Morning folks...

I got my first taste of having to change the impeller on my starboard 502 MPI this weekend. On my way (with my family) to watch the start of the MAPA Powerboating for a Cure Poker Run, the impeller let loose. Thank goodness for twins! I was able to salvage the morning by limping the boat over to our swimming spot so I could rebuild the pump while the family enjoyed sun and fun.

What a b*tch!!

I removed the belt and began undoing the brackets, but things were not coming apart easily at all. In the end I removed the alternator, alternator bracket, and the pump. Putting it back together was an effort in frustration management to say the least. I had to pry the pump away as far as possible, and try to wedge/sandwich the alternator bracket onto the stud. I think I was just lucky enough to get it back on. In the end she was fixed, but the job took almost three hours.

When doing this job on the Gen VI, does the circulation pump have to come off? That's the only way I could see it being easier (the circulation pump inlet seemed to be the biggest obstacle). If there wasn't a stud holding everything together at the head, it would have been much easier. I've searched the forum, but have not come up with an answer, and the service manual doesn't mention anything about it.

Any thoughts?

Don't have to take off any brackets to do my 502mpi sea pump.
Disconnect hoses and remove all the sea pump housing bolts, then the pump comes off the bracket.

I saw a thread where this was being done, and will try that next go-around. The biggest thing for my set up is that there is a small amount of room in front of the engines because of the transmissions. I'd rather not have to deal with removing that bracket again!

Racheting wrenches are your friend for tight spaces.
My engines are moved forward about 15" so I don't have a lot of room either, but my backseat lifts up and makes it easier.

Worst case scenario, keep a couple of big nuts on there and take the stud out. Gen 6 they are 7/16 14.

My backseat is solid... I had to do the entire job reaching down into the bilge. My chest is still sore! Agreed on the ratcheting wrenches!

I may go ahead and remove the studs from both engines, and replace them with bolts. To me the studs server as an easier way to locate the brackets during assembly. Would make my situation easier.