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Bearing placement mark on new shaft.
Impeller cover installed.
onto the shaft. Press one bearing at a time. The second bearing
should be pressed on until the groove is just visible as
the bearing passes it. Remove the original oil seal from the
pump housing and replace with a new one. Apply some
grease to the inside of the pump housing where the impeller
shaft and bearings reside. The bearings are pre-greased, but
applying some more won’t hurt. This will keep the pump
healthy and help repel water intrusion should the seal dry
out and fail. With the new seal in place and bearings pressed
onto the shaft to their proper location, slide the impeller
shaft in the pump housing and install the c-clip in the retaining
groove on the lip of the pump housing. Turn the pump
over, install the cam plate, place the impeller shaft keyway
back to its slot on the shaft. Line up the impeller groove with
the keyway and slide the impeller onto the shaft. You will
need to bend a few of the vanes on the impeller to get it past
the cam plate. Don’t worry about which way the vanes need
to be pointing. When you restart the engine, the vanes will
properly align and will not be damaged. Clean off the gasket
surface on the pump housing and install a new seal and
the impeller plate. If your pump has screws, I recommend
replacing them with bolts in the same thread. Log the
rebuild in your maintenance log and install the pump back
onto the engine, making sure you double-clamp your water
lines and properly tension your belt.
A water pump rebuild is far less expensive than a water
pump replacement. Changing your impeller each year,
regardless of whether you used the engine, is a good preventative
maintenance practice. Look for indications that
the shaft seal is failing when you change the impeller. If it is,
take the pump apart and inspect your shaft and bearings. If
caught in time, damage to the bearings and shaft may be
prevented and only the shaft seal replaced. Do these steps
and you are a ensuring the health of your engine and safety
in the event you need auxiliary power in an emergency.
restorations. He has been an active sailing and boating enthusiast
for over 40 years, and his repair expertise and customer satisfaction
levels have earned him a loyal client base. Questions and
ideas for future articles can be sent to
tom@patriotyachtservices.com. Your question may be answered in
a future article. You can also go to http://www.patriotyachtservices.com
for more information.
Got a Question or Topic You Want Covered
Tom Kennedy owns Patriot Yacht Services in Pensacola, FL. The
company specializes in paint, fiberglass/ gel coat and bright work
News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS September 2010 53