Fischer Panda impeller change

[artboas]

Ok,,
This make no sense (to me)

The screws holding one the FP pump late are M4, very short, and (gasp ), slotted

This guarantees loosing them in the bikge, as you are “upside down.l trying to install these on a H49 /50

Next problem

There is a paper gasket that comes with the new impeller.,
Virtually impossible to keep in plate while you are juggling
Cover
Screws
Gasket
Your sweaty plans leading to the “oh shit moment@, when one of the screws goes off a vacation

PLEASE don’t write back telling me all the problems are resolved with the “speed seal covers”

They aren’t. And if I thought this was my solution, I would have bought 2 of them (engine and generator) plus spares

What I have cone up with is a very inexpensive , method to resolve all of these problems, and re-install a cover (plus gasket), virtually blindfolded

Guaranteed to take all tye “fumbling “ oit if it.

In the 49/59, our FP units are sub floor. Not optimal for service, so every arrow in your quiver is handy

I’ll post once I’m fully documented

 

[Rick486]

Have you tried removing the pump and changing the impeller on the bench? The pump is very easy to remove. I used to run two pumps on my 6 kw and pull them off for rebuild. That way I always had one rebuilt and ready to put in. I would change them once a year in the spring commissioning.

 

[dlochner]

There is no need to use the same style of screw. Replace them with hex head or socket head bolts. Either BoltDepot.com or McMaster.com will have them in the correct size.

Use a very tiny amount of Super lube on the gasket. Just like Brylcreem, a little dab will do you.

 

[sailcapt340]

A quick little solution to losing those pesky small screws (and for some reason, can’t quite put my finger on it) they get smaller every year.
Get some Duct Seal. It’s in the electrical section of Home Depot. It’s the stickiest of stuff, but cleans off perfectly.
Just tear off a piece from it, smear it into the slot of a screw or on the end of the screwdriver and when the screw is backed out it will stay stuck to the tip of the screwdriver.
I have a friend who was constantly losing the screws for the mast plate down the mast each year. Gave him a 2 inch square of this stuff and he never lost a single screw again. That was 9 years ago.
It stays soft in any weather condition, regardless of temperature, leaves no residue, reusable, stays put wherever you put it, vertically, horizontally, upside down…it don’t matter.
It is truly a miracle product that works.
It comes in 1 pound sticks. Thats enough for the entire marina or an individuals 40 year supply.
If you ask for it in the store they may not know it by its name, older electricians call it “monkey sh$t”.
Try it, you’ll love it.

 

[dlochner]

A quick little solution to losing those pesky small screws (and for some reason, can’t quite put my finger on it) they get smaller every year.
Get some Duct Seal. It’s in the electrical section of Home Depot. It’s the stickiest of stuff, but cleans off perfectly.
Just tear off a piece from it, smear it into the slot of a screw or on the end of the screwdriver and when the screw is backed out it will stay stuck to the tip of the screwdriver.
I have a friend who was constantly losing the screws for the mast plate down the mast each year. Gave him a 2 inch square of this stuff and he never lost a single screw again. That was 9 years ago.
It stays soft in any weather condition, regardless of temperature, leaves no residue, reusable, stays put wherever you put it, vertically, horizontally, upside down…it don’t matter.
It is truly a miracle product that works.
It comes in 1 pound sticks. Thats enough for the entire marina or an individuals 40 year supply.
If you ask for it in the store they may not know it by its name, older electricians call it “monkey sh$t”.
Try it, you’ll love it.

That's the stuff electricians use to seal wires coming into the house. It also works well to plug a through hull.

 

[capta]

There are screwdrivers with "screw" holders available. However, I much prefer to have two pumps aboard, and just change to the one with a new impeller. As mentioned above, often it is much easier to remove the pump rather than try to work on the pump upside down and backwards in place. Sure the pumps aren't cheap, but what's your time and frustration level worth?

 

[JoeWhite]

I keep a spare pump aswell, it is a good idea. One has to be careful and not store it completely assembled as , in my case, luckily I found that the drying salt water inside the pump had caused the shaft to become frozen solid. I had to take it apart and wash and clean and reassemble.
So now I store it with the shaft and the impeller outside its housing, surfaces coveted with light amount of lanoline.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

I'll be brief here (if that's at all possible).

Insert two opposed M4 studs in the holes. Make sure they protrude an inch or so. You are then ready to apply the gasket and then cover plate using the studs as guides. Insert a couple of original screws to hold everything together. You are then ready to insert all of the original screws (minus 2). Remove the two studs and replace with the original screws.

It's the only way to replace my mixing elbows short of jack-hammering out the surrounding bulkhead.

 

[artboas]

I'll be brief here (if that's at all possible).

Insert two opposed M4 studs in the holes. Make sure they protrude an inch or so. You are then ready to apply the gasket and then cover plate using the studs as guides. Insert a couple of original screws to hold everything together. You are then ready to insert all of the original screws (minus 2). Remove the two studs and replace with the original screws.

It's the only way to replace my mixing elbows short of jack-hammering out the surrounding bulkhead.

View attachment 221321

Ok,,
This is almost exactly what I was going to write up, but a bit more refined (tiny bit)

Here are the issues:

Why on earth FP used tiny slotted screws in a place that would be super prone to dropping in the bilge just makes shake my head .

Especially, on the sub-floor gensets. You have a horrible time with firstly locating and starting the screw while holding the gasket and the plate.

And, how do you endure the gasket isn’t crunched up under the cover ??

Here is the low-cost, never loose stuff in the bilge again solutions

Parts list

6 M4 x 12 SS Allen screws with hex drive
6. M4 SS nuts
6. M4 SS split lock washers

Blue locktite

Dab a tiny bit of loctite onto the set screws, and insert till bottomed out

Wait till set

Then you now have exposed studs to hang the gasket and front cover on to. Pop on lock washers & nuts. Use a tiny open ended ratchet to finish tightening after getting hand tight.

You could literally do this blind folded in your sleep. Zero stress.

About $2 in parts for a perfect solution to an annoying problem

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Ok,,
This is almost exactly what I was going to write up, but a bit more refined (tiny bit)

............................. thereby proving that great minds think alike