I love twins! I love twins! I love twins! Tell me again why I love twins (engines)?

[matthewmiller01]

Help, please? I have noticed my port engine water pressure is low. I am getting no alarms and the temperature runs only a few degrees hotter than the starboard, but the port pressure is significantly lower than the starboard reading. So I was all prepared to replace the sea water pump impeller. I first cleaned the lower unit with a brush (I was at the dock, not in the water). Started it up in hopes of seeing the pressure back to normal, but no. Still low. So I got all of my tools and started to contort myself into the bilge. I could see everything I needed to do to remove the hoses and replace the impeller. But, since the sea water pump is on the starboard side of the port engine, there is no way to get to it. There is only about 8 inches of clearance from the port to the starboard engine. Also, the engine actuator is between them, even though that wasn't really a problem.

My question to all of you is... How in the heck do I get to the back of the sea water pump to replace the impeller? I am short and not too round, so I thought I would be able to do it. My engine compartment is pretty - ok, very - tight. I can lay down in front of the engines, but I can't access the back of the pump. I could PROBABLY change out the starboard engine pump impeller, but I can't see how to get the port one done.

Please, give me some tips or tricks to be able to do it myself. Thanks in advance.

[Gofirstclass]

Are either of your kids mechanically inclined???

[Ididntdoit]

Remove the pump - that's what I do

[MonacoMike]

I love twins too!



Oh, wrong type for the post. Ok, hope you enjoyed the diversion and good luck.

MM

[tbirdvet]

I never knew anyone that chaged the impeller without removing the pump. Poor design on Mercruiser's part. I sure wish they could make a more serviceable part!

[copb8tx]

You either have to cut a 2 x 2 hole in the bottom of your boat and access it from underneith or pay a marina monkey to do it. I chose plan B.

[scoflaw]

Unless your impellar was serviced more than 3 years ago I would more likely blame a bogus water pressure sensor for the issue. Common problem. I would put more faith in the temp gauge.

[matthewmiller01]

Are either of your kids mechanically inclined???

Unfortunately, no.

Remove the pump - that's what I do

I'll have to see about how to remove it. It wasn't obvious to me when I was there, but I wasn't looking to do that. Thanks.

Unless your impellar was serviced more than 3 years ago I would more likely blame a bogus water pressure sensor for the issue. Common problem. I would put more faith in the temp gauge.

I hadn't even considered that. I'll have to see how accessible the temperature sensors are. Maybe swap them and see if that it is the problem.

[matthewmiller01]

I love twins too!



Oh, wrong type for the post. Ok, hope you enjoyed the diversion and good luck.

MM

Maybe a little. :)

[matthewmiller01]

Well, success (and a kick in the junk).

I removed the tensioner pulley and bracket and was able (with way too much contorting) to remove the pump. Got the impeller out and found three vanes >80 % gone. Replaced the impeller, put everything back together, and found the water pressure far higher than it was. That's the good news.

Now for the bad news. It seems that the water pressure on the now replaced port side is significantly higher than the previously-thought-to-be-good stbd side. So now I need to replace that impeller. The port (new) is about as much higher than the stbd as the stbd was above the port before impeller changeout.

I didn't take the time to jot down actual water pressure numbers, but I may do that tomorrow. We'll see. As I said before, though, the stbd side appears to be easier to access than the port was. I hope it is.