Help please - impeller removal

[asteven221]

I have a Fairline 40, 1988 vintage with Volvo TAMD61a's 306hp engines installed - sorry shoe horned in. The water pump cover plate is about 2 inches from a bulkhead and although with an outstretched hand (on the end of a longer than average arm) I can carefully undo and remove the plate, I can't get the impeller out. There isn't enough space for any sort of water pump (no pun intended) pliers or similar. I've tried levering it with a screwdriver, but I reckon I would need two, which is impossible as I can only get to it with one hand. That's the port engine - the starboard's worse! Assuming that Fairline 40's don't spend there entire life with the original impellers, there must be a way. I just don't know it! Incidentally there isn't any (easy) possibilty of making an inspection hatch due to all the cables, fuel pipes etc.... that pass in front of the water pump. I have thought about making a special tool up as a puller as a last resort.

If anyone has any ideas I would really appreciate it if you could advise me.

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[Talon]

Wow, tough one...

Call RK Marine in Southampton and ask Neil how they do it, he is a helpful chap, sounds a bit grumpy, but very helpful....

<hr width=100% size=1>Alex

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.mad-als.com>http://www.mad-als.com</A>

 

[tcm]

Making a special tool is far better than levering with screwdrivers which can bugger the housing.

I got a bloke to make an attachment for a slide hammer. Use two or three large prongs with little tangs at the ends to squidge into the rubber. You' ll need another impeller to make the drawings of course, and a large union clip thing to force the two bits together. Then bolt the protruding ends to their lump of metal outside the housing, making sure the lump of metal has holes for these, and an overhang so you can give it a really good twatting with a hammer erm i mean gently and gradually ease the impeller free from its housing.



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[davedpc]

Squirt in some washing up liquid and turn engine over then it should come out easier. Dave.

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[capsco]

Weld two bolts into the jaws of an old pair of Molegrips at right angles to the jaws, with the threaded end protruding far enough to grip either side of the impellor body.[the threads do the gripping, coarser the better] you can then lever the Molegrips away from the engine with a "wrecker bar",just make sure you protect the face of the pump body to avoid damage


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[asteven221]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply. Generally everyone is thinking along the same lines as I have been.

Thanks again


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[Chris_B4]

I have a similar problem with my Mercruisers which have a very deep impellor.

I don't know how the TAMD61 pump is driven but mine are driven straight from the end of the camshaft and it's actually easier to remove the whole pump from the engine (4 nuts) than to try and remove the impellor in situ.

Just a thought.

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[burgundyben]

1.take the whole pump off the engine
2.replace impeller
3.refit pump

<hr width=100% size=1>Sod the Healey - I think I'll buy an E-Type.