Impeller change

[Anchor Management]

I have two years and 80 hours on my impellers on my QSM-11's. Really don't feel like changing them this year as they are a PITA to get in. They are very beefy so was curious how often they should be changed. Want to get another year.

 

[pdecat]

Impossible to tell condition just by time. There are tools that compress the impeller to ease insertion.

 

[JimPend]

I use tie wraps to install impellers.

 

[Sandy]

I've used hose clamps to ease insertion of my I/B RW pump impellers but lately have just used light application of silicone (dielectric)grease on all impeller surfaces and pump shaft and housing wear surfaces.

That really helps things slide into place when bending in the impeller vanes 1 at a time,, and has the added benefit of being a lot better than dish soap lubricant in that the grease will allow the pump to run dry without impeller harm if you forget to open one seacock for a several minutes ....as I did this spring in a smack head moment.
Impeller still looked like brand new and still lubed.

But I have toyed with getting one of these insertion devices to speed things up a lot:
http://www.impellertool.com/

The Jabsco extraction tool makes that part a snap.

I change mine at the dock each year as preventative maintenance so I don't have to do it at sea in rough conditions or crawl back on one engine. I also keep a painted whole new spare pump and belt onboard.

3 years seems like pushing it to me but it might be fine for longer.

 

[PascalG]

I ve gotten years and hundred of hours out of impellers but with year round use. When they sit unused for months in winter they can take a set.

Personally I'd keep them another year. Impellers don't just sudddenly stop working... often the transmission temp will be the first to run a littler, often for a long time before you even notice coolant temp are starting to rise

 

[JohnC]

I change mine every year. I heat them up a little bit with a small space heater before putting them in and they go right in then. Even just sitting them out in the sun for a bit does the trick sometimes. Trying to get them in cold in March or early April is very difficult.

 

[Audrey II]

As the person that actually changed his last one I can say with certainty insertion is not the issue access is! Port side is a tight fit I'm not skinny I wasn't sure I was going to get out of the engine room without help!