Mercruiser 5.7 Fresh Water Cooled : Raw Water Pump Jammed

Just to share : 

Took the 330 out yesterday with the family. This has a pair of Mercr 5.7 efi's driving Bravo3. Got to a fishing spot , dropped anchor and killed the motors. About an hour later , starboard refuses to start. Cranks but no start. Add throttle , crank and then she starts , but with a very loud shrieking sound from engine compartment. Killed that engine.

Did not want to prolong stress for family , started up port engine and limped home with that one engine. Docking with one engine when you're used to two is quite an experience (note to self).

Arranged for family's lunch at marina's cafe and then opened up the engine hatch :smile:

Long story short  , the engine could not start because the raw water pump was jammed and preventing the engine from turning over. I took off the serpentine belt and the engine started right up (killed it immediately , needed to just confirm that the problem was not with the motor).

I rotated the raw water pump's pulley by hand (it turns clockwise , by the way) and it stated to loosen/turn after some effort. I could see that it was working because the water visible through the sight-glass on the sea water strainer was churning.

I put the belt back , tensioned it and started the engine. Runs like a champ.

Has anyone experienced something like this before or could share some opinion on this. I am planning to open up that pump and have a look. Would it be likely that the impeller is destroyed ?

Thanks.

Comments

  • GMSLITHOGMSLITHO ✭✭✭✭
    maybe a bearing in the pump 
  • reneechris14reneechris14 ✭✭✭✭✭
    X2 on the bearing maybe it got hot on the way to the fishing spot, shut off cooled down and kinda frooze up. On start up did not what to spin? Good news they do sell a rebuild kit,bearing and seal.
    2005 Rinker FV342  Pawcatuck river,Ct
  • LaReaLaRea mod
    edited May 2018
    Yeah, sounds like a bearing.  How hard was it to turn the pump by hand?
  • reneechris14reneechris14 ✭✭✭✭✭
    www.ebay.com/i/112492681033?chn=ps&ul_ref=https%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F1%252F711-117182-37290-0%252F2%253Fmpre%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ebay.com%25252Fi%25252F112492681033%25253Fchn%25253Dps%2526itemid%253D112492681033%2526targetid%253D399475535482%2526device%253Dm%2526adtype%253Dpla%2526googleloc%253D9003214%2526poi%253D%2526campaignid%253D1029894180%2526adgroupid%253D52284593482%2526rlsatarget%253Dpla-399475535482%2526abcId%253D1130056%2526merchantid%253D112238231%2526gclid%253DCjwKCAjw8_nXBRAiEiwAXWe2yR9bWybOmGEoQE2VZOW8iOMexBRyvlMOfUdqznHRgfUiIfbpw1h2jRoC8JMQAvD_BwE%2526srcrot%253D711-117182-37290-0%2526rvr_id%253D1534713387866%2526rvr_ts%253D730933c81630a883049268fdffeb4583
    2005 Rinker FV342  Pawcatuck river,Ct
  • While you have it open, be sure to check for wear on the inside of the pump body, where the ends of the impeller rotate against the metal.  When these pumps get too much wear, they won't pump enough water to cool the engine.  You can replace the bearings, but you can't do anything about a worn pump body.
  • pistolepistole ✭✭
    LaRea said:
    Yeah, sounds like a bearing.  How hard was it to turn the pump by hand?
    Hi. Wasn't very hard. The main resistance was at the start , after that it turned smoothly. 

    Am getting the rebuild kit.
  • GMSLITHOGMSLITHO ✭✭✭✭
    I did my pump this season and the pump kit is different from the one above like
     Larea mentioned my wear plate is not replaceable  
  • rasburyrasbury ✭✭✭✭✭
    There is a kit you can buy for100 bucks that you can put in the brass pump bodies. It has a shorter impeller and a top and bottom wear plate. Have one in mine and works fine. Better than 700 bucks for a pump that will soon wear again. We have a lot of sand to get into the pump around here!
  • Cableguy GregCableguy Greg ✭✭✭✭✭
    Same thing happened to a friend of mine with a 270. The impeller broke apart and jammed the pump. Chances are that is what happened to you.
    2008 280 Express Cruiser, 6.2MPI, B3, Pittsburgh, PA "Blue Ayes" (Sold)
    2022 Cherokee 294GEBG Black Label land yacht. 
    Go Steelers!!!
  • Black_DiamondBlack_Diamond ✭✭✭✭✭
    Hardin Marine for new water pump. 

    Past owner of a 2003 342FV
    PC BYC, Holland, MI
  • pistolepistole ✭✭
    edited May 2018
    Thanks guys , will open it up and take a look. It's either the impeller or the bearings
  • pistolepistole ✭✭
    edited May 2018
    Can't get that bolt off to release the raw water pump's bracket. Any ideas please?

    And the pump cannot come out as it is trapped by the pump pulley, the pump body and the bottom of the hull.

    Am almost out of ideas.

    Help
  • reneechris14reneechris14 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Try one of these. I have had good luck with them.
    2005 Rinker FV342  Pawcatuck river,Ct
  • Black_DiamondBlack_Diamond ✭✭✭✭✭
    Try. Very. Very carefully adding heat. 

    Past owner of a 2003 342FV
    PC BYC, Holland, MI
  • aero3113aero3113 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Aerokroil works well also

    Kano Aerokroil Penetrating Oil, 10 oz. aerosol (AEROKROIL) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000F09CEA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apu_i_UJvaBb9X20REF
    2008 330EC
  • GMSLITHOGMSLITHO ✭✭✭✭
    Reenechris 14 thanks for posting those bolt extractors they look good to have in the tool box I just bought a set of 5 on eBay used for 20 bucks free shipping ........
  • reneechris14reneechris14 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Must keep good pressure in to get a good bite.

    2005 Rinker FV342  Pawcatuck river,Ct
  • pistolepistole ✭✭
    Ok. Will try heat first. The local boat guy recommended hammering in a smaller socket or worse case scenario to weld on a bolt.

    Will look at the bolt extractor.

    Thanks
  • pistolepistole ✭✭
    Must keep good pressure in to get a good bite.

    There's almost no space to work (what's new ya) but will persevere
  • rasburyrasbury ✭✭✭✭✭
    I just used those bolt extractors...they worked great and used heat(maps, yellow bottle) and you cam put on an impact- may not be recommended on a camshaft however...
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Dana Point, California, USA ✭✭✭
    No kidding, that motor looks like it has been submerged in seawater for some time. Mine has been around salt water for its entire 12 years and has minimal rust, just some light surface corrosion, no pitting like that. Good luck with the bolt removal!

    Andy
  • Black_DiamondBlack_Diamond ✭✭✭✭✭
    MAP gas as rasbury mentioned. Make sure you have the compartment super ventilated before firing up the torch!

    Past owner of a 2003 342FV
    PC BYC, Holland, MI
  • pistolepistole ✭✭
    Would the flame be applied the bolt head or the surrounding area?
  • aero3113aero3113 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited May 2018
    Put the flame on the bolt head. You want the heat to get to the threads and break the corrosion when it expands and then contracts when it cools.
    2008 330EC
  • pistolepistole ✭✭
    Thank you guys. Lots of good practical suggestions. 

    Was a hard day yesterday.
  • pistolepistole ✭✭
    andyd said:
    No kidding, that motor looks like it has been submerged in seawater for some time. Mine has been around salt water for its entire 12 years and has minimal rust, just some light surface corrosion, no pitting like that. Good luck with the bolt removal!

    Andy
    Hi. It's quite common over here is South East Asia. Salt water combined with very high humidity contributes to our situation. I have been working slowly with small wire brushes and spraying lots of lubricant


  • GMSLITHOGMSLITHO ✭✭✭✭
    I just used this on my outdrive 
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