impeller cover makes shaft to tight!? 97 challenger

[winch_surfer]

I have a 97 challenger with a 787. While replacing the pto flywheel and driveshaft, i've decided to open up and inspect the propulsion system. Everything seems to be in order until I replaced the impeller cover. The shaft is very, very tight when the cover is torqued properly. I noticed the springloaded wedge shape pieces in the cover are to probably tension the shaft, but my shaft will not turn without allot of force. The 'wedges' don't seem to slid real easy along each other.

-I doubt the shaft being so tight is normal; Right?

-The thrust washer fell into place. Does it need to be pressed?

-Thrust bearing looks good.

-Will the 'wedges' find a balance after the engine spins the shaft?

Any thoughts or experiences welcome, cause im at a lose.

:cheers:

 

[robin savell lloyd]

It sound to me like you pinched your thrust bearing in the grove on the shaft when handling pump. thrust bearing fell in the grove and you tightened it aginst the grove when you installed impeller cover I have been told by experts that when you do this you should not try and reuse the penched thrust bearing as it can come apart and tear your pump all up. I have learend this the hard way allso. :hurray:

 

[winch_surfer]

I think my problem lies in the impeller cover. I don't quit understand how the pieces in the cover go together. The manual doesn't give any instructions on this other then "be careful it's spring loaded". Mine came apart on disassembly (springloaded) and the way i guessed it goes back together apparently is not. Does anyone know how the 'guts' of the impeller cover go together?

 

[Gunsrunner]

Yes,:agree:
You have probably pinched the thrust washer loosen and try again!!!
View attachment 413

 

[tawood]

I just assembled mine, and the first time mine wouldn't turn either...pinched the thrust washer.
If it is assembled correctly, there should be some forward and back play before you put the spring loaded cover on.

 

[seadoosnipe]

Thrust washer...?I'

I'm having a hard time understanding what you mean by thrust washer. If you didn't take the impeller shaft out, the thrust washer shouldn't move. If your talking about the spring tensioner in the cone cap, that should cause the shaft to tighten and bind.

Do you think when you put the impeller assembly back onto the hull, that you binded the shaft?.......

 

[tawood]

Yes but...

He states the thrust washer "fell into place"....the only way that can happen is if YOU DO take apart the pump!!!

 

[robin savell lloyd]

You do not have to take the shaft out of the pump for the thrust bearing to fall into the grove in the shaft! If you had the pump cover off the pump while pump was off the boat there is a good chance you allowed the impellor shaft to move rearward in the pump.

The thrust bearing on the back of the impellor shaft can fall into the grove in the shaft if shaft moves rearwards. You will not know it until you tighten down the cone screws. If you force the cone to seat on the pump by tightening the cone screws while the thrust bearing is in the shaft's grove the bearing will get pinched and it will be bad.

You need to remove the impellor, remove the impellor shaft and closely inspect the center part of the thrust bearing. It will be pinched. You should not reuse it

Once you have thrust bearing centered on the shaft, do not allow the shaft to move rearward during assembly. Use a thick axel grease to hold it and the thrust washer into place. Make sure that shaft never moves backwards during assembly. Once you are ready to install the cone, remove the oring from the cone and put it into the back of the housing by hand, without useing the screws. If cone can be pushed all the way down flush by hand, the bearing is in place. Put the oring back onto the cone and install it. The impellor shaft should have some endplay with the cone installed correctly. If you do not have any endplay, the bearing is pinched. Good luck Robin :cheers: