VP 2003 - Sea Water Pump - straightforward to replace?

W

West Coast

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 Aug 2009
Messages
1,201
Location
Clyde
Visit site
Hi all,

Following overheat problems, have also found that the seawater impellor pump is worn - really need to replace it (20 yrs old). Easy enough to do? Do I need to drain the oil before doing it?

Cheers
 
Great - thanks all.

Replacing the whole pump as it is no longer self priming - due to wear in the pump housing over 20 years of use.

What a great forum!

Simon
 
What makes you think the pump needs changing? If you are not circulating enough water, it might be just the impeller you need to change or, is the raw water filter blocked? If there is water dripping from the back of the pump, then the pump seals are worn, but this will not effect circulation. If water is dripping then either you need a new pump (very expensive!) or it needs to be overhauled, which is amongst other bits a new shaft and seals, still expensive but not as so. 20 years for the pump is not that old.
 
West Coast said:
Great - thanks all.

Replacing the whole pump as it is no longer self priming - due to wear in the pump housing over 20 years of use.

What a great forum!

Simon
Click to expand...
If it is not leaking to indicate the seals have gone, worth replacing the impeller and the front cover, perhaps with a Speedseal. Low cost compared with a new pump and these are the usual causes of not self priming - assuming you have no air getting in, say through the strainer lid or a loose clamp.
 
galadriel said:
What makes you think the pump needs changing? If you are not circulating enough water, it might be just the impeller you need to change or, is the raw water filter blocked? If there is water dripping from the back of the pump, then the pump seals are worn, but this will not effect circulation. If water is dripping then either you need a new pump (very expensive!) or it needs to be overhauled, which is amongst other bits a new shaft and seals, still expensive but not as so. 20 years for the pump is not that old.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your comments - however this is a follow on from some exhaustive investigation into the engine cooling circuits, both fresh and salt!

There was not enough cooling water in the salt water side, so I checked the S Drive intakes (OK), the filter (OK), replaced the impellor, checked the exhaust line including the manifold and exhaust line, all OK! The seawater filter unit positioned before the seawater pump, and is placed above the waterline level, so I tried temporarily removing it from its bracket and lowering it to below waterline level - hey presto, huge volumes of cooling water! Evidently, the pump internal surfaces have worn such that the self priming capability of the pump is now non existent; the pump will only work when force primed.
 
l'escargot said:
Is the pump cover plate heavily worn on the inside? If so you may get away with just replacing that or just skimming the surface of the old one.
Click to expand...

I have been advised that the cover plate could be worn, but in which case, theback face may also be worn, which I (presumably) cannot do anything about?
 
West Coast said:
I have been advised that the cover plate could be worn, but in which case, theback face may also be worn, which I (presumably) cannot do anything about?
Click to expand...

Possibly but not certainly. I would try either skimming the cover plate or even cleaning the paint off the outside, polishing it up and reversing it before buying a whole new pump. If it seems to improve the situation it could then be worth just sticking a new cover plate on. I've had engines with 30 to 40 year old pumps on them that didn't need replacing.
 
We had a thread here a while back about someone with a water pump problem

After much difficulty in diagnosis, it turned out to be a worn cam - part3 in the exploded diagram which Stork III gave the link
 
West Coast said:
I have been advised that the cover plate could be worn, but in which case, theback face may also be worn, which I (presumably) cannot do anything about?
Click to expand...

ALL parts which wear are in the service kit. Look at the exploded view Stork III linked. The cover plate, the cams and the wear washer (item 5) which goes inside are all there to be replaced, really I have done this service on my own VP 2003 raw water pump.
 
Last edited:
galadriel said:
ALL parts which wear are in the service kit. Look at the exploded view Stork III linked. The cover plate, the cams and the wear washer (item 5) which goes inside are all there to be replaced, really I have done this service on my own VP 2003 raw water pump.
Click to expand...

Cheers guys, service kit it is. Having now got access to see the link to the exploded parts diagram, can see what you mean re back plate.

Thanks all :)
 
Update to this thread, service kit arrived, pump rebuilt, refitted today and all working well.

Again, thanks to all for your advice.
 
West Coast said:
I have been advised that the cover plate could be worn, but in which case, theback face may also be worn, which I (presumably) cannot do anything about?
Click to expand...

The back plate comes with the service kit as do the seals bearings and shaft also the cam which fits into the housing to make the pump work, if the back plate or front plate are worn you lose the lift. Pump is easy to take off to service just three bolts and its off.
Mike
 
Pagetslady said:
The back plate comes with the service kit as do the seals bearings and shaft also the cam which fits into the housing to make the pump work, if the back plate or front plate are worn you lose the lift. Pump is easy to take off to service just three bolts and its off.
Mike
Click to expand...

Mike, yes, the service kit came with this new backplate. Pump now working very well
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top