www.iFourWinns.com

Well in faith of starting my boat like everyone else (very jealous here) I got everything ready, etc etc.

Turned the key and it started right up, however after about 30seconds we noticed no water coming out of the outdrive.

Notice what is not coming out from under the outdrive/transom???


Shut it off and notice a touch of smoke coming from the impeller cover...to find this upon dis-assembly:





The question lies in WTF happened. We followed the instructions, installed it as shown, etc. My dad has serviced his OMC himself up until he sold it a few years back.

My question is did West Marine sell me a impeller that was for a different outdrive, King Cobra, bigger motor etc, or did we install it improperly???

I am super frustrated, now being I have to find an new impeller housing as well. Any OMC guys have any input? LouC?


-Rob


also, TeacherTodd, im bummed! i wanted to share my video as well today

_________________
Rob

Present: 1999 Formula 280SS
Past: 1989 180 Horizon

http://www.robcamerondesign.com

That sucks big time. I hope you are up and running quickly.

_________________
Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"

I can not tell you how much! haha

It ran great, with the exception of needing to adjust the timing, which we were going to do, prior to this.....

_________________
Rob

Present: 1999 Formula 280SS
Past: 1989 180 Horizon

http://www.robcamerondesign.com

I just did mine a couple of weeks ago...
If you got it at West, then it's probably a Sierra impeller/ housing. I have both, and OEM OMC one and a Sierra one and they look identical. One thing I can say, the gasket around the impeller housing has to seat right or it won't prime and pull up water. That one does not look like it was in the groove. Also the metal cage looks like it shifted. I follow the instructions in the OMC manual which tell you to use some OMC gasket sealer where the metal cage fits into the housing, to kind of glue it into place. It fits pretty tightly anyway. I also use the same gasket sealer on the housing gasket. You have some sealer on there that does not look like the right stuff. Did you reinstall the wear plate and gasket? The thing is now, you need to find the missing pieces of the impeller, they could be lodged in the p/s cooler on the rear of the engine or up in the thermo housing. I'm seeing something that doesn't look right in the grove in the center of the impeller, that is supposed to be just a V-shaped groove, what's stuck in there?

I pulled out the Sierra one and the OE one I pulled out when I replaced it and and it looks basically the same as yours, (slightly different) but you are missing the little fitting that attaches to a hose that goes down into the upper unit, this lets the pump prime, not sure if that had anything to do with it.

The Sierra part # I have for the housing is 18-3206, replaces OMC # 984744 (says not for King Cobra on the box)
The impeller kit itself was part # 18-3212-1
Check the part #s and try again, use the correct sealer and make sure you get that gasket to fit perfectly in the groove.

Any Evinrude dealer can get these parts for you as well as the right sealer.

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Did you find the vane that broke off?

_________________


Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

The gasket was in the groove when I installed it, it ripped when dismissibled it, I believe. I used the sealer that West Marine recommended.

The item in the groove is a fitting piece. The rest of the impeller parts are now in the trash. I think most of the parts were recovered, you can see most did not make it thru the metal housing.

What happened as it seems is the metal cage was rotating as well, and burned/melted through the outer housing. Should it matter which way the impeller fins are going upon installation? I figured this was a pretty fool proof installation, but it seems to have proved me wrong.

I am going to Michigan Marine tomorrow, they are OMC specialists, and I am going to get their judgment, and have them get me all new, and correct OMC parts or what not, and assemble as much as possible so I can re install on the boat. Showing me everything along the way.

No water even reached the engine, no coolant made it out, and I dont think water made it past the impeller.


What book are you using? The SELOC one shows NOTHING about installing the impeller...

_________________
Rob

Present: 1999 Formula 280SS
Past: 1989 180 Horizon

http://www.robcamerondesign.com

I have the fitting, it has just been removed, and in a box of remaining parts.

_________________
Rob

Present: 1999 Formula 280SS
Past: 1989 180 Horizon

http://www.robcamerondesign.com

I would not take what WM said as far as sealer goes as the right thing, I am quoting from the OMC OE shop manual. Seloc is not as good as OE but OE is tough to find.

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

It looks that I am going to be picking one up. I found out who re-prints them for about $100. Looks to be a worth while investment.

_________________
Rob

Present: 1999 Formula 280SS
Past: 1989 180 Horizon

http://www.robcamerondesign.com

. I'm seeing something that doesn't look right in the grove in the center of the impeller, that is supposed to be just a V-shaped groove, what's stuck in there?[/quote]

The gasket was in the groove when I installed it, it ripped when dismissibled it, I believe. I used the sealer that West Marine recommended.

I don't think they know what they are talking about!

The item in the groove is a fitting piece.
What fitting piece? the part that goes in there is the V-shaped end of the driveshaft that comes out of the upper unit.

What happened as it seems is the metal cage was rotating as well, and burned/melted through the outer housing. Should it matter which way the impeller fins are going upon installation?

The OMC book says to twist the impeller into the housing with a clockwise motion, they show the housing with the 2 holes at the top, and the vanes pointing toward the left as you look at it that way. That's how I did it but I don't know if it really makes a difference.

Finally they also mention lubing the impeller with gear oil so it doesn't start dry. I pretty much follow their steps to the letter and have not had a problem. I'd be interested to see what the shop says. I've done mine twice in the time I've had it, the one I took out was used in salt water (moored in salt) for 2 years and the impeller looked new.


What book are you using? The SELOC one shows NOTHING about installing the impeller...[/quote]

I think you should dump the Seloc and try to find an OE manual on e-bay.

The other things that can cause no water to the impeller is a leak in the seals on the water tube that connects the upper and lower housing, this is not a common problem but it is possible.

I'd see what the shop says and try again.

BTW you freshwater guys are lucky, man the drives on your boats are CLEAN and actually have paint on them! Saltwater and marine growth really makes these things look old, mine looks really bad but works just fine.

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

The item in the V groove is a straight plastic tube. To be honest I dont remember where it came from exactly. I assume it goes on the outside of the impeller cover and connect to the breather tube. It is a straight piece of tube, about 3/4 inch long.

The old impeller came out fine, and looked good, I know it worked properly. I just wanted to replace to know that it was new, and not have it fail on the water. Sure proved me wrong.

If you look at the part, like in the first photo, with the two bolt holes at the top, it seems as if it was installed properly, the fins point to the left, as it should if you were to use a screwdriver to rotate it clockwise.


What I am trying to understand is why the metal housing, rotated with the impeller, rather than the impeller rotating inside the metal housing.

_________________
Rob

Present: 1999 Formula 280SS
Past: 1989 180 Horizon

http://www.robcamerondesign.com

Well nothing at all should be in that groove, that's for sure, and I agree it looks like the vanes were going the right way. The cage can rotate like that, if it's run with low water pressure or no water. This happened to me once, the first time I winterized it, it was running on the hose and all of the sudden it starts to run hot, then OK, then hot. I look at the hose, and muffs, all looks OK. What I didn't know was my wife is running the wash, it dropped the water pressure enough to make it run hot (not actually overheat). I took apart the impeller and the vanes had a little slice taken out of them and the cage was shifted, the housing was slightly distorted but not as much as the one in your pix.

I use a length of 3/4 diameter heater hose and a good dual inlet muffs with a strong spring on them to ensure max water flow. And no one is allowed flush the toilet when I run the boat motor!

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

I know that for sure, I put the piece in there after I took apart everything, so I did not loose the part. It is obvious that the metal housing just spun with the impeller shaft, with no water to lubricate, it toasted everything.

I am starting to wonder about the water pressure, the way my dad had it hooked up to is 3/4" hose and it was ran from his utility sink in the garage, which typically has good pressure.

I was also using a set of rectangle muffs that I got for Christmas, I will be using my dads circular ones, which we winterized with.

It seems I have a lot of variables here, and now im starting to think it might have been the water pressure...


Thanks for the help Lou!

_________________
Rob

Present: 1999 Formula 280SS
Past: 1989 180 Horizon

http://www.robcamerondesign.com

Glad to help, you'll figure it out, just like my washing machine story!

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Sorry to hear about your problems!

But... Remember this....it's only April 19th !!! All us Northerners are happy to be boating but this is really early. Thank the stars you didn't wait until June 1 to launch your boat and discover this problem that might put you down a couple of weeks! Last year I lost all of June due to my engine problems!

_________________
Marc, Kathlin & Nathalie


'89 Chaparral Laser 32

'93 Vista 245, 5.8L w/ King Cobra

Former Boats
'01 H260, 7.4 VP Duoprop
'98 H200, 5.0 GL w/VP SX drive