Fitting Speedseal to 1GM

[Spuddy]

Yanmar 1GM has the impeller housing half hidden behind the crankshaft pulley. One of the knurled head bolts for the Speedseal has to screw into a hole in the hidden bit. I've been fiddling away with my sausage siized fingers and can't get the thing in.
I thought of removing the pump but probably need to remove the belt pulley to get a socket at it. And then might need to use a puller on pulley and so on.....
Anybody got any tricks for getting that effin bolt in or for avoiding epic dismantle?
Thanks....Spuddy

 

[blackbeard]

FWIW:
I've had no problems with changing the impeller with the unmodified (ie non-Speedseal) 1GM water pump (practice makes perfect maybe) and no problems in removing the water pump from the engine (as one has to do in order to fix a leaking water seal grrrr). You just need decent ring and open-ended spanners of suitable (ie small) sizes - cheap and useful for other jobs too.
Please let us know how you get on with Speedseal and whether you think it's worthwhile once you have fitted it.
regards, Mike

 

[Spuddy]

Thanks Mike.
But fitting that 3rd bolt through original plate would still be a problem with my size fingers.
I'd dithered over replacing seal as well so encouraged by yourself I'll get the spanners on after a good soak with plus gas or similar. ( I prefer Plus Gas to WD40 - a better quality hallucination, I find.

 

[srp]

It's a stupid place to put a water pump. You'll have to persevere though - bear in mind that you only have to fit it once. After that you only have to loosen it a turn to slide the Speedseal cover on and off, and you can do that with a slim pair of pliers. Don't overtighten them or you could strip the thread - it's only about 4mm dia (if I remember correctly).
Having struggled on the mooring with the original hex head bolts, I wouldn't be without a Speedseal. Trying to change an impeller at sea without one would be a real pig.

 

[ridgy]

Completely agree. When I fitted a speedseal to my rearward facing water pump, it took nearly two hours to get the old cover off, so difficult was the access.

Now it takes 2 minutes but I must admit I still wouldn't fancy the job at sea...