Seawater Pump Leak - 7.4L

[a12vman]

I have a squirtgun-size stream of water leaking just below the seawater pump of my 1995 270DA when the engine is running. In looking closer at the pump there is a 1" crack in the housing of the pump(not the outer plate, but the body itself) right in line with the lowest bolt. I can't help but think that it wasn't winterized properly, what a bummer.

The motor is still running at normal temps so it is still getting plenty of water. Am I correct in saying that this housing is plastic, not metal? I checked online and my local mercrusier shop & both are saying that the main pump body is no longer available & that the only alternative is to replace the whole pump. That pump assembl is not cheap

Anyone encounter this situation before? Just wondering if there are any adhesives that could be applied to close this leak.

Thanks in Advance,
-a12vman

 

[sr330daguy]

I have a squirtgun-size stream of water leaking just below the seawater pump of my 1995 270DA when the engine is running. In looking closer at the pump there is a 1" crack in the housing of the pump(not the outer plate, but the body itself) right in line with the lowest bolt. I can't help but think that it wasn't winterized properly, what a bummer.

The motor is still running at normal temps so it is still getting plenty of water. Am I correct in saying that this housing is plastic, not metal? I checked online and my local mercrusier shop & both are saying that the main pump body is no longer available & that the only alternative is to replace the whole pump. That pump assembl is not cheap

Anyone encounter this situation before? Just wondering if there are any adhesives that could be applied to close this leak.

Thanks in Advance,
-a12vman

Drain the pump JB weld it or Marinetex it.It may work,what do you have to lose if it doesn't work?Just my 2 cents

 

[fc3]

I have a squirtgun-size stream of water leaking just below the seawater pump of my 1995 270DA when the engine is running. In looking closer at the pump there is a 1" crack in the housing of the pump(not the outer plate, but the body itself) right in line with the lowest bolt. I can't help but think that it wasn't winterized properly, what a bummer.

The motor is still running at normal temps so it is still getting plenty of water. Am I correct in saying that this housing is plastic, not metal? I checked online and my local mercrusier shop & both are saying that the main pump body is no longer available & that the only alternative is to replace the whole pump. That pump assembl is not cheap

Anyone encounter this situation before? Just wondering if there are any adhesives that could be applied to close this leak.

Thanks in Advance,
-a12vman

The plastic body pump rebuilding kit is not cheap, but it's not expensive either. The pump impeller and plastic body should be replaced every couple of years as normal maintenance. I just bought two (twin engines) and the kits were a bit under $100. (That's ten cents in boat dollars.) Not a bad deal. Glueing the plastic body pump is a bad idea.

If you engine has v belts instead of serpentine belts, you might be able to use the Jabsco replacement pump for Mercruiser

 

[sprink56]

The plastic body pump rebuilding kit is not cheap, but it's not expensive either. The pump impeller and plastic body should be replaced every couple of years as normal maintenance. I just bought two (twin engines) and the kits were a bit under $100. (That's ten cents in boat dollars.) Not a bad deal. Glueing the plastic body pump is a bad idea.

If you engine has v belts instead of serpentine belts, you might be able to use the Jabsco replacement pump for Mercruiser

+1...but gluing it might get you by until you can replace it. Make sure what you buy as a glue/epoxy is compatible with the plastic. If the plastic is Poly Propylene or Poly Etheline I can recommend the Marine Tek product that West Marine sells for this application. I have used it recently on PE and it works great.

 

[swift1]

Pull the pump off and rebuild it, or better yet give it to your friendly authorized mechanic and have him do it - it is just not much money compared to the cost of having it blow underway, getting stranded and a tow bill and/or baking the motor. Save money buying cheap beer or hotdogs instead of steaks; your cooling system is not the place to cheap out. yes it is a plastic housing on the rebuilds now but that doesn't rot. To winterize undo the bottom hose to the oil cooler and let it dump into the bilge, and/or suck a 50/50 antifreeze mix with a short garden hose from a bucket to the earmuffs if on the hard.

 

[dr.j]

I agree, been there and done it! Replace the entire pump. I had an impeller fail and we replaced it all. Everything looked good until we launched and fired her up. Water everywhere! Somehow the housing had cracked; perhaps it had been dropped or we bolted it together off set. Anyway, a new housing under warranty and all is well. Not a difficult job but easier if the fuel / water filter is moved out of the way.

 

[Air O'Nautical]

Help yourself by removing the whole pump on the bracket.
Then rebuild on the bench with the new plastic one piece pump kit.
Also, if you have the mechanical fuel pump mounted to the same bracket change the cam gear oil in it.
This is something you have to be able to do (or pay) , it is a normal wear item.
Change it often because, chasing broken impeller pieces in the cooling system is no fun when your overheating on a hot summer day.
Cheers..

 

[flflatrate]

also if you run the boat in salt water sometimes after you pull the pump out and appart you will see the surface where the metal plate sits is raised up and very badly corrodded with salt. this will crack your housing also. I just did one on a boat yesterday. make sure you look at the pump when you take it off the braket. You can put it on upside down and that will ruin your day. (it will try to pump backwards and melt your new impeller)

 

[Nehalennia]

As Frank says replace it. It's an ABS housing(plastic). There's nothing to repair. Do it right and don't JB weld or epoxy it. We don't want to read about how you didn't get enough cooling and overheated or worse, your bilge pump fails too and after a nice 1-2 hour run you've filled your bilge full of water. If it was freeze damage, then it's cracked the pump and more than likely your impeller won't be as efficient if a repair attempt is made.

Good luck, and again as Frank mentioned they are not that expensive.

Look here, $59
http://bpi.ebasicpower.com/c/MER8C/Raw Water Pumps & Parts for Mercruiser

 

[BarryCF]

We just rebuilt the one on my sons 77 SRV240 DA (repowered with Merc 260 Alpha) a couple weeks ago with the same kit Todd is showing. It's a fairly easy rebuild. As suggested above, take off the whole bracket and it's a pretty easy job. Take a picture when you take it apart so that you orient the impeller properly on replacement. As I recall, the plastic housing is marked "In" and "Out", so you can figure out the orientation if you understand how the pump works.

 

[a12vman]

Thanks for all your input, I was able to get a Sierra Kit at my Local Napa store. Installed a new housing, wear plate, and Impellar for less than $90.

-a12vman