Engine water pump spares

[Bodach na mara]

A couple of years ago I renewed the impeller of my water pump using the recommended spares kit from Beta Engines, who operated an effective online shop at the time. The kit comprised an impeller and an O-ring and in fact was part of a large selection of serving spares in a nice useful toolbox. The impeller was fine but the O-ring was a bit too large in diameter. I measured it as about 55mm in internal diameter. The cross section diameter was OK at 2mm. I squeezed the ring into the groove as best I could and it seemed to work satisfactorily for 2 years.

Last autumn I removed the impeller for the winter and last week ordered and fitted a new kit, not from Beta as they had changed their site and I found it unusable. Once again the ring supplied is over-sized. This time I cut a small (12.5mm) section out using a craft knife and joined the cut ends using super glue. l made the cuts at an angle of course.

Has anyone else found this problem? I have measured the groove and found the inner diameter to be 52 mm and width 2mm so in future I intend to obtain this size of ring from a bearing supplies dealer.

 

[Refueler]

Just a comment .... Parts4Engines .... seem to be many peoples goto for stuff .... have to admit I just ordered a Perkins Water pump service kit from them ... even though I live in Latvia and shipping / customs costs doubled the total

 

[BabaYaga]

A couple of years ago I renewed the impeller of my water pump using the recommended spares kit from Beta Engines, who operated an effective online shop at the time. The kit comprised an impeller and an O-ring and in fact was part of a large selection of serving spares in a nice useful toolbox. The impeller was fine but the O-ring was a bit too large in diameter. I measured it as about 55mm in internal diameter. The cross section diameter was OK at 2mm. I squeezed the ring into the groove as best I could and it seemed to work satisfactorily for 2 years.

Last autumn I removed the impeller for the winter and last week ordered and fitted a new kit, not from Beta as they had changed their site and I found it unusable. Once again the ring supplied is over-sized. This time I cut a small (12.5mm) section out using a craft knife and joined the cut ends using super glue. l made the cuts at an angle of course.

Has anyone else found this problem? I have measured the groove and found the inner diameter to be 52 mm and width 2mm so in future I intend to obtain this size of ring from a bearing supplies dealer.

I have a couple of those O-ring in my spares box, but whether they fit or not I don't know, as I am still on the original O-ring on my 17 years old Beta engine (722). No leaks (I do take out the impeller every autumn for inspection).
So my only advice would be, when you find a fitting ring, use it for a long time.

 

[Bodach na mara]

I have a couple of those O-ring in my spares box, but whether they fit or not I don't know, as I am still on the original O-ring on my 17 years old Beta engine (722). No leaks (I do take out the impeller every autumn for inspection).
So my only advice would be, when you find a fitting ring, use it for a long time.

I intend to!

 

[ChromeDome]

The pump most likely is a Johnson/Japsco part, not manufactured by Beta.

Hence parts are plenty available so if your engine model no can be used to identify the pump type no., it should be straightforward to get details

For example, the Johnson pump F4B-9 parts list states

What Beta model is yours?

 

[jamie N]

The 'O' ring that you made; did you varnish over the super glued joint? Some super glues are water soluble.

 

[Bodach na mara]

Thanks ChromeDome. It's a Beta 30.
The face plate of the pump states that it is a Beta and gives the part numbers of the pemp and impeller kit.

Thanks Jamie I didn't varnish the joint but did wonder. It's not leaking so far. The glue is not a high quality one. Pound shop pack of 4!

I'll obtain a range of sizes of O-ring before I do anything adventurous.

Final mishap, I decided to nip up the 6 screws holding the face plate. Nothing animal mind, just using a screwdriver. And one stripped! What do the make these things of? Toffee???

 

[Plum]

The face plate of the pump states that it is a Beta and gives the part numbers of the pemp and impeller kit.

Even though it says Beta on the pump does not necessarily mean it was made by Beta. Mine has Volvo Penta on it but I know it is a Johnson pump. I have the Johnson technical drawing that shows they apply the Volvo Penta name on both the cover plate and the body. There is a label on the drawing that says "Customer Branded"

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[LittleSister]

Yes, it will definitely be a proprietary water pump, not a Beta manufacture - almost certainly Johnson or Jabsco, as others have said, as they supply virtually all marine engine manufacturers.

In your position I'd be inclined to call Beta and explain the problem you have been having and they may be able to identify why the mismatch - 'in my day' you'd quickly be through to someone very helpful who knew what they were talking about, though I don't know if that's still the case.

Note that Beta may perhaps have used different water pumps (and alternators, etc. and other 'bought in components) during the production run of a particular engine (Beta 30 in your case), so your water pump is probably, but not necessarily, exactly the same model as someone else with the same engine. If you can provide Beta with the WOC (Works Order Card) number for your engine they can identify exactly what parts and options were fitted to your particular engine. (I formed the impression they can trace it from the engine serial number, but not as readily.)

If you can identify the water pump model number (I have a vague recollection some may have it cast into the body to the rear of the pump) you can pick up spares from elsewhere than Beta (who are not the cheapest but not outrageously priced in my experience, and often worth getting stuff from them for their friendly, knowledgeable and speedy service - though my experience was when it was all done on the phone and not via a website).

 

[Bodach na mara]

Thanks all for your help and advice. I'm going to be offshore (not in my own boat for a change) for a few weeks and will catch up when I get back.

 

[wombat88]

Keep an eye on Lidl, from time to time they have sold a blue box of 'O' rings with lots of different sizes and thicknesses for next to nothing.

 

[Bodach na mara]

I know. I've got 2 of them, one at home and one on the boat. They have a wide range of sizes and sections but not extending to the diameters discussed in this thread.

 

[BabaYaga]

Note that Beta may perhaps have used different water pumps (and alternators, etc. and other 'bought in components) during the production run of a particular engine (Beta 30 in your case), so your water pump is probably, but not necessarily, exactly the same model as someone else with the same engine.

^^^^^^^
I have access to a Beta spare parts list covering engines B10 to B25 (so the OP's engine may be different), but from this can be concluded that they used a Jabsco pump with a six screw cover plate up until 2004. This pump had a paper gasket, no O-ring.
Between 2004 and 2006 they used another Jabsco pump with a three screw cover plate and O-ring.
After 2006 they switched to a Johnson pump, six screw cover plate and O-ring.
The Jabsco and Johnson O-ring part numbers are not the same and this may well explain the mismatch the OP has experienced, if his engine model has had a similar change of pumps as the B10 to B25 range.

Edit: My spares list is dated 2012, so there may also have been more recent changes.

 

[ChromeDome]

Based on "Beta 20" it narrows down a bit, but still more than one pump number used depending on serial/year which potentially is why something didn't fit properly.
A swift browse shows Beta part number 205-61500/01 and 207-08922 from 2013 (pg. 26-27 in this parts catalogue).

When accurately identified parts will be easy to source, from Beta or others.

 

[dankilb]

^^^ this be the reason to talk to Beta (and why their online spares shop is so ‘minimal’).

They did change things up a bit and sometimes in quite short succession. (In terms of which bits from the parts bin they reached for…)

If you phone them with the works number of the lump, not only do you get the right parts (delivered next day) but you usually have a nice chat too!

 

[coopec]

As others have mentioned there are kits which are quite cheap. I have one which I bought on eBay for around $20

 

[Stemar]

I know. I've got 2 of them, one at home and one on the boat. They have a wide range of sizes and sections but not extending to the diameters discussed in this thread.

That's the trouble with those kits, they invariably have every size you could possible imagine - except the one you actually need.

 

[Bodach na mara]

I've contacted Beta. My engine dates from 2018. During that summer there was a waiting list for that engine as they had a large order to complete for generating units for Bangladesh due to some disaster emergency. The cover plate is the one shown in the parts list link.

I'll let you know what Beta say when I find out but as I am away for a while that will not be soon.

 

[Neeves]

Final mishap, I decided to nip up the 6 screws holding the face plate. Nothing animal mind, just using a screwdriver. And one stripped! What do the make these things of? Toffee???

We have appalling access to our water pump, its at hull level and there is insufficient room to bend down to have your eye at 'screw' level. I removed all the screws, little bolts, and replaced them with stainless, Alan key recessed heads. Its easier to get a good fitting for the Alan key than relying on a flat screw driver.

They have been good for about 20 years.

Jonathan

If you swap, or replace the one you stripped, its worth buying extra (they cost less than peanuts) as if you drop one it can be quicker to use a new one as a replacement than grovel around looking for the old one.

 

[ChromeDome]

The once popular Speedseal went out of production (2020?) but seems to have been taken up again. Not inexpensive, though.

Other options, as Neeves mention, are stainless bolts, flanged, stud bolts or grub screws with nuts or wing nuts. Best guess is you have M4x8 threads