Is changing the impeller on the lower unit a pain? Mine needs to be changed this spring and I am probably going to do it myself.
Not to bad if you know what you're doing and it really helps to have someone to help with holding and lining up the lower unit.
Kris - I might be able to help ... I think I need to redo mine too.
It's not that bad
The first time I did mine, I dropped the lower unit and had a shop do the seals along with the impeller
But they put the wrong impeller in there
So I ended up pulling and then putting it back on 5 or 6 times till I figured out the impeller was wrong
And then 6 months later the seals went
They also installed the seals wrong
Lesson learned
The first marnia quoted 800 to do the seals and impeller
But they needed 2 months to look at it on the 4th of July
The place I took it too. I dropped the unit and they did the seals and impeller charged 380
did it in one day but screwed it up
A impeller is 20-30 bucks, seals were 12 bucks
Learn to do it yourself, It takes 2-3 hours and you'll know it's done right
Not really, though aligning the shift cable and speedo tube can be a pain on your own so it's nice to have a second pair of hands when you put the gearcase back on. Make sure to pick up all of your seals, some gasket sealant, and have something set up nearby that you can sit the unit upright to work on it. I have a 35 y.o. Craftsman workmate that I drop the skeg down through and cinch it up tight while I work.
never done it till last summer and found it was not bad as it sounds if you take your time and do a little research before you start. I check out a few u-tube videos while doing my research and after watching it a few times it went fine. I used a bucket a few boards to keep it upright while lining it up, nice thing was as I hook thing up I just added a thin board under the bucket to raise it bit by bit.
One thing a friend told me was as you take it apart take a few photos it help when putting it back together.
Pretty much what I've always heard though haven't experienced firsthand. Been a while since I've had a lower unit off. The lining up is the tricky part - I remember having to reseat it a couple times to get the shift on an older outboard to work right (I don't do crossword puzzles well either). If you find someone to 'supervise' who has done it recently while you do it the first time, that is probably ideal.
I always like to see all of you helping each other out! Thanks!
if your in oakland county ill help. i do it a lot
Thanks Frank, but I'm on the west side.
It was easily getting clogged up most of the season and then it just didnt have that solid stream like I think it should. I am going to have to do some research over the winter. But I'm pretty sure a new impeller would fix this. I also need to replace my ranger livewell impeller/switch. The one that goes from rec/auto/empty. So I am just guessing the age is setting in.
Keep me in mind Genie, I'll be around!
I even have a nice big shop now to work on boats ... :)
The Genie Shop!?!
The livewell valves and/or pumps might have fishing line in them so check the ones that are there for cracked bases and/or line/pieces of soft plastic lures/etc. in them first. Sometimes fish scales get in them too.