Check all of your impellers contained within the engine cooling pumps, bilge pumps, ballast pumps, and so on. One of the biggest contributors to impeller deterioration and damage is sitting idle in the same position for several months, so a proper check of the impeller(s) is vital to a reliable operation of the boat after storage and/or no operation.
Replacing an impeller is a fairly easy and straightforward process and one that you have probably done in the past. It is important to use the right tool to remove an impeller from the pump. Channel lock or needle-nose pliers are fine, but using an impeller removal tool is the best choice. Never use a screwdriver to pry an impeller out of a pump; you could accidentally score the bronze housing which can lead to leaks. Make sure you know how the impeller is being held in place. Some are sealed to the shaft with an O-ring; others are held in place with a set screw and others with a c-clip.
Make sure to check the pump and the water lines for any trash or chunks of rubber that may have broken off from the impeller. Even the smallest blockage can cause major engine cooling and overheating issues. Also, remember to properly lubricate your new impeller with Vaseline or the lubricant included with the new impeller. This will reduce friction for a brand new impeller on a dry startup.
Most importantly, make sure you are using the right impeller for the application. We have seen many instances of people who have replaced an impeller with something that is close to the original, but not exactly right, and this can cause major problems for the engine once normal operation resumes. You cannot match the size of the used impeller to a new one to determine the replacement, as a used impeller can be swollen and disfigured from its original specifications. The best method is to obtain the impeller number off of the impeller itself, usually located on the edge of the shaft hole of the impeller, or obtain the part number of the pump, usually stamped into the bronze housing.
You can find just about every impeller that needs to be replaced at CLR Marine. We carry Sherwood, Jabsco and Globe just to mention a few. We also carry many of the miner and major rebuild kits for many pumps. A minor repair kit consists of the impeller and any gaskets or O-rings that may be needed to replace the impeller. Our major rebuild kits include everything to rebuild that pump except for the shaft. All kits are put together at time of order so you will always see the Quantity on Hand as 0.
