do however replace the lower unit oil about every 50 hours! This is a do-it-your-selfer.
Chip posted 04-09-2002 06:25 PM ET (US)
Jimithing...My opinion, change it. It really isn't that big a job to do it yourself. Get the shop manual from the library and see if it's within your capabilities. I just did mine, first time and had no problems. You really cannot tell when it's gonna fail, and it doesn't take too many overheats to kill a nice big motor.
John from Madison CT posted 04-09-2002 08:21 PM ET (US)
One of the reason you change the impeller is to make sure the lower unit bolts are not corroded and able to come out easily.
If you go by the impeller's ability to pump water, come the day when you finally need an impeller, which can take 15 years, you can find all those 5-6 bolts corroded in place. Same applies to the drive shaft and it's spline. I've seen them completely rusted to the powerhead, unable to drop down.
At that point you deal with a major problem.
It's worth dropping the lower unit every 2-3 years and putting a sealant on the threads of the bolts. Take care to properly grease the drive shaft spline too. (not too much grease)
The '89 Yamaha I got last fall, never had the impeller changed in it's 13 years of life. It pumped tons of water. Luckily the bolts came right out after all those years. Thank god it was a freshwater engine.

John from Madison, CT
Arch Autenreith posted 04-09-2002 09:14 PM ET (US)
I'm just changing mine now and as John points out one of the bolts was corroded pretty badly and was a little struggle getting the lower unit off. It's been about 7-8 years since I changed it last.
BTW, my impression has been I don't have many hours (relatively) for 8 years use but the impellor and insert were just fine.
I just installed an hour meter but I think I'll be doing this every 2-3 years from now on. It's a piece of cake job really.
Clark Roberts posted 04-09-2002 09:16 PM ET (US)
Chip and John have it right! Great advice guys! happy Whalin'... Clark... Spruce Creek Navy
jimithing posted 04-10-2002 09:36 AM ET (US)
Good stuff. All very good advice and I will heed it......Thanks again.

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Author	Topic: Water pumps/Impellors
jimithing	posted 04-08-2002 08:54 PM ET (US) What is the timeline that one should use to determine whether or not a water pump/impellor needs to be replaced. Do you approach it like changing oil in the car??? I have a 1994 yamaha 225 I bought new and have done very little maintenence to it since I bought it over 8 years ago...other than the usual winterizations. Also checked the owners manual for guidence and found notta. Thanks for all responses.
Outraged	posted 04-08-2002 10:03 PM ET (US) I would make sure to change the impellor & lower unit oil.I like to change mine every 2 yrs. If the lower unit oil is milky, you've probably got leaky seal which needs replacing. New spark plugs also.
lhg	posted 04-08-2002 11:48 PM ET (US) About 300 hours or every two seasons is a good rule of thumb for an impellor. A strong telltale stream is an indicator it's in good shape.
jimithing	posted 04-09-2002 11:09 AM ET (US) the engine currently has a very strong stream.....question is how do you tell when its about to go or beginning to fail. Also what does a service call usually run to replace the impellor and the thermostat, something else I was told should be replaced.
NEVER SCARED	posted 04-09-2002 03:39 PM ET (US) Jimithing I bought a used 1992 Evinrude and I ran the hell out of it for another 6 years. Never replaced anything but plugs. If the stream of water is still strong, keep your money! You would probably have to run in shallow water full of sand or crushed shells a lot, or run the engine out of water to need impellor replacement. Dealers love to cash in on our fear. Do however replace the lower unit oil about every 50 hours! This is a do-it-your-selfer.
Chip	posted 04-09-2002 06:25 PM ET (US) Jimithing...My opinion, change it. It really isn't that big a job to do it yourself. Get the shop manual from the library and see if it's within your capabilities. I just did mine, first time and had no problems. You really cannot tell when it's gonna fail, and it doesn't take too many overheats to kill a nice big motor.
John from Madison CT	posted 04-09-2002 08:21 PM ET (US) One of the reason you change the impeller is to make sure the lower unit bolts are not corroded and able to come out easily. If you go by the impeller's ability to pump water, come the day when you finally need an impeller, which can take 15 years, you can find all those 5-6 bolts corroded in place. Same applies to the drive shaft and it's spline. I've seen them completely rusted to the powerhead, unable to drop down. At that point you deal with a major problem. It's worth dropping the lower unit every 2-3 years and putting a sealant on the threads of the bolts. Take care to properly grease the drive shaft spline too. (not too much grease) The '89 Yamaha I got last fall, never had the impeller changed in it's 13 years of life. It pumped tons of water. Luckily the bolts came right out after all those years. Thank god it was a freshwater engine. John from Madison, CT
Arch Autenreith	posted 04-09-2002 09:14 PM ET (US) I'm just changing mine now and as John points out one of the bolts was corroded pretty badly and was a little struggle getting the lower unit off. It's been about 7-8 years since I changed it last. BTW, my impression has been I don't have many hours (relatively) for 8 years use but the impellor and insert were just fine. I just installed an hour meter but I think I'll be doing this every 2-3 years from now on. It's a piece of cake job really.
Clark Roberts	posted 04-09-2002 09:16 PM ET (US) Chip and John have it right! Great advice guys! happy Whalin'... Clark... Spruce Creek Navy
jimithing	posted 04-10-2002 09:36 AM ET (US) Good stuff. All very good advice and I will heed it......Thanks again.