I started and ran my Universal M25 on a Cat 30 today but forgot to open the raw water intake. Ran for about 10 minutes before I realized what I had done. The temperature gauge was reading about 125 when I shut it off. Then opened the raw water guage and restarted the engine. It started fine but after 3 minutes still no water was coming out the exhaust. Over the next hour I tried this 3 times. Finally I put the intake tube in a gallon of water to see if it was drawing water at all. It wasn't so took the water pump apart. The impellor didn't look so good so I changed it but lost the clip washer that holds the impellor in down in the bilge. Everything is on hold for the moment. My question is what damage should I look for? Should I even try to restart the engine once the impellor is replaced?
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oops
I would try to ensure that a new impeller is in place with it seated with proper direction of rotation, and with the clip in place. Additionally, I would ensure that the sea strainer is cleaned out. If the temp only got up to 125, is that in degrees C or F ? If that is F, you should not have a problem and the fact that you mentioned the impeller looked damaged, that could have been from age and not overheating. If it was 125C, well that is not real bad, although it can not be considered good. I would just try and put all back together and go for it. So long as the motor is turning over fine without abnormal noise, and the fact that if was such a short period of time, I would think that you might be lucky. Good luck.
I would try to ensure that a new impeller is in place with it seated with proper direction of rotation, and with the clip in place. Additionally, I would ensure that the sea strainer is cleaned out. If the temp only got up to 125, is that in degrees C or F ? If that is F, you should not have a problem and the fact that you mentioned the impeller looked damaged, that could have been from age and not overheating. If it was 125C, well that is not real bad, although it can not be considered good. I would just try and put all back together and go for it. So long as the motor is turning over fine without abnormal noise, and the fact that if was such a short period of time, I would think that you might be lucky. Good luck.
Impeller test
That's happens more often than sailors like to admit. If the cooling fins of the impeller have broken off, they have either passed out of the system in tiny particles, or they have logged somewhere in the engine. Once you are happy with the water pump, secure the boat and run the engine in gear at the dock to get the operating temp up to normal. If it starts to heat up too much, some of the impeller parts may have logged in your thermostat. They will have to be removed. To prevent this from happening again, leave the engine key around the water intake handle. You'll never forget to open it again. Good luck, Ron
That's happens more often than sailors like to admit. If the cooling fins of the impeller have broken off, they have either passed out of the system in tiny particles, or they have logged somewhere in the engine. Once you are happy with the water pump, secure the boat and run the engine in gear at the dock to get the operating temp up to normal. If it starts to heat up too much, some of the impeller parts may have logged in your thermostat. They will have to be removed. To prevent this from happening again, leave the engine key around the water intake handle. You'll never forget to open it again. Good luck, Ron
M25
EMB Not really a problem. The engine didn't get hot enough. All you did was to fry your impeller. Get a new clip, in fact buy more impellers and another shaft and mount a new impeller on a new second backup shaft and you'll be able to change the impeller in nanoseconds. The reason you couldn't get any water with the new impeller was that it wasn't primed. So, either use a small handy boy pump or suck on the intake hose, after you've checked the strainer, and get water AT THE PUMP BEFORE YOU RESTART THE ENGINE. Good luck, it's great engine, and you shouldn't have any more problems. Stu
EMB Not really a problem. The engine didn't get hot enough. All you did was to fry your impeller. Get a new clip, in fact buy more impellers and another shaft and mount a new impeller on a new second backup shaft and you'll be able to change the impeller in nanoseconds. The reason you couldn't get any water with the new impeller was that it wasn't primed. So, either use a small handy boy pump or suck on the intake hose, after you've checked the strainer, and get water AT THE PUMP BEFORE YOU RESTART THE ENGINE. Good luck, it's great engine, and you shouldn't have any more problems. Stu
priming the water pump?
Thank you so much for your replies, they are very helpful. A couple more related questions. To prime the water pump I would take the intake hose off at its connectiion to the water pump and suck water until it gets to the hose end then reconnect to the water pump? OR? Where do I get a handy boy pump? Since I will need to change the impellor regularly it sounds like a worthwhile investment given the flavor of our river water. One of you mentioned getting the impellor seated in the right direction. I couldn't see that there was a particular direction that the impellor went in, although the paddles had a bend in a particular direction, is that what you mean? Also one of you mentioned to get a replacement shaft to be able to change the impellor quickly (this makes a lot of sense). Does the shaft pull out pretty easy? Is there anything that I should be aware of in pulling the water pump shaft and putting another in? Does it need to be lubricated first? Also does the new gasket for the water pump cover go on dry or should I coat it in oil before putting it back on? I am sure glad for your insight and taking the time to reply.
Thank you so much for your replies, they are very helpful. A couple more related questions. To prime the water pump I would take the intake hose off at its connectiion to the water pump and suck water until it gets to the hose end then reconnect to the water pump? OR? Where do I get a handy boy pump? Since I will need to change the impellor regularly it sounds like a worthwhile investment given the flavor of our river water. One of you mentioned getting the impellor seated in the right direction. I couldn't see that there was a particular direction that the impellor went in, although the paddles had a bend in a particular direction, is that what you mean? Also one of you mentioned to get a replacement shaft to be able to change the impellor quickly (this makes a lot of sense). Does the shaft pull out pretty easy? Is there anything that I should be aware of in pulling the water pump shaft and putting another in? Does it need to be lubricated first? Also does the new gasket for the water pump cover go on dry or should I coat it in oil before putting it back on? I am sure glad for your insight and taking the time to reply.
Don't worry about the thermostat...
...the missing impeller parts will collect at the heat exchanger, not the thermostat. The Thermostat is in the freshwater loop, the heat exchanger and impeller are in the raw water loop. Great idea buying an extra shaft, impeller and clips. Good Luck. Steve W.
...the missing impeller parts will collect at the heat exchanger, not the thermostat. The Thermostat is in the freshwater loop, the heat exchanger and impeller are in the raw water loop. Great idea buying an extra shaft, impeller and clips. Good Luck. Steve W.
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