Bravo III raw water pump

Black_Diamond

pulled my raw water pump yesterday from my port engine that had overheating issues at the end of the season. Will replace it with a SS Hardin Marine pump. Pic attached of the wear on the back of the pump (hose connection side). This fit the bill for wear to cause water pump problems?

Black_Diamond

Confirmed today that the water intake hose was kinked at the transom. I was told Mercury now has an upgraded kit for this to solve this problem. 

Michael T

On water flow restriction the order I go is: sender or gauge problem (ground or R/Ohms) intake hose, exhaust flapper, water pump. I have heard of so many hose and exhaust flapper problems for Mercury, Volvo and OMC that I look there before a water pump tear down ....unless the impeller hasn't been changed for years.

Black_Diamond

For anyone interested, copy attached of the info for the 'upgraded' raw water intake hose assembly for the Bravo outdrive.  The part of the hose that goes into the transom is now a hard plastic piece.  Guessing the kinked hose problem I had was not unusual.  Hope this is a good fix!

Black_Diamond

@MD: I had to replace the raw water hose that goes from the outdrive bellhousing through the transom. 

Michael T

How many hours on it?

Black_Diamond

~350hrs.  Original pump body.  Out of the blue started overheating last fall, fine at idle, heats up very fast throttling up.  Thermostat was fine (checked) but replaced anyways.  Replaced exhaust shutters too (also were in good shape).

craigswardmtb

I bet it did.  Tough to tell from a picture though although it looks more beat up than mine were.  Mine had 260 hours when I added stainless plates to my existing pump.  I wasn't experiencing issues but considering the scoring I had, I felt it was only a matter of time.  So I added the shims.

Black_Diamond

Thank Al. Thought so. Will replace the other pump too just because. lol

Black_Diamond

I pulled the hose off the connector at the bell housing today (inside the engine compartment), outdrive is off, so I put a shop vac to the water intake at the outdrive connection, pulls no air thru, switched to blowing air: extremely small amount of air passing thru. Something is blocking the flow obviously. I'll try to run a brush on a flexible handle thru it and see if I can dislogde anything. Otherwise I'll be taking more stuff apart. 

MarkB

Did your impeller break apart?

Black_Diamond

Nope. Like new (litterally 30 min on it). Was replaced beginning of the season too, no pieces missing. Besides the worn pump, got a blockage on the inlet side at the drive. 

MarkB

Is the t stat lifting?

Black_Diamond

T stat replaced, checked old one in hot water with a thermometer. Worked fine. 

Black_Diamond

Pulled the hose nipple off from the inside. The hose must be twisted/kinked or delaminated immediately past the connector. I know there is a special tool to install/remove those connectors. Can I replace that hose without removing the whole bell housing?  (Mating part to the outdrive)

Handymans342

Good catch BD

Black_Diamond

Good order to go in normally. Just can't do the intake hose while in the water. I was 'lucky' my issue popped up right at the end of the season. 

Dream_Inn

Nice find BD!

Handymans342

B_D was that for a Bravo 2 or 3? Or are they the same?

Black_Diamond

The kit looks generic to any Bravo outdrive. 

Handymans342

Did you install yet?

Handymans342

I'm just wondering if we all need to install this kit?

Black_Diamond

I had it installed on my port side. I believe this kit superceeds the original all rubber moulded hose. If you are doing new bellows, etc. then I would upgrade to this. I rather suspect the hose was kinked/twisted when it was replaced last year. Maybe Al can chime in on that. 

Handymans342

I just had all my bellows done and the didn't mention I needed this

Black_Diamond

Do you have a water intake through the outdrive on your diesels?

PartsMan

BD - I believe that I have the same problem. Did you try to clean out the inlet from inside the boat?

Handymans342

Yes, all outdrives draw water thru them to keep cool. Don't matter what motors you have

Black_Diamond

I took the hose adapter off from inside. Could not get anything to go more than maybe 1" in, it was kinked not plugged. 

Handymans342

Guess my hose is ok because I have 0 issues cooling 

PartsMan

Could you see the kink with the drive on or did it have to come off

Black_Diamond

It was kinked at the transom point, could not see it at all.  I tried to snake it with a small wire/brush and no-go.  My drive is off, Al said it can be done with the bellhousing still on, but the drive does have to be removed.  I bet with the new parts the bellhousing has to be removed too.  Pretty tight in there!

MDboater

Black_Diamond said:

It was kinked at the transom point, could not see it at all.  I tried to snake it with a small wire/brush and no-go.  My drive is off, Al said it can be done with the bellhousing still on, but the drive does have to be removed.  I bet with the new parts the bellhousing has to be removed too.  Pretty tight in there!

How did you resolve this? I think I have the same problem.