Water pump lower housing and seals, replace or leave?

[Crunchy]

With the crap weather thought i would make myself useful and do a service even though its not really due. Just wondering if i should replace the lower water housing unit, o ring and the two seals that go on the shaft while im doing the impeller and gaskets , Is this good practice or waste of time? Also does it just pry off?

Had to use quite a bit of heat on the shaft to get the key out (if i ever meet this woodruff bloke I'm gunna punch him in the head) which also made we wonder about replacing the lower housing seals.

[robothefisho]

The short answer is no. Only if they're needed.

Sometimes but not often. The impeller always, sometimes the housing if it's been used in sandy shallows etc.

[Crunchy]

Usual story, impeller, housing etc look as good as new, just once I would like to actually find a worn or damaged impeller to make the whole exercise worthwhile!

[scottar]

Usual story, impeller, housing etc look as good as new, just once I would like to actually find a worn or damaged impeller to make the whole exercise worthwhile!

Leave them for 7 or 8 years - that'll do it. Last two impellors in my previous motor did those sort of use without issue. The impellors themselves still functioned but both the top of the stainless impellor housing and the lower stainless plate were heavily grooved leading to a reduction in water pressure. In both cases the impellor was cut from the shaft with a dremel making sure not to hit the shaft itself. Once a deep enough groove was cut into the brass bush of the impellor, a turn from a decent sized screwdriver will crack it and it comes off easy as

[gazza2006au]

Had to use quite a bit of heat on the shaft to get the key out

bugger mate u would have fried your seals u never use heat to remove the woodruff key just tap a small nail or screw driver into the top of the woodruff key and it should pop out

u can use heat if u remove the shaft from the gearbox but i find it unnecessary unless some how u have sheared off the key

[Crunchy]

Well she's all back together now, seems to be good as gold.

[Moonlighter]

Leave them for 7 or 8 years - that'll do it. Last two impellors in my previous motor did those sort of use without issue. The impellors themselves still functioned but both the top of the stainless impellor housing and the lower stainless plate were heavily grooved leading to a reduction in water pressure. In both cases the impellor was cut from the shaft with a dremel making sure not to hit the shaft itself. Once a deep enough groove was cut into the brass bush of the impellor, a turn from a decent sized screwdriver will crack it and it comes off easy as

That depends very much on how the boat is used. It would be far from normal for a boat used in estuaries where the obligatory amount of dredging through sandbars is fairly unavoidable.

Also, I would never leave a outboard leg 7 or 8 years before dropping the leg. That is something you would want to do at least every 2 years, or you greatly increase the risk that you will encounter major difficulties getting bolts undone and shafts out. For that reason alone, dropping the leg annually is the go for many of us, and while you are there, replacing the impeller for the small additional costs involved represents good insurance.

[Crunchy]

I coat all the bolts in grease before re-installing them, they always come out easy (Even after many years of not pulling the leg off), none have ever come loose.

[scottar]

That depends very much on how the boat is used. It would be far from normal for a boat used in estuaries where the obligatory amount of dredging through sandbars is fairly unavoidable.

Also, I would never leave a outboard leg 7 or 8 years before dropping the leg. That is something you would want to do at least every 2 years, or you greatly increase the risk that you will encounter major difficulties getting bolts undone and shafts out. For that reason alone, dropping the leg annually is the go for many of us, and while you are there, replacing the impeller for the small additional costs involved represents good insurance.

Boat was a 15' tinnie with a 40 horse evinrude. While it saw possibly more than it's fair share of bluewater boating it certainly did plenty of estuary work as well. While I was always mindful of avoiding dredging, I did wear a prop down enough over the years of ownership to replace it. The bolts never gave me any issues but I am in the habit of removal of whatever I can get at every 1-2 years and applying a liberal dose of grease. The only ones that leaves are the ones holding the impellor housing that were replaced at every impellor change. I certainly don't recommend leaving things as long as I did but I do believe that with old school 2 strokes, annual servicing is over servicing unless you are accruing a lot of hours provided you have a reasonably regular home maintenance program.