Wear Ring/Steering Cable removal

[Racereddie]

So I have everything out of the pump and now I am working on removing the Wear Ring. For the life of me I can't figure out how to get the nut off the steering cable that is located on the upper left hand corner of the attached picture. Any advice will help save a tired old man.


Eddie

 

[Dr Honda]

Either a stubby wrench, or a "Crow's Foot" socket. OR... heat up an old open end wrench, and bend it 90 degrees. (like an old distributor wrench)

 

[Racereddie]

Either a stubby wrench, or a "Crow's Foot" socket. OR... heat up an old open end wrench, and bend it 90 degrees. (like an old distributor wrench)

I saw a crow foot socket that they use on oxygen sensors but not sure it will fit in there. I am thinking that there is enough slack in the cable that I can pull the wear ring off far enough and get a wrench on it.

Is there anyone who actually pulled the wear ring while the pump was still on the boat?

 

[Dr Honda]

Not an O2 socket... a crows foot. Like this...

But maybe I'm not understanding the question completely.

 

[Racereddie]

Not an O2 socket... a crows foot. Like this...

But maybe I'm not understanding the question completely.

Your input is right on, I was just tired last night and frustrated because EVERYTHING I found would just say, "Remove the nut" even the tech manual, like it was the easiest thing in the world and maybe it is I just can't see it at this point. So off to Harbor Freight to see if I can get a 22mm crowfoot wrench like you showed. I was more looking for some one to just tell me exactly what they did I know it is looking for the easy way out, but there are just those times when.....!

Thanks for taking the time to even post the picture.

Eddie

 

[Racereddie]

Update

For anyone looking for a 22mm crows foot wrench, don't try harbor freight or NAPA, just go straigth to Lowes ($8.46). The crows foot wrench did work (thanks Dr. Honda) and come to find out the nut is only hand tight. I just assumed it would be stuck like everything else,but there is room. Removing the wear ring really depends on how much corrosion is set between the pump housing and the ring. There are several tips on creating a homemade puller, I used a piece of wood with a metal bar across it and two bolts with nuts to pull the wear ring against the impeller shaft, then with another piece of wood and hammer I was able to strike the wood on the wood cross member and the ring slowly came out. The steering cable was stuck with corrosion in the holding point on the wear ring. Light tapping with the wood forced it out..oh yes alot of PB Buster was used at every occasion.

Don't try this job when you are tired it can get the best of you.

Eddie

 

[diverdude]

Hi everyone. I decided to make today jet pump day after following this here post... Thanks Racereddie. Ive got some questions to throw out if anyone can help. uploading pics..

(1) As I was trying to get the bolts out, the bottom right gave me the ominous "snap" and I knew it had broken off. Once the stator was off, I was able to see where, so was wondering if the wear ring is threaded there or the threads are only in the main body of the pump housing? The wear ring is stuck on REALLY well from corrosion, (PB blaster on it now..) and it would be alot easier to get at the snapped bolt once its off, but I dont want to force the wear ring if it has the threads from the bolt holding it in place. The left side looks like its free from threads.

(2) The stator took a good hit when the tine (I assume, now replaced w the 12 tine SS) hit it from the previous owners non-disclosed escapades. The lube looks like it has water damage, another indication he didnt take care of her.. so...should I try to fix it with a dremel, maybe sand it and paint it, send it off to impros with the impeller, or give up and start shopping? ( Im going to do the wear ring with marine JB Weld) Thanks for the advice.

 

[Dr Honda]

Yep... that oil is ugly. Make sure there isn't a burr in the shaft... and replace the seal. \


I would just soak the ring and bolt... and hope for the best. You really can't beat on the ring with the impeller in the housing... so if it's really stuck... then you need to get the impeller off so you can tap it sideways.

While you are in there... drain the gear case oil too. (and hope it's cleaner)

 

[diverdude]

Thanks for the advice Dr Honda. I bit the bullet and ordered the Merc impeller socket today. I will get the ring off after the impeller is out
and take a good look at the shaft. Would you have input on what to do with the stator?

 

[Racereddie]

Thanks for the advice Dr Honda. I bit the bullet and ordered the Merc impeller socket today. I will get the ring off after the impeller is out
and take a good look at the shaft. Would you have input on what to do with the stator?

The impeller socket is worth it, very heavy and lined with plastic to protect the impeller shaft. It is a 1/2 inch drive. I had my 1/2 inch long torque wrench but had to turn to a pneumatic wrench to loosen the nut off then go back to the torque wrench. As for the wear ring it is not threaded the bolts go straight through. There is a large o-ring that is between the wear ring and the main housing, also a small one that is on the cooling water line. I ordered both of mine from boats.net, best price around.
To get the wear ring off, after I removed the impeller, then I created a homemade mouse trap tool.. Try to picture the black line as a piece of wood with two holes and the red line as a bar of metal with two holes. Place bolts through the holes into the wear ring. You can get the nuts just behind the bolt holes in the wear ring. Switch the angle if your bolt is broken in the bottom. The wood protects the impeller shaft. Tighten the bolts so the wood is against the shaft. Now remember the impeller is removed. With the intake grate removed take a 2x2 pieced of wood and a small hammer and tap(pound) on the wood and metal contraption from inside the grate area. Alternate between the sides of the two bolts and slowly but surely the wear ring should start to move and then come off. I hope this makes sense. The steering cable is not threaded either but it sticks in the pass through in the wearing. After I got that nut off, which is not very tight, I used that same piece of wood and gently tapped to push it forward and out of the wear ring. Be care that wood splinters to not cut into the inner housing of the steering cable. Yes all of these were proceeded with ALOT of PB Buster.

I sent my impeller to impros still on its way. Can't give you advice on the stator except it does look like you could dremel it into much better shape.

The is one for sale here is Fl. Look here http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/boa/3293695154.html I have not called so I have no idea what he is asking?

Eddie

 

[Dr Honda]

Yep... what Racer said. On the stator... guys have filled and tried to "Fix" the stator.. and they have reported no real gain. So... I would use a Dremel or just a file, and clean up the edges.

AND.... his idea of a light duty puller made from wood is a good idea.

 

[diverdude]

Thanks for all the great advice guys, and the detailed description above.

I will use the wood puller idea, I think I have a few 2x6s laying around.. based on your diagram, Im assuming you just used a 1-2 inch bore bit for the middle of the board to allow the shaft to pass thru? The bolts from my steering wheel puller are very close if not the same 3/8 bolts that hold the wear ring in. Guess Ill start on that stator while I wait for the socket.

 

[Racereddie]

Thanks for all the great advice guys, and the detailed description above.

I will use the wood puller idea, I think I have a few 2x6s laying around.. based on your diagram, Im assuming you just used a 1-2 inch bore bit for the middle of the board to allow the shaft to pass thru? The bolts from my steering wheel puller are very close if not the same 3/8 bolts that hold the wear ring in. Guess Ill start on that stator while I wait for the socket.

I let the wood rest against the impeller shaft. I guess you could bore a hole into the wood but I would not bore it through. That let me tighten the bolts down and the shaft would sink into the softwood, then I hit the second 2x2 from the opposite direction, the pounding force was the same as the flow of water. The metal bar provided the strength to the wood. I wanted to keep as much pressure as I could off of the shaft.

Eddie

 

[diverdude]

Ahh. Got it! Thanks again.

 

[diverdude]

More problems...
Im pretty sure the impeller has NEVER been off this boat. Ive been hitting it with PB Blaster about every other day for a week, finally got the socket, ready to go. Ive tried everything I can think of, and it wont budge. I read somewhere that using a propane torch to heat up the nut would help loosen the red loctite, no luck there either, kind of nervous about using a torch under the boat anyway. Ive tried my air ratchet, then a breaker bar, back to the air tool. Nada. The manual says the nut is a "standard right hand thread" unless Im somehow misinterpreting that statement, it means the nut comes off in reverse of a normal "standard left hand thread". So, when I would be tightening a normal nut, Id be loosening this one right? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Racereddie]

More problems...
The manual says the nut is a "standard right hand thread" unless Im somehow misinterpreting that statement, it means the nut comes off in reverse of a normal "standard left hand thread". So, when I would be tightening a normal nut, Id be loosening this one right? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

No, the nut comes off just the same as any other nut, when you are facing it the nut you turn it counterclockwise.

Eddie

 

[diverdude]

Thanks Eddie. That would be the problem.

 

[Racereddie]

Finishing up the job

I got my impeller back from Impros, they did a great job, not thrilled with their customer service but that is a story for another time. My wear ring was lightly pitted, no gouges or large scrapes but after 10 years (assuming the previous owner didn't change it) and 197 hrs on the engine, it began to cavitate after I changed the stator seal. So with the impeller out I went the route of the jb weld on the wear ring. At first I was not sure I was doing it right but after sanding it down it turned out pretty good, I sanded all of the ring, inside and out, then applied Quicksilver primer and Quicksilver black paint. Here are the before and after pictures.

I took her out the lake today and after warming her up I went WOT. Got up to 48.6mph(GPS) before I backed down, just me and 3/4 tankful, so I am pretty happy with the work. If you are debating the jb weld repair go ahead and do it.

I will post a list of tools and a video of the speed run a bit later.

Eddie

 

[Dr Honda]

Yep... looks good.

I'd like to hear about the CS probs. There has been a few this summer.

 

[El Toro 33809]

Looks very good, Eddie. What was your top speed before this work?

 

[diverdude]

Looks great Eddie. Im still working on mine, going the JB weld route too. Recd an e mail that my impeller is on its way back from Impros, was 125 plus the shipping. I didnt talk to them except before shipping it out, so hopefully they did as nice a job on mine as they did on yours..

 

[Racereddie]

Looks very good, Eddie. What was your top speed before this work?

47mph and the data from boattest.com says 47mph so I think she is holding out pretty good

 

[Racereddie]

Looks great Eddie. Im still working on mine, going the JB weld route too. Recd an e mail that my impeller is on its way back from Impros, was 125 plus the shipping. I didnt talk to them except before shipping it out, so hopefully they did as nice a job on mine as they did on yours..

With shipping my was $164. I think they have the work down to a system, so I would be surprised if it was not just the same.

 

[Racereddie]

Yep... looks good.

I'd like to hear about the CS probs. There has been a few this summer.

More than anything the lack of communication, you have to be on the phone constantly because they don't answer and returning the phone call doesn't fit in. Got some communication with an e-mail and then they told me to be patient. I told them that they got my impeller on Tues and they told me to call on Thu, I did, started on Thu/Fri. but I could not get to talk to them until the Monday, he said he was busy with a customer and would call me back, two hours later no phone call, so I when I got them on Tues, (told me it was Veteran's day weekend and he was just coming off the weekend, I spent 22 year in the Navy so I told him I knew it was Veteran's Day, sorry that just got under my skin, not my typical answer) he said my impeller was done and would be shipped out that afternoon and I would get an e-mail, no email, called on Thur and it had not gone out yet. Finally got it shipped on Friday 16 Nov and it arrived on Monday 26 Nov. I kept think at least I don't have boating plans. Anyway, the work they did was great so it is what it is.

Eddie

 

[diverdude]

Im going to try to post a few pics of the finished wear ring...