Impeller Changes

[Dod42]

While poking around I found this Speed Seal for making it easy to change the sea water impeller

Welcome to Speedseal Safety Covers

Certainly looks cool and seems a reasonable cost. Just trying to work out if it is an overkill.


How often, other than a regular service, do you need to change your impeller.

I know they can go any-time, but interested in how often that actually happens to people. Anyone had to change one at sea?

[Pete7]

Inboard volvo diesel engine every couple of years @ 50 hours a year. Evinrude outboard, err haven't its still on the original 2005 pump.

Took the speed seal off and went back to the original volvo seal because I have good access to the front of the engine and its just as quick to remove.

However, if they break up it can be a huge problem finding the bits. A friend had to strip a Yamaha V6 outboard powerhead down twice because he missed some bits the first time around.

Pete

[delmarrey]

For winterizing I take the impeller out and spray it with silicone and put it in a Baggie. Then before reinstalling I check for micro cracking by bending the vane. If cracking shows then it gets replaced.

It's normal replacement schedule is one year but if stored for winterizing it can last two years easily.

[D.D.]

I changed to a Speedseal, as my impeller location is extremly difficult to reach and work on. VERY pleased I made the change.....makes a switchout very, very, easy!!!!

[Zanshin]

I haven't put the speedseal on my current engine yet, but had it on the previous boat and it is a good product - makes access much simpler plus prolongs impeller life.

I had to change 2 impellers at sea so far, the first time was bad as I had to enter a harbour and the impeller failed just short of the entrance. Changing while hove-to was no fun at all and took a very long time on a Yanmar engine. I bought the Speedseal shortly after that episode.

[Ziggy]

Originally Posted by Zanshin

... plus prolongs impeller life.

How does it do that?

[Zanshin]

It has a lower-friction sealing system.

Welcome to Speedseal Safety Covers

(This link is to a different page than the one in the original post)

[Ziggy]

Zanshin,
Interesting. Still, they don't explain how they stop wear on the inside face of the impeller

[Dod42]

I did have a phone call with them. Very nice and helpful people. They have 2 products. One that seems to be just a plate and another where the plate is on a bearing which is supposed to allow you to run them dry without damaging the impeller (Not sure why you would on purpose). As I have fairly easy access to my pumps I will pass at this stage, lots of bigger fish to fry, but they are still on my wish list.

[Cotemar]

Have used Speed Seals on every boat I have owned.

Just loosen two thumb screws for a quick impeller inspection.
No need to worry about replacing the thin little paper gasket as the rubber seal is built into the Speed Seal cover.

[xeon_tsd]

My boat's engine cam with it. Love it. One of the 1st things I did after buying the boat was change the impeller. Super quick and easy. Not that it would have been difficult before hand.... but ANY TIME you make maintenance easier, simpler, faster...the more likely you are to do it!.

[BerettaRacer]

My service routine for impellers is inspect at the 250 hr oil change interval and generally replace at the 1000 hr service. And I always keep a few spare impellers and rebuild kits on hand and at least one and usually two complete pumps ready to drop in, in case of an emergency. If I'm in a hurry when the service interval comes up, I'll just change out the entire pump with the spare, then rebuild the removed unit when I have the time, then put it into the spares rotation.

[sck5]

impellers arent all that expensive. just replace it every year and then you dont have to worry.

[S/V Alchemy]

Originally Posted by Dod42

While poking around I found this Speed Seal for making it easy to change the sea water impeller

Welcome to Speedseal Safety Covers

Certainly looks cool and seems a reasonable cost. Just trying to work out if it is an overkill.


How often, other than a regular service, do you need to change your impeller.

I know they can go any-time, but interested in how often that actually happens to people. Anyone had to change one at sea?

Yes. The advantages are greater if your impeller is hard to access, as is the case on the gas inboard Atomic 4 in most cases. If you have a Beta, on the other hand, and full front access, it's still a nice thing to have, but not critical.

I have changed an impeller underway, after sucking in some length of heavy duty plastic wrap that tore at least one chunk of impeller vane off. I know this because I have an aftermarket "basket filter" between the impeller and the block, and I found both plastic and vane chunk in there. This led to an impeller swap and pulling apart a couple of hoses, which were reamed out until all debris (and there was some) was cleared.

The Vetus and Vetus knock-offs look like this:



So yes to the Speedseal, but yes also to a "pre-block" bulkhead-mounted filter. It's rare for me to see something in there, but it's always something I would prefer did not get into my cooling circuit.