Impellers

[tomsboat]

How often do you replace your generator and engine impellers and when do you replace them summer or winter service in the north east. Tom

 

[MurrayM]

After the recommended hours in our engines service manual.

 

[DavidM]

If you do an annual replacement then the spring is probably the best time as you start the season with fresh ones.


I don't replace mine every year. I look at them every year or so and replace maybe every five years.


David

 

[Comodave]

I replace mine every 2 years since they sit over the winter here. I use a tool from impellertool.com. Really helps to make the change easy.

 

[Lepke]

I remove and inspect mine once or twice a year. When reinstalling I grease the housing, shaft and end plate with water proof grease (per old manuals). At 5 years I replace them and keep as emergency spares.
The grease really helps drawing water on the first start and keeps from burning the impeller in a dry housing. When I worked in yards and owned a yard, I noticed others impellers were often ok in the middle, but the ends were cracked and hard. I assumed it was from running dry. It's how my dad (Chief Engineer) taught me. I only found the passage in an old manual a few years ago. All old geezers I know grease their impeller housing.

Works on current pair of Detroits, Onan and Perkins generators and every engine I've owned or maintained.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

I replace mine every 2 years since they sit over the winter here. I use a tool from impellertool.com. Really helps to make the change easy.

Nice, but they don't list the price....that means big $$$$

 

[Larry M]

We change them annually on my schedule. With one engine I try to reduce the failure points. Our Northern Lights generator and FL SP135 use the same impeller which makes stocking spares easier.

 

[Comodave]

Nice, but they don't list the price....that means big $$$$

I don’t remember exactly what it cost but I think it was around $40 to 50. It makes changing my starboard impeller possible so no matter what the cost was it was worth it...

 

[O C Diver]

Imo, a lot also depends on hours. Put 1,200+ hours on the engine in 2017. Normally change the engine impeller annually. When I pulled it in 2018, half or more of blades had broken off. With my normal 400 to 500 hours, the blades are still intact after a year. I'm of the opinion that they don't go from good to broken off in a short period of time. So instead of trying to figure how fatigued the rubber in the blades is, I just replace it annually (under $30).

My generator impeller seems to have a much shorter life. So I replace it annually or when I see impeller bits in my after pump strainer.





Ted