Storing impeller over winter

[FlyingDutchman]

As I have only clocked up 32 hours this season, I intend to take the impeller out of the water pump, closely inspect it and, if there are no signs of wear or cracks, store it over the winter to use it again next year.
How can I store the impeller best?

Thanks!

 

[Stork_III]

As I have only clocked up 32 hours this season, I intend to take the impeller out of the water pump, closely inspect it and, if there are no signs of wear or cracks, store it over the winter to use it again next year.
How can I store the impeller best?

Thanks!

Tie it to the engine battery switch, you might then remember to replace before starting engine?

 

[Csail]

I wouldn't touch it but if you do coat it in something and seal it up and leave in a dark place.

 

[Fire99]

Personally i'd give it a spray of silicon lubricant. Works wonders on plastic / rubber bits. Then tuck it away somewhere.

 

[FlyingDutchman]

Thanks!
I will put some silicone lubricant on it and store it in a dark place.
I always make a note of things to do before I can start the engine in spring and leave that aboard.

 

[cmedsailor]

Silikone spray or even vaseline, put it in a plastic bag and store it in a dark place.
Though personally I never remove it. I doubt it gets dry inside there.

 

[neale]

Silikone spray or even vaseline, put it in a plastic bag and store it in a dark place.
Though personally I never remove it. I doubt it gets dry inside there.

It's not about drying out, it's about the vanes staying under compression in one place for months on end. This can shorten the life of the impeller and lessen its ability to do the job.

 

[prv]

Silikone spray or even vaseline

Can't comment on silicone, but I would be very wary of using vaseline. It definitely eats some kinds of rubber.

I once made a contraption which used strips of bike inner-tube as springs, dragging across a wooden ball joint which I lubricated with vaseline. After a few days the inner-tube bits started to dissolve and fall apart. Pieces of the same tyre on a sister contraption which I didn't grease stayed fine. I cleaned the gunge off the first one and a new batch of rubbers lasted ok.

Pete

 

[Roberto]

Is Vaseline the same as petroleum jelly ?

If so, I have read somewhere that it is not recommended with either neoprene or nitrile (usual rubbers for impellers), as I can't remember which one of the two I use silicon grease


FWIW




edit
see prv message above, a lot quicker

 

[neil_s]

I found mine last two years, anyway. Over winter they get kept in a small jar of water. The Johnson ones come with a small tube of glycerine and I find this can be made to stretch to two applications.

Neil

 

[JimC]

Do they really need changing every year? I've always done so myself and now I have a box full of used impellers. They all look to be perfectly serviceable and have little or no permanent "set" to the vanes. This seems to indicate that they shouldn't suffer permanent deformation and loss of contact pressure through being left in the pump over Winter.

 

[prv]

Do they really need changing every year?

I don't reckon so.

I do check that there's no sign of cracking at the blade roots, and would replace if I found any.

Pete

 

[Fire99]

Definitely be careful on what 'lubricants' you use. Conventional grease (and similar products) can make some rubbers swell. (Hence don't use on car brake calipers) Silicon is very plastic / rubber friendly.

 

[alan_d]

Definitely be careful on what 'lubricants' you use. Conventional grease (and similar products) can make some rubbers swell. (Hence don't use on car brake calipers) Silicon is very plastic / rubber friendly.

I think you (and Roberto, above) mean silicone.

Silicon is an element, widely found in nature (e.g. in sand) and used in the manufacture of semiconductors - "silicon chips".

Silicone is the common name for polysiloxanes, complex polymers used in lubricants, sealants and breast implants.

 

[Fire99]

I think you (and Roberto, above) mean silicone.

Silicon is an element, widely found in nature (e.g. in sand) and used in the manufacture of semiconductors - "silicon chips".

Silicone is the common name for polysiloxanes, complex polymers used in lubricants, sealants and breast implants.

Yes yes, no-one likes a smart-arse

 

[Roberto]

I think you (and Roberto, above) mean silicone.

yes, that's the one

 

[FlyingDutchman]

Thanks for all your pearls of wisdom!
I think I will go for a combination of the responses: Put it in a small plastic jar with some coolant. Surely, the coolant will not harm the impeller and the plastic jar will keep it dark!

 

[Jim@sea]

The reason you are looking after your impeller is that as they are known to shred themselves at the most inconvenient moment. Perhaps like vehicle cam belts its not just engine hours but age related. Since I had 2 shred over a 40 year period I go a step further. Every spring when I re-commission my boat I fit a new one and keep the old one as a spare.
Its no use having an old one in the pump and a new one in the spares box. If it goes it could be dark, in a rough sea, etc. Have a new one every year and minimise the risk.
PS Get a "Speed Seal" thing it makes changing an impeller quick and you are not trying to use a screwdriver in inaccessible places.

 

[VicS]

The reason you are looking after your impeller is that as they are known to shred themselves at the most inconvenient moment. Perhaps like vehicle cam belts its not just engine hours but age related. Since I had 2 shred over a 40 year period I go a step further. Every spring when I re-commission my boat I fit a new one and keep the old one as a spare.
Its no use having an old one in the pump and a new one in the spares box. If it goes it could be dark, in a rough sea, etc. Have a new one every year and minimise the risk.
PS Get a "Speed Seal" thing it makes changing an impeller quick and you are not trying to use a screwdriver in inaccessible places.

By the same logic what's the point of having an old one as a spare.

You need a new one as as a spare, then if do have to fit it at least you know its not likely to fail again within a short time.
Going to buy it eventually anyway, just buy it sooner.

 

[FlyingDutchman]

Up till now, I have always renewed the impeller at the start of the season and I keep a new one as spare on board. It is just that I have always inspected the old one and can not find anything wrong with it. When I take out the old one in the spring, the vanes that have been sitting on the 'cam' are bent, but after half an hour the return to normal. As we have done so little hours this season, I intend to use it another year. Although, I agree thet the prospect of shredded vanes in the cooling system is not attactive...