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Sorta OT - Diesel impeller repair - hack job!

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/27/2012 : 11:48:07

So time for a change of scenery. The old marina in St. Pete had rats and yes I had one onboard for about a week until she left for something better. Bad omen, I know. The marina was obstinant and I got pissed after I found a $2200 suit with a chew hole in the left knee! I digress.

I wanted out. I found a new marina Clearwater side and started preparing for the transit. Some stuff had to be strapped to the decks, ran out of time, but she was still sailable. I started the engine Labor day Saturday, and fried an impeller belt. Now this means taking the whole engine apart as the impeller belt is 4 belts in. Yes behind the watermaker, the fridge compressor, the secondary/mega alternator, and the primary alternator/waterpump combo belt. Yippee!

Swapped the belt out, ran for 10 minutes, was spitting water and then I shut her down.

Sunday night 17:00 decided to run her and charge up the onboard fridge. Five minutes in, water stopped. Belt fried again. As i started tearing into it again, my spidey sense was tingling. Did I have a replacement pump? I have a replacement fuel pump, an electric one wired up for the diesel heater as a backup that will pump fuel into the engine, spare everything BUT a impeller pump and a water pump. Hmmm... adding those to the list.

Impeller pump fried. Locked solid. Bearings gave out. I sat there and almost wanted to cry. I needed to move her on Labor Day and it was an easy 10 hour trip, otherwise it would be another week, etc.

Suddenly the lightbulb went off, I had a spare deck washdown pump! The washdown pump thread made me think about this. Anyway, I finally found it amongst all my spares and sure enough the hose diameter was the same as the pump. Clamped it in place and wired it to a spare switch. Flipped the switch and water came spurting out of the back! Put all the belts back on, turned on the engine and the electric impeller pump and let her run for over an hour. Worked great! Spit just like she would or perhaps better than the original engine driven impeller pump.

Ran the next day for 13 hours straight, not a single problem. Moral of the story, sometimes a solution is right under your nose...

sten

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2012 : 12:06:04

Very cool! I just solved a long-standing problem with my Yanmar water pump chewing up belts by replacing it and putting an extra washer behind one corner. I had it rebuilt twice. The little bugger cost $400., but it did the trick!

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rrick
Captain

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USA
261 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2012 : 12:09:45

I wonder if hybrid boats follow the hybrid car trend of going belt-less (Prius is entirely belt-free). I guess that would depend if the hybrid drive was a coupled alternator/motor. But with a "mega alternator" I think your on the right track, skipping the serpentine belt and going right for 21 century technology.

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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2012 : 14:27:47

MacGuyver Award for the Month of September! Very Cool.

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2012 : 21:57:42

New pump is $490 out the door! Me thinks electric impeller pumps are the wave of the future.

Sten

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 10/10/2012 : 22:05:37

Regarding belts, you might consider having a couple of the link-type belts on board. You can put them on without having to remove anything else, they're infinitely adjustable, and wear pretty well. I use them on my most used wood working tools and quite recently, on our washing machine. Harbor Freight sells them for wider belt sizes (1/2"), and the thinner (3/8") belts can be found at most woodworking stores, and probably other places.

I've got a dead AC system on my '76 Mercedes, but the belt's still turning the pump. It's two belts in and I'd have to remove the radiator (I think) to get to it. I'm thinking about just using a linked belt to replace the old one.

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 10/11/2012 : 16:34:11

Hmmm... I will look into that. Thanks David! Losing the impeller or the belt is the biggest fear engine side, other than clogged Racors, that we cruisers have...

sten

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.