Stuck Ballast Pump / Impellor

[HS]

Anyone ever have to solve a problem with a sticky ballast pump? Or have an impellor get "spun", in which the pump drive shaft does not stay seated on the impeller, and spins through the center hub?

I haven't taken the cover off of the pump impellor housing yet, but I imagine I will see that the impellor has been "spun", and the pump shaft is jammed and is unable to turn because the plastic has built up after having been torn out of the impellor hub.

Has anyone else encountered this issue, and if so, can you help me understand the causes and ways to prevent it from happening? This is a pump which has been replaced under warranty previously, and which just began acting up on Sunday (had a huge crew Sunday so no need for tankage ballast.

I looked at it yesterday and the pump fill light at the helm lights up but pump remains silent. At least it is the starboard pump, and most of us are port side surfers.

Any thoughts or suggestions? I expect when I open it up and see it today, it will be bound up because it has been spun. . .

TIA.

[ski4evr]

I started replacing impellers on pumps annually just like the cooling pump. They end up failing mid season anyway if I don't. I was using the green ones. I am trying the blue run dry ones this season, and so far so good. Have had at least three spin the centers out of the impellers. the pumps themselves have yet to fail. Mine are mounted vertically with impeller on bottom, not sure it matters.

[jonsquatch]

I have melted the tips off a green one until it wouldn't pump much after someone piled a bunch of stuff on the sac and it closed off the vent. I also had the hub spin inside one of them (less than a month old) and had to replace it on the water. Pain in the *** that was even though I had the parts as I always keep a couple of spares, it was so hot in there I didn't want to be working in there while the boat was a-rockin'. I keep a portable pump on board with fittings for bag as well as fittings that I could plumb into the line to the front hard tank so I can always fill and empty in a pinch. Make sure you replace the o-ring and make a good air tight seal without damaging the lid if you don't want to drop it and don't have a strong reservation to using petroleum jelly on it if someone has a tube of the cheap stuff it helps keep the o-ring in place.

[scottb7]

Interesting...I kind of wonder if the pump orientation matters. Mine are horizontal you face the impeller when you pop the hatch.

anyone tried the orange? http://www.wakemakers.com/johnson-ul...-impeller.html

the yellow tended to leak water in, but the green have been fine.

[H2O]

Just changed one impeller today. The pump sounded silent compared to normal but when I touched it when it was "on", I could feel it running. Took it apart and found the center spun (green). Removed old impeller with pliers and a paint can opener. Installed new "green" spare, replaced "O"Ring, coated everything with Lube supplied in new impeller package and buttoned it up. Works like new. About an hour and a half total.

[HS]

impeller isn't spun. when I try to power up the pump, I hear a faint click but shaft doesn't turn. Calling for service and possible pump replacement.

[HS]

Uh. . . Master breaker for the stbd ballast pump (in the aft locker) was tripped (pretty subtle pop, didn't look like it had tripped but it clicked when I double checked all the breakers. Thanks for the input, guys.