Westerbeke

[D Barnes]

Does anyone have a remedy for short sea water impeller life (fresh water)?
Good water flow when new impeller is installed but only get 60 - 100 hours of running time
Model #12.5BTDA
Year - 1999

[shrew]

100 hrs seems extremely short. What is the nature of the impellor failure? I run my generator roughly 400hrs a season. My intake got clogged with seaweed 7 times this summer and it's still shipping water just fine. I'll replace mine in the spring during spring commissioning.

are you in shallow water, or dirty silty water?

[D Barnes]

Originally Posted by shrew

100 hrs seems extremely short. What is the nature of the impellor failure? I run my generator roughly 400hrs a season. My intake got clogged with seaweed 7 times this summer and it's still shipping water just fine. I'll replace mine in the spring during spring commissioning.

are you in shallow water, or dirty silty water?

The impeller blades keep tearing off.
Never in shallow or dirty water, sea strainer clean.

[shrew]

Seatrainer wouldn't catch sand, which is why i was asking about shallow or dirty water.

What brand impellor are you using?

Are you pulling from a pile that has been sitting for a long period of time?

are you lubing the impellor prior to installation?

Is there a chance that you have an obstruction in the intake?

Blowing apart is typically a result of either age, heat, or lack of water.

[D Barnes]

Originally Posted by shrew

Seatrainer wouldn't catch sand, which is why i was asking about shallow or dirty water.

What brand impellor are you using?

Are you pulling from a pile that has been sitting for a long period of time?

are you lubing the impellor prior to installation?

Is there a chance that you have an obstruction in the intake?

Blowing apart is typically a result of either age, heat, or lack of water.

We never anchor in less than 15' and all of our boating is in the Great Lakes (clean water)

The impeller I am using is marketed by Westerbeke part #34440 but manufactured by Johnson.

Our marina says that it is a very common impeller so I don't think the stock is old.

I always lubricate when installing.

I don't believe there is an intake obstruction because the water flow is normal when a new impeller is installed.

When the impeller fails the blades break off right at the hub.

[Phillbo]

What does the housing look like? Any wear ?

[shrew]

Originally Posted by Phillbo

What does the housing look like? Any wear ?

That would be my next step too. My guess is the the wear plate or inside of the housing itself can get scored.

[D Barnes]

Originally Posted by shrew

That would be my next step too. My guess is the the wear plate or inside of the housing itself can get scored.

The housing and wear plate are good.
I noticed in the Westerbeke parts list that the pump I have was superceded in 2004 but don't know why.