Seawater pump impeller change - 454 MPI
 

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I've wrenched on cars, boats, motorcycles, tractors, lawn equipment, etc for the better part of 50 years and I have to admit that changing the seawater pump impeller was one of the most unpleasant tasks that I have ever done. There is simply NO ROOM to get to things...I had to remove the fuel filter assembly just to get to where I could see the seawater pump; taking the hoses off was a 2 hour ordeal. I ended up taking off the main hose from the circulating pump, removed the serpentine belt, and took the whole pump assembly out of the boat to service it. Reinstalling was much more straightforward, but those damned hoses were nearly impossible to get the hose clamps back on, literally took another two hours to do. The impeller was shot, as well as the housing...which explains why it wouldn't take water on the muffs last fall when I winterized it. I wish there was an easier way to disconnect and reconnect these hoses.

Piece of cake..........lol.......try changing a cool fuel pump on the starboard engine in a 33 Outlaw.........:faint2:

I take mine out of the boat every year and replace on the bench. Mine never show any wear, but I only put maybe 10-15 hours a year on the boat…..

Funny - the old v-belt makes my life easier but it’s still probably 2 hours of work overall….

I understand everything you’re saying. It’s all tight and down low gets harder as time goes on. I do mine every other year so it’s not like you get use to the repetition. You did same thing I do. Pull filter bracket, water pump hose, put pump on bench and replace impeller. I mark the hoses to ensure they go back on pump correctly. Easy mistake= no water flow. You almost waited too long. That impeller was about to come apart and start plugging up coolers.

I find it easier remove all the bolts on the seapump and pull it forward a little with the hoses still connected. To reassemble connect the hoses to the housing first and then bolt it up. I've never had to remove the bracket. BTW, did you do a complete kit with housing and lube up the impeller? I use liquid dish soap.

Yes, complete kit...impeller, wear plate, o-ring, and housing. I too have always used Dawn dish soap as lubricant..

Lol...I exclaimed to my wife in one of my moments of frustration, "HOW THE HELL DO THE GUYS WITH TWINS DO THIS?????"

I keep going back to trying to find some quick-disconnect type of fittings for those damned hoses. Literally the 'hardest' part of the job was loosening and then re-tightening the hose clamps.

Bajaman,

Oh, that's easy. You take it somewhere with a spidermonkey, and let HIM do it.

Thanks. Brad.

On my other Baja, I changed the impeller maybe 5 times in 28 years, but it only had 350 hours or so on it when I sold it. It was a Yamaha marinized 454 (HydraDrive system) that used a Sherwood pump, I never saw ANY wear or degradation in performance with it. This was my first time with this boat; I purchased it in late August of 2020, and the previous owner said the impeller had "recently been serviced". From the way those hoses were stuck on that pump, I kind of doubt that.
Boating exclusively on Table Rock lake, with deep, clear water (no muck, no sand, etc) I figure an impeller should last several years or maybe 100 hours? I put about the same amount of hours each year on my boat as you do yours.