Universal coolant pump odd failure

[Skipper]

Been running the m-18 for 4 years. Never a single issue. 1984 motor, original. 1200 hours approx.

Water coolant pump failed today. Has never leaked. Preflight inspection tight belt no leaks good oil the works. Motored an hour came in hit the slip and the motor quit at idle with a thunk.

Tied up , opened the engine room started the motor and it was making abnormal noise. Looked in and saw water pump hub wobbling like mad. And making the noise. Shut her down immediate. Coolant everywhere including drooling onto the belt at the crank pulley. Also burned belt bits and coolant in streaks on the engine room walls.

Looks like a pump failure. But what's with the wobbling?

Is this a normal failure?

 

[RIVERCRUISER]

Been running the m-18 for 4 years. Never a single issue. 1984 motor, original. 1200 hours approx.


Looks like a pump failure. But what's with the wobbling?

Is this a normal failure?

bearing failure. no support for the shaft

 

[Richard19068]

It happens. I replaced mine a year or so ago.

Remember, this is not a marine part so you shouldn't have to pay through the nose.

I believe it is Kubota part number 15552-73030

 

[kloudie1]

Not something that happens regularly, but it is most likely a ball bearing failure .. sometimes the mechanical seal will leak a little and that will get into the bearings.. not long after that, the bearings will fail and the usual symptoms are just as you describe. If you know the tractor motor that was made from.. I think a Kubota.. then go and buy that pump from a Kubota tractor dealer .. The guys in the Catalina Owners group may be able to get you part numbers .. Sometimes ball bearings, like people, fail for no obvious reasons at an early age.
EDIT... Someone beat me to the post!

 

[cbourne200]

My coolant pump on my '87 O'Day 272 w/Westerbeke 10-2 did same thing last December. Tried to find 'tractor' replacement pump, but never could. Wound up buying a new Westerbeke pump/gasket for almost $600.

My shaft sheared off completely as I was exiting mouth of bayou. Had to scull the boat about a mile back to the marina with transom hung rudder.

Good luck with search for pump.

Charles

 

[Skipper]

Great. Thanks guys. That part number is gold.
So not any other failure just the water pump. Relief

 

[Stu Jackson]

Great. Thanks guys. That part number is gold.
So not any other failure just the water pump. Relief

Good catch, sorry it happened to you. Good troubleshooting.

As far as the part #, DO YOU HOMEWORK. Start with that #, and thanks for posting, but check, cross check and check again, from Kubota's tractor site, www.marinedieseldirect.com, and here:

http://www.c34.org/wiki/index.php?title=Diesel_Engine

scroll down and use the links. There's a tractor manual there, too. Most likely for M25 engines, yours is different, but do this kinda research.

Good luck.

 

[Skipper]

Good catch, sorry it happened to you. Good troubleshooting. As far as the part #, DO YOU HOMEWORK. Start with that #, and thanks for posting, but check, cross check and check again, from Kubota's tractor site, www.marinedieseldirect.com, and here: http://www.c34.org/wiki/index.php?title=Diesel_Engine scroll down and use the links. There's a tractor manual there, too. Most likely for M25 engines, yours is different, but do this kinda research. Good luck.

Thank you sir

 

[Skipper]

I came up with Kubota part #15443-73030. It's the same as for the m25 and 5421.
Universal # is 300203.

 

[Capt jgw]

That's what I love about Universal and Beta engines. Parts can be found at the Kubota shop for a small fraction of what they cost in the marine market, and they are exactly the same parts. Everything except the raw water pump, exhaust manifold, heat exchanger, and transmission are pure tractor. Farmers do not pay marine prices. Heaven forbid you have a Volvo engine that was only ever used in boats and parts are only available from the marine dealer.

 

[weinie]

For what its worth, I've used tractorsmart.com for kubota parts in the past. They are very helpful on the phone and ship quickly. I recommend them highly.

 

[Anonymous 121765]

Skipper,

I'm a bit late into this thread but,

One thing you may want to keep in mind is who's pump do you have.
My 3M20A universal came with a Sherwood pump. The design of this is for failure. I changed to an Oberdorfer pump for my engine & have never had a problem. Every 3-4 years, I change out the impeller. The Sherwood pump failed twice in a three year span. Look at the exploded views & it will become apparent.

Take note, if it is a Sherwood pump, change to an Oberdorfer pump.
Call Yacht Power, they can give you advice on this pal.........

CR

 

[Skipper]

Skipper, I'm a bit late into this thread but, One thing you may want to keep in mind is who's pump do you have. My 3M20A universal came with a Sherwood pump. The design of this is for failure. I changed to an Oberdorfer pump for my engine & have never had a problem. Every 3-4 years, I change out the impeller. The Sherwood pump failed twice in a three year span. Look at the exploded views & it will become apparent. Take note, if it is a Sherwood pump, change to an Oberdorfer pump. Call Yacht Power, they can give you advice on this pal......... CR

Thanks Capt, but it's the coolant pump that failed.
Did replace the sherwood with Oberdorfer though, when I first got the boat.

 

[Anonymous 121765]

Skipper,

Sorry, that sucks man.

Yacht Power reps Universal engines & have great advice. Since Westerbeke now owns Universal, prices have skyrocketed. R.B. Groves in Miami was the main supplier for my area. I know you faithfully do oil changes so I ask myself, if the bearings wore out could it have to do with shaft alignment? But if this were the case, you would have felt the rumblings well beforehand. Ya know, sometimes parts just wear out.

You hardly ever hear the coolant pump took a dive. Hopefully, your fix is not costly for a 4year old engine......Good luck pal.

CR