impeller damage

[charles81076]

I just purchased a 2009 speedster 150 with the 255hp engine.
Yesterday I got a little to close to the shore and I heard a few rocks get sucked into the pump and clunk around in there a little and then get pushed out. After that I felt like during acceleration the engine was overreving a little and it wasn't quite grabbing the water like it was before the rocks. When I got back to the shop I looked in there and there are a few nicks and gouges on the impeller. Nothing to serious, no chunks missing or anything, but it was perfect when I bought it so the rocks did do some damage.
My question is, how much damage does it take to make a difference? Am I just imagining it because I was expecting it? I know it would be better if I had a picture, but I can't get a camera up there to take one.
Has anyone on here changed an impeller before? Is it a big job?

 

[thor7000]

probably did more damage to the wear ring that goes around the impeller....it is there to take the brunt of damage under those circumstances...chances are you will need a new wear ring and possibly the nicks in your impeller filed off.

 

[charles81076]

probably did more damage to the wear ring that goes around the impeller....it is there to take the brunt of damage under those circumstances...chances are you will need a new wear ring and possibly the nicks in your impeller filed off.

funny that you are the one who responded to this. I was just reading a thread that you posted when you were having impeller and wear ring trouble.
Since I saw the pictures of yours taken apart and know that you know what you're doing, Can I ask how long it took?
I have a shop with almost every tool I could ask for in it and i'm an experienced auto mechanic.
I am new to boats though.

would it be worth taking apart just to snap some pictures to post on here?

 

[thor7000]

definitely take it apart and post a picture....it takes less then 10 minutes to remove the pump housing, 4 bolts, the f/N/R cable and steering cable and that's it. You should be able to file out the nicks on the impeller and even replace the wear ring by putting the whole assembly in a freezer....I'll send you in the right direction once we see the pics showing the issues!!

 

[charles81076]

definitely take it apart and post a picture....it takes less then 10 minutes to remove the pump housing, 4 bolts, the f/N/R cable and steering cable and that's it. You should be able to file out the nicks on the impeller and even replace the wear ring by putting the whole assembly in a freezer....I'll send you in the right direction once we see the pics showing the issues!!

OK. I'm headed to the shop then. I'll post the pictures as soon as I get them.
I hope this forum doesn't make you have a certain amount of posts before you can post pictures. I know some are like that.
Thanks for your help.

 

[thor7000]

OK. I'm headed to the shop then. I'll post the pictures as soon as I get them.
I hope this forum doesn't make you have a certain amount of posts before you can post pictures. I know some are like that.
Thanks for your help.

Don't think there is a restriction on posting pictures, but if there is PM me and I'll give you my e-mail so you send them direct to me

 

[charles81076]

I keep getting an error message when I try to insert the image into the post so I guess I will just post a link to my photobucket account.
They are the first pictures on there.
Do you know of any aftermarket ones better than the stock one? I read that stainless ones are better.

 

[charles81076]

http://s379.photobucket.com/albums/oo235/charles81076/

 

[charles81076]

I guess I cant post links either. If you go to photobucket and search for the same name as I have on here you can find it.
Sorry for the inconvenience.

 

[thor7000]

checked out your pics....the impeller definitely took a hit but I think if you file down the edges it should still work. Make sure the pitch is the same on all blades, if it's out then you will need a new impeller or send it out for repair. If you end up going with a new impeller go with an aftermarket Solas, they perform better and are cheaper then the OEM one. The wear ring looks pretty good...you have some grooves but the clearance still looks fine. Check with a feeler gauge all around, your max gap should be .035!! Stainless steel wear rings are good if your pump housing is plastic, it helps keep them going out of round but since your's is steel I wouldn't bother. Check out www.greenhulk.com for really good DIY instruction posts on replacing wear rings, impellers ect.

 

[charles81076]

Great. I smoothed out the impeller last night but I haven't put it back together yet. I'll check the clearance and make sure it's good.
I looked for one of those solas impellers and I cant find one for my boat, only the 215 HP one. I was going to call them to be sure but there is no phone number on their site anywhere.
I would like to order one just to have a spare.
Thanks for your help.

 

[charles81076]

Sorry to bother you again but I wanted to let you know what happened to me today and ask you one more question if I could.
So I smoothed out the nicks in the impeller like you said to, and I did it without actually pulling the impeller out of the pump housing. I just reached in there with a file and a dremmel and I got it pretty smooth. I put it back together and took it out today to test it and although it was better it still wasn't like before I hit those rocks. I decided I decided I would order a new one from the internet and put it in when it got here.
I figured since I was out anyway I would take a little ride down the river and I ended up going farther than I have ever been before. after a half hour or so of cruising and being in unfamiliar water I decided to turn around and head back. As I was circling around I heard the most horrible noise and when i looked behind me I saw lots of mud being churned up. I had hit another shallow spot and sucked a bunch of rocks in again. I killed the engine and waited a minute to try to let them drop away but when I started it again it would barely move. It was vibrating and cavitating like crazy.
I idled to the shore and tried to reach in there to see what was wrong, but couldnt find anything. I decided I would have to idle all the way back to the dock, which when I looked at my GPS was 30 miles (48km) away.
My top speed all the way back was 3mph. It took forever!!
Needless to say from now on when I am in unfamiliar water I will be keeping one eye on the depthfinder at all times.
When I finally got back to the dock and out of the water I saw that there was a rock lodged in between two of the impeller blades. I took it back to the shop and had to take it back apart again to dislodge it. it was really in there.
This time the wear ring took some damage from that rock spinning against it for 30 miles so I plan to change both the ring and impeller.
My question is, How do I get the impeller out of the pump housing? Do I take out the big allen bolt on the end under the cone? Is it just bolted or is it pressed in?
Here is a picture of the rock that caused all the trouble.

 

[Chrisazo1]

3mph and 30 miles? It took you 10 hours to get back? !

 

[thor7000]

No worries...ask all the questions you want..lol!! (I emptied my inbox also)

You need a special tool to remove the impeller, you can order it from your dealer or from an aftermarket parts supplier on the internet. Go to www.greenhulk.com and I think if you search under the seadoo section there is a DIY thread for removing the impeller along with replacing the wear ring. Once you get the impeller out, re-grease the bearings then put your new one back in...definitely change the wear ring and get a new neoprene seal (make sure you get those from the dealer...some aftermarket wear rings are crap) and put it all back together. Don't toss your damaged impeller, you can send it out for repair/re-pitching for approx. $50-60 and then you have a spare in case it happens again.

 

[charles81076]

It didn't take me ten hours. I guess I was going faster than three as far as ground speed goes. It was my speedometer that said 3 all the way back, although I did occasionaly see 4mph.
I had the wind at my back and I was going down river so I was maybe going 6 or so. When I looked at the shore I remember thinking I was moving at the pace of a fast walk.