Removing the impeller - HOW?

[Robert Wilson]

Is it possible to remove the impeller without a "drawer tool"? If so, how do I go about it.
I saw a fancy drawer in the chander's today and it was £60+. Rather a lot for a (hopefully) once a year task.

My pump-housing faces to the rear and I fear that such a drawer-tool would not fit in the restricted space.

If this is a major problem, can the water pump be relocated or turned round? (I doubt either is possible, but thoought I'd ask !!)

 

[NUTMEG]

Maybe I missed it but...

What engine?

 

[Robert Wilson]

What engine?

Kubota 13 HP - probably about 10 years old, or more. Marinised by possibly Nanni

 

[NormanS]

I usually lever them out (carefully) using two screwdrivers.

 

[Cloven]

I also have a rear facing pump housing - Yanmar 2GM20F. The only way to access the pump is to remove the pump, turn it round and then you can access the face plate properly.

I have fitted a Speedseal so that the job of removing & replacing the plate is a work of seconds and requires no tools. If you don't have a Speedseal, then you may have to replace the gasket so make sure you have a spare to hand.

As for removing the impeller, if you have not got a puller, then once the face plate is off, it can be gently eased off using a couple of small screwdrivers. Remember to note the direction of the rotation so that when fitting the replacement impeller, the blades can be bent in the correct direction.

Hope this helps

 

[Robert Wilson]

I also have a rear facing pump housing - Yanmar 2GM20F. The only way to access the pump is to remove the pump, turn it round and then you can access the face plate properly.

I have fitted a Speedseal so that the job of removing & replacing the plate is a work of seconds and requires no tools. If you don't have a Speedseal, then you may have to replace the gasket so make sure you have a spare to hand.

As for removing the impeller, if you have not got a puller, then once the face plate is off, it can be gently eased off using a couple of small screwdrivers. Remember to note the direction of the rotation so that when fitting the replacement impeller, the blades can be bent in the correct direction.

Hope this helps

NormanS
Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008

I usually lever them out (carefully) using two screwdrivers.



That's great thanks.
And thanks for the warning about the gasket - completely forgot about that. And I bet I don't have a spare in my"Alladin's Cave".

Cheers

 

[Roberto]

I found that smearing the pump shaft and the inside of the impeller hub with water resistant grease before assemblying (like lithium or silicone grease for example) considerably eases the removal of the impeller

 

[NormanS]

It is quite easy to make a gasket out of a suitable thickness of brown paper. Don't worry about the way the impeller goes back in. The blades will bend to suit, as soon as the pump turns.

 

[stav]

Long nose pliers but the old impeller is kept but graded as emergency only and when I have a second spare the oldest gets thrown. Shouldn't the impeller come with a gasket?

 

[PlankWalker]

I use two pairs of pliers, each on opposite vanes.

Plank

 

[Elessar]

Is it possible to remove the impeller without a "drawer tool"? If so, how do I go about it.
I saw a fancy drawer in the chander's today and it was £60+. Rather a lot for a (hopefully) once a year task.

My pump-housing faces to the rear and I fear that such a drawer-tool would not fit in the restricted space.

If this is a major problem, can the water pump be relocated or turned round? (I doubt either is possible, but thoought I'd ask !!)

Hi, my old boat had only about 2" to the bulkhead so a puller was a no no and even screwdrivers were difficult.

I used to whip off the input hose, hammer a screwdriver into the core of the impeller and lever that. On that engine it was the only way I found that worked, bar removing the pump. Disadvantage is it ruins the impeller.

I use instant gasket for the seal, I always have some on board.

That may or may not help......

 

[prv]

And thanks for the warning about the gasket - completely forgot about that. And I bet I don't have a spare in my"Alladin's Cave".

If you're lucky, the pump will have an O-ring instead. Both the ones I've had did.

Pete

 

[penfold]

Slipjoint plumbers grips are good for getting the impeller out; those puller things are frankly a waste of time, they do work after a fashion but hugely expensive for what they are. As others have said, a smear of silicone grease or similar on the shaft before fitting the new impeller makes the job easier next year.

 

[prv]

Slipjoint plumbers grips are good for getting the impeller out

+1. Just grab the middle and pull.

If you do use screwdrivers, you want to watch out for damaging the rim of the pump body which you're levering against. Not a huge problem, but something to be careful of.

Pete

 

[Robert Wilson]

Long nose pliers but the old impeller is kept but graded as emergency only and when I have a second spare the oldest gets thrown. Shouldn't the impeller come with a gasket?

I think there may be one with a gasket . I inherited two with the boat, in a huge box of spares, tools, bits n bobs etc etc. One impeller is still in its package, the other loose, which may be as your "second spare".

Good to hear long-nose pliers should work. I hope I've saved myself £60

Thank you, one and all.

R

 

[Robert Wilson]

All reassuring advice, thanks Elessar, prv and Penfold.

Judging from "other revelations", where the jobs included on the last service invoice from the boatyard were at best fanciful, then the impeller may not have been changed for quite some time!
DIY servicing and maintenance is a learning curve, in more ways than one!!

 

[charles_reed]

So difficult was impeller removal on my 2GM that I invested in a spare pump (the original was re-machined, body and faceplate.
It's far easier to change pump than impeller and then do the job at leisure, later, standing up and (possibly) on a bench.

As for getting impellers out I've found my fingers (thought degraded by arthritis) quite strong enough on that pump and the current Johnson Pump on the 3YM.

 

[Pye_End]

If you do use screwdrivers, you want to watch out for damaging the rim of the pump body which you're levering against. Not a huge problem, but something to be careful of.

Put a few turns of insulating tape round the shaft of the screwdriver to protect the pump housing.

 

[awol]

And when you pop the new one in be liberal with a bit of grease on the back and face-plate. I have had to go through the whole rigmarole again when the thing wouldn't suck.

 

[prv]

Put a few turns of insulating tape round the shaft of the screwdriver to protect the pump housing.

Indeed; before I had the slip-joint pliers on board, I used to use electrical screwdrivers that have plastic sheathing round the shaft.

Pete