Water pump opinions

[robert graham]

On my 1999 Yamaha C90 every 2 or 3 years I've been replacing my water pump with the complete kit including the extra plates, gaskets, impeller and stainless steel cup...all the parts that I remove generally look to be in great condition....
My question is this: should I always replace all the kit parts or maybe just the impeller?.....most of our boating is fresh water with only occasional skim over a sand bar just to keep skeg and prop clean.....Any opinions or ideas on this?

[TownsendsFJR1300]

If you have several cups, o-rings, wear plate in great shape, shouldn't be an issue just doing the impeller.

I would remove the key way / wear plate to at least inspect the drive-shaft seal SPRING (the tiny little guys that tend to "go away" with time) under the plate....


Seal #27: http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Ya...201/parts.html There's two seals, back to back, with a small tension seal...

[rodbolt17]

have you broke down with a water/cooling issue????????

[99yam40]

how much more does the kit cost compared to just the impeller?
a little extra money well spent in my opinion.
basically the same amount of work

[panasonic]

I know am going to get flamed for this...but I don't care. My father had a 1991 40 mariner (built by Yamaha I think) this engine is still being used and works perfectly to this day....26 years old.

It has had exactly "one" impeller replacement in all that time...and that was because of me tormenting do it about 10 years ago. Also the carbs have never been touched or adjusted in anyway. The impeller that came out looked almost brand new and was still nice and soft...

So before you all say that can't be true..the motor was not used...blah, blah

I don't know how many hours are on the engine. ..but it's a lot. In the water April for sealing, then all through summer fishing.through the fall till end of November for bird hunting. Out of the water for 4 months per year. All salt water use and clean, cold water. The water temp is 8 Celsius now.

Why would impellers last so long up here in northern Canada?

I tell you all this as I am amazed by how many people I see on here with water pump trouble...

I am not saying it right not to change them out regularly. Just saying what I seen.

[Jason2tpa]

Despite the Yam standard of water pump annual replacement, I think it depends on the conditions the motor is used. If only used in freshwater or in deep saltwater, I wouldn't think the impeller/gaskets/cup replacement is necessary. Rather an annual inspection would do.

On the other hand, I use my motor in shallow saltwater. So the annual replacement I believe is necessary. Just IMO.

[panasonic]

Despite the Yam standard of water pump annual replacement, I think it depends on the conditions the motor is used. If only used in freshwater or in deep saltwater, I wouldn't think the impeller/gaskets/cup replacement is necessary. Rather an annual inspection would do.

On the other hand, I use my motor in shallow saltwater. So the annual replacement I believe is necessary. Just IMO.

I believe you are correct sir....

[fairdeal]

Despite the Yam standard of water pump annual replacement,

Is it a standard? I have read only a few Service Manuals -

but the Yamaha summary (available in a "sticky" on this forum) says this:



IMO - if the stainless steel plate, or cup, are visually indistinguishable from new parts - there is simply no rationale to replace them.

Regardless of how little effort or expense it may be - the only possible benefit is emotional - a "good feeling"

[robert graham]

have you broke down with a water/cooling issue????????

Never had any problems at all, but trying to stay one step ahead on preventive maintenance....same goes for the fuel pump, prefer to replace Before failure way down the river somewhere.....Maybe I should wait another year on the water pump and fuel pump???:

[robert graham]

how much more does the kit cost compared to just the impeller?
a little extra money well spent in my opinion.
basically the same amount of work

My thinking also...

[rodbolt17]

roll dem bones.
I have a commercial guy with a F225 with 4400+ hours. we sold him said motor in 2010.
said motor NEVER had anything done to it.
said motor now overheats at low speed.
said motor the drive shaft is now stuck in the crank and the lower is permanatly attached.
do the maint, or not, pay the repairs.
3 bucks worth o grease once per year and he would still be cadilacing.

[99yam40]

I have never pulled a water pump that did not have groove in the cup and wear plate, but we run around in shallow salt water.
I replace an impeller only once in a motor of mine and in less than a year it lost some vanes.
not sure why, but I think it was a part that sat on the shelf in a store way too long because people buy kits.
anyway that is what I think caused it and I am sticking with it

Price out the impeller, gaskets and o rings needed to do the job, and then compare that to what the kit cost to see what is the better buy just to make sure you do not spend more than you need to.
Yamaha does strange things with their parts system sometimes

[Captn Dave]

It's probably more important to grease the bolts and shaft routinely than replace all the parts.

[TownsendsFJR1300]

roll dem bones.
I have a commercial guy with a F225 with 4400+ hours. we sold him said motor in 2010.
said motor NEVER had anything done to it.
said motor now overheats at low speed.
said motor the drive shaft is now stuck in the crank and the lower is permanatly attached.
do the maint, or not, pay the repairs.
3 bucks worth o grease once per year and he would still be cadilacing.

Exactly... 4,400 hours, NO maintainance.


Robert checks his bi-yearly, (it's obviously taken cared of). He's NOT "rolling dem bones"..

If hard parts look as new, seals, etc, I wouldn't think twice about using the same cup etc. The impeller, I'd change out. (I do personally replace the entire kit as I'm already in there and inspect the drive-shaft seals)

And as posted below, RE-GREASE everything applicable,

**QUESTION, should someone with a known failure prown 225 exhaust stack have an engine that the exhaust looks new. Is he "rolling dem bones" using that one, or simply drop $3,000 to replace a part that looks as new??



.

[robert graham]

My concern is the black rubber failed impeller pieces pumped up into the inaccessible cooling passages.....guess I'll just replace the entire kit and fuel pump and for $75 worth of parts I'll "Feel Good" about my motor.....like I've been doing all these years....And get a chance to clean and grease all those nuts,bolts and drive shaft splines down there. I am accumulating quite a collection of good spare water pump parts though....Thanks for your thoughts, ideas and opinions!