Impeller Tool - Great

LMBoat

Well-Known Member
Oct 4, 2006
748
Ft Lauderdale
Boat Info
1999 450 EB
Engines
Cummins 6CTA's
Hi All,

I finally bought this tool to help install the impellers in the seawater pumps in my Cummins 6CTA's. I have no affiliation with the company, but I have to say I am very impressed. It used to take 2 hours or more to do my impellers the "old fashion way", mainly because the pump on the strb side is outboard and very difficult to do. I usually have to remove the whole pump to do an impeller change.

This past week, I used the tool and did both engines in 30 mins, and MUCH easier (did not have to remove the strb pump). I am very happy with it, not only now, but in the future. Yes, it is about a boat dollar, but very much worth it. I wish I had got it years ago.

Again, no affiliation, just wanted to say that I now have a much easier way to change impellers. http://impellertool.com/

Thanks
Larry
 
You know I called this guy and I just can’t justify the cost for this thing. I own a ton of tools but this just does not make sense to me. Never had an issue getting the impeller in using a little soap. I decided to pass on this.
 
Not usually a big problem for me but is a cool idea. How much is it?

The spelling and grammar in the instructions is atrocious.
 
I remember it being a few hundred bucks for a funnel.
 
I got a quote or $88 for a tool to fit a Cummins QSB 6.7 impeller.

After having struggled for 4 hours to install an impeller (with EXCELLENT engine access, btw) I would gladly have paid that.
 
My friend bought one a few years ago for $80. We used it on my 01 460 and it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I'll have my own next time I do impellers.
 
My variation on "if you have to ask you can't afford it" is that if I have to ask I don't want it. I take it as a matter of principle that I will not buy anything where I have to call and/or beg for an asking price.
 
Getting the price was no issue for me. Trust me, I am the thriftiest/cheapest boater out there. It's not just a one time charge. You will use it over, and over, and over.....again, I don't know this guy from Adam, but I do appreciate someone finding a solution to a problem. If you don't have access issues changing your impellers, you are very lucky (or very skinny). As noted, I paid about $100, tax, shipping, etc.
 
Thanks. Just wondered why there is nothing on the site about pricing, ordering, shipping, etc.
Agreed, it's totally weird he doesn't have online ordering, or even list prices. I had to send an email, and he did respond pretty quickly.
 
$175 for the QSC pump + $20 for shipping just found the email
 
Have called him in the past for pricing. Its based on the pump that you have. I didn't make the purchase becuase i needed to get back to him. I did the port (outboard) motor without it this past season and it was a PIA. Not terrible but anything that makes that job easier would be helpful in my opinion. The biggest issue is lining up the keyway on the stock pumps. The zip tie trick works well when you can see what you're doing.
 
I should have mentioned that I have the SMX SW pumps with the splined shafts. MUCH easier then the keyway on the 17XXX pumps.
 
I should have mentioned that I have the SMX SW pumps with the splined shafts. MUCH easier then the keyway on the 17XXX pumps.
I have a splined shaft as well. It was still a royal pain to install the impeller. I tried soap, lube, zip ties.

I have no effing idea how the zip ties are supposed to work. I could get the impeller in, but then the zip ties were stuck. Trying to stick a knife in there would only have cut the impeller blades and scored the pump body.
 
I have a splined shaft as well. It was still a royal pain to install the impeller. I tried soap, lube, zip ties.

I have no effing idea how the zip ties are supposed to work. I could get the impeller in, but then the zip ties were stuck. Trying to stick a knife in there would only have cut the impeller blades and scored the pump body.

I used the zip ties on my QSCs as well. You have to get them just tight enough so the impeller will fit into the pump. Then slide the zip tie back as you push it in. I used some Dawn as well and it worked slick as anything. Get the zip tie too tight and it will not slide....too loose and the impeller will not fit into the pump. Find the happy medium and it works very well.

Bennett
 
I used the zip ties on my QSCs as well. You have to get them just tight enough so the impeller will fit into the pump. Then slide the zip tie back as you push it in. I used some Dawn as well and it worked slick as anything. Get the zip tie too tight and it will not slide....too loose and the impeller will not fit into the pump. Find the happy medium and it works very well.

Bennett

I usually use 3 zip ties per impeller. I push the impeller into the housing and as soon as the first zip tie hits, I snip it with side cutters. Then i keep pushing until I hit second and third and snip as I go.
 
The concept looks like the ring compression tool for piston rings we used many years ago. I can’t see it needed for an Alpha or Koehler 5e Gen like my boat, but the Cummins QSB 5.9 and 6.7 with my work boats could use these, for sure. Those impellers are beasts. Given the inventor’s ingenuity he should make some profit. That’s the American way, right!
 

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