Still fighting cooling issues

[TRDon]

I fried a water pump impeller. After replacing it, I still cant get it to prime. I know it is installed correctly. This is a new water pump as part of the recall (for 02-03 excal330s) I got last year. I didnt have a problem until now. This pump came to me and it just had the o-ring seal for the cover and no paper gasket. I did a search and found several threads where it said for the Excals of all years to use the paper gasket and discard the o-ring. This is the first I had hear of this and acutally a suprise considering it came from PCM that way and I got only about 30 hours out of it before it killed an impeller.

What are the chances I got sent another non-priming water pump that my boat was originally recalled for? I dont have a gasket for it, should one come in a new impeller kit? I saw to use RTV or it will leak, still the consensus?

I really just want to get the boat back in the water so I really need some help on this one. I have gone far too long without wakeboarding this year and am really getting bummed out because of it I have tried to email and contact PCM with no help as of yet and it has been nearly a week.

[AirTool]

Is it possible you have the whole pump case on backwards? ...and it is sucking from exhaust backwards? ...and that is why it sucked your exhaust hoses down after the flapper sealed up tight?

[DanielC]

Is the boat a V-drive? There is a lot of plumbing between the raw water pump, and the water pickup on the hull.
See this thread.
http://www.planetnautique.com/vb3/sh...ushing+adapter
With this adapter, you can pressurize the hoses and connections up to the raw water pump, and you can find air leaks a lot easier.

[core-rider]

IMO there is no such thing as a self-priming water pump. You have to put water in the pump yourself for it to create a suction to pull more water. On my v-drive I remove the hoes at the top of the heat exchanger and pour a pitcher of water in the hose till it is full. This hose goes straight to the water pump and will prime it well enough to pull water from whatever means you have. Even using the fake-a-lake doesn't always overcome having the push water up from the bottom of the boat, through the strainer, v-drive, heat exchanger, and then down to the pump.

Also, I just helped my brother replace his impeller on the generator in his cruiser and he added a bit of dishwashing soap to it before installing the cover. It helps lubricate the impeller for the first dry-start and the soap suds that are made help let you know you are moving water.

I've never had an issue with the o-ring gasket. That is what came on my 2003 and every impeller kit I've installed in it. I don't use RTV either and have never had a sealing issue.

[TRDon]

I know the pump is oriented correctly. I used it for 30 hours with no change and no problems.

Daniel, good suggestion, however, in my situation, i have used a bucket with the hose connection to the pump drawing from the bucket so i know i dont have an air leak. With this setup, i still get nearly no water going in the engine at idle. I will use your suggestion to check for leaks once i get past this pump problem. It would be smart to do.

This pump came with the o ring and it was machined for it. When i searched, i found nearly ever 02-03 rwp post saying not to use it. I was hoping for a reason for that like it wont prime if you use the o ring vs the paper gasket. That seems not the case for you CR.

I am very open to what might be wrong so please keep the suggestions coming.

On a good note, after the overheat/hydrolock incident, i compession tested the motor and got 157-162 per hole so i think i am good there. Wheew, dodged the bullet.

[core-rider]

This pump came with the o ring and it was machined for it. When i searched, i found nearly ever 02-03 rwp post saying not to use it. I was hoping for a reason for that like it wont prime if you use the o ring vs the paper gasket. That seems not the case for you CR.

My pump is the original from 2003 and has always had the o-ring. I've never heard anything about not using it and going with a gasket. You may want to pull the pump back off, and break it apart. Lay a straight end along the cover surface and the pump housing to make sure everything is good and true. I guess there could be a possibility of one of them being off and causing enough of an air leak to make it not pull water.

First I would try pouring water down into the hoses like I suggested eariler. I've never had luck getting a new impeller to pull water when dry like that. It just doesn't have enough suction.

[TRDon]

I have always pre primed bg dumping water in the hose. This time like the recalled pump, it didnt work

[CradGen2]

Check the hose from the hull to the filter. Take it off and out. Might have a clog in there. I have seen nests built in that hose.

[TRDon]

I had a hose directly from the water pump to the bucket of water. There was nothing impeding flow.

[TRDon]

Update, I ran it again today with dumping water in the hose again. Again, it didnt work. I also force fed the hose with water to see if there are any leaks at the pump and of course there wasnt. I did start it, get it running, and no prime. I did rev the engine to 3500 and it did prime then, and was fine until I took the hose out of the water for e literal split second, then it would loost it and flow fould go to nothing until I reved it to 3500 again. Obviously I will have an air pocket every time I pull the boat out of the water so reving to 3500 on cold startup is not a great way to prime this thing. There must be something wrong with the pump housing again. Ugh...... Well at least I know. Hopefully I can get a pump that will work again soon, I am running out of season here in MN.

[TRDon]

I have been in contact with PCM about this and I was asked to try one more thing, being run the engine with the raw water discharge side to the stat, off at the stat housing and see if a lack of backpressure would get this thing to prime at idle. Guess what, same as before. Seems like I have a lemon water pump. Again. It would prime if I reved it to 3500 or so, but only then. Not happening on startup every time I run the boat. New pump time, again.

Oh yeah, and I only ran it enough to play in the bucket of water, 60 seconds of running time max, so no worries there.

[crobi2]

Could you have sheared the shear pin (key) on the impeller/shaft?

[TRDon]

Could you have sheared the shear pin (key) on the impeller/shaft?

That would not explain the ability to prime at higher RPMs.

[AirTool]

That would not explain the ability to prime at higher RPMs.

Maybe the pin is broken and there is just enough friction at the high rpm to draw some water.