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96 hour impeller

Todd Mohr

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lbhsbz

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I'm convinced that if you ran the boat every day or every other day or so....the impeller would probably last 10 years. While if you run it once a month, it's good for a season.

Lot Rot is a real thing. Sitting is the worst thing that can happen for anything made of rubber.
 

Todd Mohr

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I got 300 hours and 6 years out of an impeller on my Ski Sanger. I thought this one would be in better shape. Same part #.
 

Todd Mohr

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I agree with a new one every season, just couldn’t bring myself to replace it with only 1/2 season on it. Glad I didn’t try to make it another season.
 

NicPaus

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I had 1 last 5 years. Same style. But we went wakeboarding every Wednesday. Had hundreds of hours on it. It sat for months then disintegrated the next time I started it.
 

Wizard29

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Replace every other year is what I do. In the off season I also suck antifreeze into the engines. Not only does that keep from freezing (if you are in such a climate), it prevents rust buildup in the block and also adds lubrication to the impeller for the next time it starts moving...prevents it from "gluing" itself to the impeller housing. Never had one fail.
 

Boat 405

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I change mine every couple years. The sea strainer seems to help with a little reservoir too avoid dry starts (maybe?) I change it when I see my outlet water pressure down from what it is when I put in a new impeller. Usually 5-6 PSI outlet pressure on a brand new impeller at 40mph. When it goes to 3-4 I know it's time.
 

lbhsbz

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Say what your joking right?
There was a company a few years ago manufacturing impellers out of silicone IIRC, and made the case that they were OK to run dry and would last forever. Google doesn't seem to bring them up anymore, so maybe they didn't last very long. Biggest problem I saw was that the impeller blades, especially spinning in water, rely upon the stiffness of the blade material to maintain tension and somewhat of a seal against the housing to pump water, as resistance from the water would overcome the centrifugal / centripital (I don't know the difference) force that would normally cause a vane pump to work. Making the impeller out of silicone, which is significantly softer and more flexible than the EPDM or whatever rubber Mercury uses would last forever, but it wouldn't pump water for shit.
 

Lumpy

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Ya never know when those little bastards are going to let go. I was a every other year guy then a every year guy then one let go after two months last year. Crazy how lucky I’ve been all these years.
 

zhandfull

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Going to be replacing mine next time out. Only made it a year. Last time out had low water pressure.
 

Ultra...Good

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I have seen an impeller that was known to be over 20 years old. Looked same as one in original post too.

Had an overheat issue on that outboard with no gauges, just warning horn. New impeller, same issue. Turned out to be a mud dauber made a home in his cooling system so some compressed air fixed that.
 

Riverbottom

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My outboard on the pontoon every year. My tournament ski boat every other year. The ski boat gets used four days a week, fifty weeks a year. The impellers look new when used all the time. Sitting in one position and dry kills them in my opinion.
 

Yoshiro

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Every year for me and only an OEM Mercury impeller. I've purchased a Sierra brand one before and noticed the rubber was softer, so I didn't use it.

And because of my OCD, I actually rebuild the water pump too. New bearings, seals, wear plates etc. (Hardin pump) And I carry a spare rebuilt pump. (I know I got issues)
 

hallett3

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Every other year. But it does determine if I’m a little heavy on the pedal for the year. wears out quicker. I’ve been told by several reputable boat shops in havasu, if you run the boat hard they don’t last as long. Always OEM Mercury parts for me .
 

HST4ME

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Heat,cold, lack of use has a lot to do with impeller life. As with most things made today things don't seem to last as long as they used too.
 

Vamodsquad

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I don't go to the Lake as much as you guys do, but when I do go, the next day I always pull the cover and put a light coating of vaseline on the impeller. Conditions the rubber, and the impeller doesn't develop a memory. It's only two screws, doesn't take me but a minute or two.
 

oldman

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My brother had one come apart in his tournament boat while we were skiing, we set all the pieces on the bow and reassembled it making sure we got all of it.
That was the only one I've ever known about exploding,

That was enough to reinforce replacing every year.
 

ChrisV

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I change mine in March and again in Aug. Also change the drive oil in every other trip. Those 2.5 cases are a nightmare imo.
 

Todd Mohr

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I change mine in March and again in Aug. Also change the drive oil in every other trip. Those 2.5 cases are a nightmare imo.
Same here, 2 days per gear oil change, I do my impellers once a year, they always look like new
 

throttle

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I used to put 100hours on a boat each year and always felt like running it helped with the longevity. I seem to be down to about 65hours this last year. I wouldn't ever skip on service intervals but would have new impeller and water pump replaced every other year.

Its a cheap insurance policy. I would carry a spare also because if it ever fell apart, they can be hard to find on short notice.
 

Orange Juice

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I replaced mine every 5 years or so in my Mercruiser 260 Alpha One. I watch the Temperature gauge for any signs of cooling problem.

I store inside an air conditioned garage, and only run fresh water. I’ve put 1280hours on my engine and outdrive over 40 years. I rebuilt the lower unit at 25 years old, at 1000 hours. All that was needed was a resealed, (and probably didn’t need that.)

IMO, if you run fast and hard, everything needs to be inspected, including the Gimbal Bearing.
 
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