Hardin Marine stainless steel replacement for Merc seawater pump

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  • Dream_InnDream_Inn Member, Moderator Posts: 7,924 mod
    aero3113 said:
    LaRea said:
    Somebody needs to figure out a way for owners to pull and replace the pulley on these pumps.  The bearings are lasting only a couple hundred hours at most, and then you have to remove the pulley and rebuild the bearings.  I have yet to find an adequate tool for it. 

    @Alswagg what do you use for servicing Hardin pumps? 
    Now this is where I’m stuck on the decision. Isn’t the OEM pump lasting much longer than this?
    I only got 4 seasons out of my last one that I just replaced.  It was leaking at the pulley shaft.

    Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express

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  • aero3113aero3113 Member Posts: 9,774 ✭✭✭✭✭
    @Dream_Inn , was that an OEM one or Hardin?
    2008 330EC
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  • Cableguy GregCableguy Greg Member Posts: 5,077 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I bought one without a pulley a few years ago because they weren't offering it with the pulley at that time. The thing is still sitting on my boat uninstalled. Grr...
    2008 280 Express Cruiser, 6.2MPI, B3, Pittsburgh, PA "Blue Ayes" (Sold)
    2022 Cherokee 294GEBG Black Label land yacht. 
    Go Steelers!!!
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  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 8,066 mod
    edited December 2019
    @aero3113 yes, that's the question.  
    The Hardin pump body will outlast the OEM because the Hardin has replaceable wear plates.  When Hardin's pump first came out, it seemed like a slam-dunk win.  
    Since then, a decade of fleet experience has shown that the Hardin pump requires a bearing rebuild every few seasons (call it 200 hours, YMMV).  As soon as you get water dripping from the pulley shaft, it means the bearing seal has failed.  The bearing rebuild kit costs ... wait for it ... $96, and it's a real pain to install.
    I still prefer the Hardin.  If I accidentally feed it a bunch of sand that chews up the wear plate, it's a 1-hour fix using parts I keep on the boat.  But you have to factor in the cost of bearing service as a planned cost. 
    To be honest, with the amount of long-distance cruising I do, I should probably carry a spare pump anyway.  
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  • Dream_InnDream_Inn Member, Moderator Posts: 7,924 mod
    aero3113 said:
    @Dream_Inn , was that an OEM one or Hardin?
    That was and OEM one.  I replaced it this past spring with a Hardin with pulley installed.  I installed the stbd Hardin (w/o pulley) in 2017, so it has last 3 seasons so far.  Now I'm concerned to what @LaRea mentioned.  LaRea, did it just start making squealing noises?

    Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express

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  • aero3113aero3113 Member Posts: 9,774 ✭✭✭✭✭
    So you guys would say that the bearings last longer on the Hardin pumps?
    2008 330EC
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  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 8,066 mod
    @Dream_Inn - your pump probably has a terminal case of bearing cancer. 

    In Stage 1, the symptom is a drip from the pulley shaft, indicating the inner seal has failed and sea water is getting into the bearings.  Stage 2 is a water stain under the pump (well, not for your lift-stored boat).  Stage 3 is a squeal, which means the bearings have started to corrode from water intrusion.  At that point, you have to rebuild the bearings ASAP, or risk damaging the innards.  

    @aero3113 - I don't recall bearing failures on the OEMs, but that's probably because I wore out the pump bodies before the bearing seals had a chance to fail.  
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  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 8,066 mod
    @Dream_Inn did you keep the pump you replaced?  If yes, rebuild it and keep it aboard as a spare.  
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  • reneechris14reneechris14 Member Posts: 3,134 ✭✭✭✭✭
    this is the kit he speaks of. When I changed the one on my 270 it was due to damage to the body of the pump. Scoring to deep to make pressure original pump 800hours. The two I changed last year where due to leaky seal on the pulley shaft 350 hours oem pumps. I did buy the 2 of them with no pulleys used the cheap harbor freight tool with a hose clamp so it did not break the tool or the pulley. Sand blasted the pulleys and breakets.Had to hone the pulley to get the right ID to put it back on. 
    2005 Rinker FV342  Pawcatuck river,Ct
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  • reneechris14reneechris14 Member Posts: 3,134 ✭✭✭✭✭

    2005 Rinker FV342  Pawcatuck river,Ct
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  • Black_DiamondBlack_Diamond Member Posts: 5,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 2019
    Hardin no longer sells the pumps less pulley to the public. I’m sure they had people damaging bearings. 

    Definitely the way to go when replacing the pump IMO. 

    Past owner of a 2003 342FV
    PC BYC, Holland, MI
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  • IanIan Member Posts: 3,062 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 2019
    When I did my power steering pump, same thing - HF puller was useless. Went to Autozone and made use of their tool rental and it was done before I knew it. Some of their stuff is okay but some not.

    Regards,

    Ian

    The Third “B”

    Ravena Coeymans Yacht Club

    https://www.rcyachtclub.com/

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  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 8,066 mod
    Thanks Al, order placed.  I've been through at least five pullers with no luck whatsoever.  
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  • aero3113aero3113 Member Posts: 9,774 ✭✭✭✭✭
    @Alswagg , would you say the Hardin pump is far superior to OEM and the way to go if you need to replace your pump?
    2008 330EC
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  • goalie59goalie59 Member Posts: 356 ✭✭✭
    I have had good success with Aftermarket Marine, I have used there rebuilt kits for a while. No need to replace the pump just install their wear plates, they even have a rebuild kit for the shaft seals and bearings . I have saved a lot over the years. 
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  • Dream_InnDream_Inn Member, Moderator Posts: 7,924 mod
    LaRea said:
    @Dream_Inn did you keep the pump you replaced?  If yes, rebuild it and keep it aboard as a spare.  
    Yes, I've kept it but not sure that I'd want to put it back on in place of the Hardin pump.  yes, it would work well as a backup.

    Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express

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  • aero3113aero3113 Member Posts: 9,774 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Anyone have experience with these run dry impellers?

    https://www.michiganmotorz.com/mercruiser-impeller-model-2001-p-11074.html?gclid=CjwKCAiA27LvBRB0EiwAPc8XWUzi0JiskzPMt90xdB03Ggj7B4AFcOQ9-NSwGrz86p8SmDssS9Zy9RoCJb4QAvD_BwE
    2008 330EC
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  • reneechris14reneechris14 Member Posts: 3,134 ✭✭✭✭✭
    That would fit in the hardin pump but not the OEM.  OEM has 2 flat spots. 
    2005 Rinker FV342  Pawcatuck river,Ct
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  • Dream_InnDream_Inn Member, Moderator Posts: 7,924 mod
    Very interesting aero!  I'm not sure it's worth double the price though, especially if you replace them every other year. But I have seen some people (on lifts particularly) that have issues with priming that maybe this would help.

    Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express

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  • aero3113aero3113 Member Posts: 9,774 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Its possible this impeller doesn't have to be changed every other year, it might be worth the extra money if that's the case. It looks/sounds like this material is softer and doesn't get brittle and wear like the originals. I think when I get the harden pumps Ill run them for 2 seasons then replace with these. The south shore of long Island is all sand.
    2008 330EC
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  • aero3113aero3113 Member Posts: 9,774 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Defender has them for $49.99. They also make them for the OEM pump.

    https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1%7C51%7C2234245%7C2234249&id=1041144
    2008 330EC
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  • aero3113aero3113 Member Posts: 9,774 ✭✭✭✭✭
    $72.99 for the OEM pump

    https://search.defender.com/?expression=2002+impeller
    2008 330EC
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  • aero3113aero3113 Member Posts: 9,774 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Probably have one for the generator also.
    2008 330EC
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  • skuter99skuter99 Member Posts: 174 ✭✭

    Regarding replacement time for impeller, I have mag 350mpi with hardin ss pump.

    first season June till October, second season May till October, should I be looking at impeller replacement this year, or am I good for one more season?


    Thanks

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  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 8,066 mod
    A common "best practice" is to replace after 2-3 seasons, even if there are no symptoms.  
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  • Glassguy54Glassguy54 Member Posts: 588 ✭✭✭
    A good friend of ours had a Formula 280 Sun Sport with twin 350 Mercruisers and he told me he never had the impellers replaced. I was kind of taken aback, because where he kept it (local reservoir) was shallow, muddy & sandy. Go figure.
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  • Black_DiamondBlack_Diamond Member Posts: 5,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I never go more than 3 seasons. Personally every 2 seasons, just not worth the hassle and always bad timing if the impeller fails. 

    Past owner of a 2003 342FV
    PC BYC, Holland, MI
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  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 8,066 mod
    Replacing impellers ... another method of manufacturing good luck.  
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  • skuter99skuter99 Member Posts: 174 ✭✭
    Thanks
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  • earl1z19earl1z19 Member Posts: 380 ✭✭✭
    I think the Merc recommendation is 150 hours so in most cases its 3 years. I know the pump is Hardin but the impeller is Merc so I would go with that time frame.
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