H380 not pulling water thru

[Puesta del sol]

Helping a friend with a problem. Ran the boat with thru hullclosed.
Now not pulling water through. Suggestions? The impeller is a bear to reach anything else to try first

 

[DayDreamer41]

It really doesn't take long to chew up the impeller when there is no water to lubricate, other than checking the strainer at the through hull I am afraid that he has toasted his impeller. How long did it run for? What no engine high temp warning??

 

[jssailem]

impeller is a bear to reach anything else to try first

If as you have inspected the thru hull inside and outside (jump in water and make sure the intake is not encrusted) and the hoses / strainer and found them clear then your next step is to open up the impeller cover and verify all of the vanes are there. No pieces missing. While you have it open might as well replace it. If it is difficult to access then it likely has not been changed for awhile.

As far as access I know that’s pain. I struggled for about 45 minutes then I got an engine cover from NAPA. Laid down on the engine. I had two hands free to work on the pump cover. Job was finished in 10 minutes. Sometimes it is just attacking the problem from a different direction.

 

[Puesta del sol]

It really doesn't take long to chew up the impeller when there is no water to lubricate, other than checking the strainer at the through hull I am afraid that he has toasted his impeller. How long did it run for? What no engine high temp warning??

Yes alarm sounded after probably 25 minutes. I am thinking the impeller is toast

 

[Puesta del sol]

If as you have inspected the thru hull inside and outside (jump in water and make sure the intake is not encrusted) and the hoses / strainer and found them clear then your next step is to open up the impeller cover and verify all of the vanes are there. No pieces missing. While you have it open might as well replace it. If it is difficult to access then it likely has not been changed for awhile.

As far as access I know that’s pain. I struggled for about 45 minutes then I got an engine cover from NAPA. Laid down on the engine. I had two hands free to work on the pump cover. Job was finished in 10 minutes. Sometimes it is just attacking the problem from a different direction.

Removed strainer and water coming in thru Hull. On this Hunter you have remove alternator or starter motor or maybe both to get at it. 3JH2E. Can’t believe Hunter did provide a nice big access panel in the shower to the port side of the motor. . Guessing a minimum 1 hour job .. glad it will be at the pier and not out in the middle of bay in crappy weather

 

[Puesta del sol]

Removed strainer and water coming in thru Hull. On this Hunter you have remove alternator or starter motor or maybe both to get at it. 3JH2E. Can’t believe Hunter did provide a nice big access panel in the shower to the port side of the motor. . Guessing a minimum 1 hour job .. glad it will be at the pier and not out in the middle of bay in crappy weather

“ did NOT provide access

 

[RoyS]

Did you ever notice that with every mechanical job on a boat you can either see the item or put your hands on the item but you can never do both? How nice it would be to be able to see what you are doing.

 

[JoeWhite]

Disconnect the hose after the raw water pump, start the engine and see if water is pouring out of the hose of expected volume. Remember to open the raw water intake. You can also disconnect the hose to the input side of raw water pump and put it in a bucket of water and see if it sucks water in. This will confirm if impeller replacement is needed.

 

[sail sfbay]

If you have to remove the seawater pump you may need to rotate the alternator out of the way, remove the transmission and jack the engine up to access the pump. That is what had to be done to replace the 2004 Hunter 386's 3JH3E engine seawater pump. I was lucky to find the only seawater pump for that engine locally. It took the mechanic 3 hours to do this.