342 Owners ?
 

Is it as hard as it looks to change the water pump impellers? Thinking of taking the back seat out to get to them. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks

I think it would be harder to take the back seat out?

The first time I did one on my 272 I bet it took two hours. The second time maybe an hour.

Now on the 36 I can do them both in not much over an hour. Like anything once you have done it a couple of times it is easy.

Baja does not give you much room to work and you will have to hang over the seat head first but it can be done.

Unhook the water hoses off the back, loosen the belt, undo three bolts and it is off.

If you go to all this trouble don't just change the impeller. Change the plastic housing. The kit comes with the housing, impeller, steel backing plate and o-ring.

Good luck.

its to bad yours is a post 2000 model. mine is a 2000. in that model year they had an extended sun pad/engine room, compared with the new models. i have at least 2 feet of room between the engines and the bulk head.

Re: 342 Owners ?
 

Sure hope those impellers hold out for the 4TH season. There is now way in hell to get to them!!!! I've tried everything. There seems to be 2 ways to change them 1) Pull the engines. 2) On the starboard engine get out my sawz-all and cut a hole in the side, port engine cut a hole in the bottom. (LOL).

Re: 342 Owners ?
 

I have never run the impeller four seasons! To me it is a must change item every year. We do a lot of coastal trips and the sand is a little harder on them them just fresh water, but if you pull one after only one season you will not believe how bad it looks.

If I were you I would take it to the dealer and get them changed.

Re: 342 Owners ?
 

Replace the housing with Jabsco one piece. Merc has a TSB on doing this anyway

Re: 342 Owners ?
 

ive got alphas. i just pull the drives from the outside. easy to change. ive got it down to about 20 minutes a side

Re: 342 Owners ?
 

Got a 33 Outlaw and I do it the way Doc does. Also its the only way too. Jabsco may be fine but at $350 per pop kinda cashy. A friend of mine had his water pump go out in a Baja with 496HO and it cost him $400 parts and labor to fix the water pump. Not sure what he had but he said it was bronze and stainless.

Re: 342 Owners ?
 

I was wrong on the TSB. The one piece housing assemby is a Sierra 18-3150

Hopefull picking up a 2002 342.. and It has new empellers done november 2011. so i am good for a year or 2 BUT i have got to figuer this out. I have had them fail, normally keep a spare ont he boat, but fromt he looks of the bildge its going to be impossible.

I have reas where baja342 removes the lower part of the bak seat with part of the floor with it. Mine has a genny sitting under the seat..... so not sure this is an option. any other ideas/instructions??