I have a 1989 Formula 272 w/454's in it. I was trying to winterize my motors last weekend, the first motor went pretty smooth but the second no so smooth. I think I ended up frying an impellor, I can't such up any water,I run it on the hose and I get no water out the pipes and no leaks so I assume the impellor burned up when the motor overheated when I was trying to put antifreeze in it. So could you guys help me out with any pictures or diagrams of how to do this?Is is hard to replace? I know the impellor only cost like $20...Anyways any help would be great. Thanks

The Boat

The Wally picture tutorial on impeller changing. Yours might be slightly different, but the same principles apply.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/g...-impellor.html

Let me know if you need the impeller or a whole new rebuild kit with housing and i'll make you a deal. Good luck!

Brian

Be careful if you are winterizing by sucking up antifreeze through the drive....
If your engine is not hot and the thermostat opened all of the way the antifreeze will only get the water pump, coolers and bypass the block right out the exhaust...
Even if the thermostat is opened it will only mix the antifreeze with the block water, you can't mix the pink antifreeze effectively.

The correct way (or my way) is to physically drain the water from the coolers, hoses, block and manifolds then pour antifreeze in through the hoses to the coolers, manifolds and block.
Depending on the engine there are usually always a few different tricks to getting it done correctly. Each engine and setup is different. Also, always lower the drive to drain out any water and if it is stored outside leave it down, it keeps the rain out which can freeze and bust the case. Also easier on the bellows.

I have replaced many engines from people thinking they could do it theirselves and save a few $$s, it ended up costing them many $$s!
Either have a professional marine tech do it or have a professional show you how to do it. And not your buddy down the street who works on cars...

And wait on your impeller replacement until spring, sitting over winter is not good on them and they have a limited life span anyway... Replace them both in the spring and you will be set for the summer.

if the blades are missing off the impeller be sure to back flush the oil cooler they will loge in the intake of the cooler and block the flow

I've replaced many of these sea water impellers and I have neve had to remove the pump?? Just remove the back housing replace the wear plate and impeller and as long as I have all the veins reinstall. Why would you want to remove fuel lines? Good Luck very easy job.

It is very simple to do and if you follow the write up griff gave you should have no problems at all. Good luck and have fun.

I blew out a fresh water pick up a few years back on my 496HO. Two opptions replace the entire pump ($350-450) per mercs recommendation or just the impellor ($20-25). I opt for both bought the new and replaced it and an impellor for the broke one which still sets in the garge.

The one thing I did and would highly recomend is the back flush or as an alternative which I took to this is get the shop vac out and suck all the busted out impellor blades out. Not only from the outlet but also the inlet. OK so some may call this redneck ingenuity but hey it worked

Patience

Griff, I'm new to this site and hoping to find some help. I have found that the location of the seawater pump is lower starboard side. It looks asthough my water/oil seperator is in front of it. Does this sound accurate? If so, then I will need to remove the filter and its housing before accessing the pump, right?