How to know when to replace an impeller?

[Whiskey]

I managed to suck in some lake bottom rocks last summer on the port side. The impeller jammed on a rock and marked up the impeller blades and pump housing. After running the boat after that jam, the engine would warn over temp and had noticeably less power.

I’m about to order a replacement impeller and was wondering if it actually does need replaced. Can I clean up the impeller with a file and call it good or will it never be the same and I should just replace it?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Hot2Go]

Did you pull the intake screen on the side of the pump? You could have stuff stuck in there. Be a good idea to pull the screen and run the engine on the hose to see if you can mimic the overheat. While the intake screen is out you should have enough pressure while running on the hose that water will come out the side of the pump too.

 

[Whiskey]

Did you pull the intake screen on the side of the pump? You could have stuff stuck in there. Be a good idea to pull the screen and run the engine on the hose to see if you can mimic the overheat. While the intake screen is out you should have enough pressure while running on the hose that water will come out the side of the pump too.

I’m pretty sure I did when I removed the pump housing because I was afraid I might have pushed crap into the cooling line. I was last summer though so maybe there is crap in there.

I’ve never ran it on a hose before since we are so close to the water but this sounds like a good reason to do so.

 

[Hot2Go]

Ya I’d take the intake screen out and run it on the hose for sure then.. Just remember engine on then water on; water off then engine off. It’s the quickest and cheapest thing to do! If you still have an overheat on the hose then you know something is stuck in the cooling system forward of the Y.

 

[Whiskey]

Ya I’d take the intake screen out and run it on the hose for sure then.. Just remember engine on then water on; water off then engine off. It’s the quickest and cheapest thing to do! If you still have an overheat on the hose then you know something is stuck in the cooling system forward of the Y.

Awesome. Thank you, I'll do this as soon as I get the cover off.

Is it possible that the impeller is so chewed that it is affecting cooling?

 

[Hot2Go]

I

Awesome. Thank you, I'll do this as soon as I get the cover off.

Is it possible that the impeller is so chewed that it is affecting cooling?

I’d say it’s possible but your impeller would really have to be chewed up. If you have pics post em!

 

[Whiskey]

I

I’d say it’s possible but your impeller would really have to be chewed up. If you have pics post em!

I swear I took pictures but they must have been on my old phone. I'll pull it back out and take a look and snap some pictures. It was good enough to use the rest of the summer, so it couldn't have been too horrible.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Any deformation on impeller blades is not good. If there are dings and such filing smooth is better than nothing. Consult your shop manual on what the gap should be between the impeller blade and the wear ring, that measurement is crucial. If they are chewed up you can send them to either Impros or Leading Edge and have them repaired.

 

[dgfreeze]

Yeah, I’d ship them off to be refurbished. Takes a week or two, if I recall correctly, but I went ahead and latched onto a second set for that exact reason.

 

[dgfreeze]

I used David Stewart, who founded Impros, and then started Leading Edge Impellers. Here’s a message he sent me via Facebook messenger with his info.

Yeah you may have brought them from me I founded Impros but have since sold it a couple years ago. Have a new company called Leading Edge Impellers
Here’s the number as another way to reach me (949) 229-7339
I can get them back to new shape for you

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

I used David Stewart, who founded Impros, and then started Leading Edge Impellers. Here’s a message he sent me via Facebook messenger with his info.

Yeah you may have brought them from me I founded Impros but have since sold it a couple years ago. Have a new company called Leading Edge Impellers
Here’s the number as another way to reach me (949) 229-7339
I can get them back to new shape for you

Leading Edge Impellers | PWC - Jet Boat Impellers - Pump Parts - Repair

Leading Edge Impellers

leadingedgeimpellers.com

Super nice guy.

 

[anmut]

Another vote for Leading Edge - I just purchased the twin impellers from him for my 212S and they were fantastic to work with.

 

[Whiskey]

@anmut @dgfreeze @FSH 210 Sport how often are you guys having your impellers refreshed? This boat is a 2005 and they have never been done.

 

[Whiskey]

I'm finally getting to get to work on the boat after graduation chaos and traveling. Of course both battery's are dead and needed replaced. Now that that's done I can get back to the impellers and cooling issue.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

@anmut @dgfreeze @FSH 210 Sport how often are you guys having your impellers refreshed? This boat is a 2005 and they have never been done.

As long as the leading edges are not dinged up and the gap between the impeller and the wear ring is .014”-.0177” you’re good.

 

[Whiskey]

As long as the leading edges are not dinged up and the gap between the impeller and the wear ring is .014”-.0177” you’re good.

How do you feel about the plastic wear ring pump housings? I'm toying with getting those if the wear ring gap is too large.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

How do you feel about the plastic wear ring pump housings? I'm toying with getting those if the wear ring gap is too large.

I think absolutely not. Fix it correctly and be done with it.

 

[dgfreeze]

I'd be surprised if they're not due *if they've never been done*. That said, as FSH mentioned, as long as that leading edge is smooth, and the gap is within spec, you should be good. As for the plastic wear ring, I'd stay away from it as well. It can't be terrible, or people would be trashing them like crazy, but I'd shy away. If you're in salt water, I'd go for the stainless option. If you're in fresh water, I'd go with a standard OEM style replacement. All that said, my understanding is that salt water induces a corrosion issue that actually reduces the ID of the pump housing, causing the impeller to rub the housing. Dissimilar metals, and corrosion, and that swelling between the metals causes the contraction of the wear ring. I think it's a lot less common that the housing ring actually wears out. That said, please be aware, I'm not a jet boat mechanic. I'm a mechanic, but not a jet boat mechanic.

 

[anmut]

@anmut @dgfreeze @FSH 210 Sport how often are you guys having your impellers refreshed? This boat is a 2005 and they have never been done.

I had 270 hours on my impellers before I replaced them. Probably 30% of those hours were at surfing and wakeboarding speeds. Last year I really started to notice the cavitation at surf speeds and when pushing a lot of weight.

 

[Whiskey]

Last year I felt like the boat was cavitating when hauling four adults in a tube. I’ll check the specs on the wear ring. Thanks guys.