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2018 Yamaha 242SE impeller jammed

Rv6kitfox

Member
Messages
8
Reaction score
2
Points
22
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2018
Boat Model
242 Limited S E-Series
Boat Length
24
Went to start my boat after sitting all winter. Everything was perfect when winterized last November.
Right engine started right up.
Left engine made a grinding sound when the engine started to crank then it stopped cranking. Hit the start button again and nothing.
Looked in the engine bay and the starter relay is clicking when the start button is pressed but it appears that the ‘fuse’ in the relay is blown.
I carefully jumpered the relay with insulated pliers and the starter will ‘try’ to turn the engine over but it’s as if something is locked up.
I looked into both sides of the impeller and there are no obstructions.
Any thoughts on what this could be?
Rick in Virginia
 
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Check impeller to make sure it's not getting jammed in a swollen wear ring.
Pull plugs and see if it'll turn over without compression.
 
Check impeller to make sure it's not getting jammed in a swollen wear ring.
Pull plugs and see if it'll turn over without compression.
After I posted this I tried to turn the engine over by putting a pipe wrench on the shaft inside the clean out plug and it didn’t budge.
So I removed the housing and saw that the impeller was jammed and scraping the inside of the wear ring.
So for a short term fix can I carefully file down and dress the impeller blades till it rotates inside the wear ring or do I need a whole new assembly?
 
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After I posted this I tried to turn the engine over by putting a pipe wrench on the shaft inside the clean out plug and it didn’t budge.
So I removed the housing and saw that the impeller was jammed and scraping the inside of the wear ring.
So for a short term fix can I carefully file down and dress the impeller blades till it rotates inside the wear ring or do I need a whole new assembly?
If the impeller is in good shape you will just need the impeller housing. Easy fix
 
Thanks for the reply.
The boat ran great when parked last November. It appears that over the winter the wear ring swelled up enough that when I initially pressed the start button the engine turned over and scraped the blades against the wear ring until it was jammed tight. So, the wear ring actually ‘looks’ fine but the outside edges of the impeller blades are scraped down so they are now flat instead of tapered to a fine edge.
Would be real easy to just lightly file and dress the blades to fit the ‘now swollen’ wear ring.
If I just buy a new wear ring I feel that my impeller would have a much greater tolerance that it is supposed to have.
 

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Thanks for the reply.
The boat ran great when parked last November. It appears that over the winter the wear ring swelled up enough that when I initially pressed the start button the engine turned over and scraped the blades against the wear ring until it was jammed tight. So, the wear ring actually ‘looks’ fine but the outside edges of the impeller blades are scraped down so they are now flat instead of tapered to a fine edge.
Would be real easy to just lightly file and dress the blades to fit the ‘now swollen’ wear ring.
If I just buy a new wear ring I feel that my impeller would have a much greater tolerance that it is supposed to have.
Your liner swelled up causing the problem. Ideally you need both but i have seen impellers be fine with just a liner replacement. If you just file the impeller to clear the housing, the liner will still continue to swell freezing up again. End result will still be a housing and impeller. And your other engine will be close behind.

The liner didn't just swell up evenly, it will have high and low spots.
 
 
Your liner swelled up causing the problem. Ideally you need both but i have seen impellers be fine with just a liner replacement. If you just file the impeller to clear the housing, the liner will still continue to swell freezing up again. End result will still be a housing and impeller. And your other engine will be close behind.

The liner didn't just swell up evenly, it will have high and low spots.
Where is the best place to get replacement wear ring and impeller parts?
 
I just replaced mine on the port side and ran the boat for the first time with it on Mother's day, no issues at all with performance and the repair took no time at all. I had replaced the starboard several years ago and both of them have nylon liners so A... there is no dissimilar metal corrosion to deal with and B... if there was any swelling to occur the impeller will just shave the liner down.


SBT Impeller Housing Installation (Pic Heavy)
 
These wear rings were made much better years ago you could get 10+ years. What ever they changed in salt water conditions expect to get 4 to 5 years
 
I just replaced mine on the port side and ran the boat for the first time with it on Mother's day, no issues at all with performance and the repair took no time at all. I had replaced the starboard several years ago and both of them have nylon liners so A... there is no dissimilar metal corrosion to deal with and B... if there was any swelling to occur the impeller will just shave the liner down.


SBT Impeller Housing Installation (Pic Heavy)
I have read some bad reviews on those cheap ones, liners shattering and poor fitment. I ordered one for a customers waverunner and returned it and got an oem one because the liner spins free when bolted in and the liner was very cheap plastic. Jeff at @Cobra Jet Steering LLC uses some other brand but not sure what one, he never answered me when i asked him(think he has me blocked lol)
 
Where is the best place to get replacement wear ring and impeller parts?
You have numerous choices with pricing being close. First I’d check your dealer, then you might try Impros or Leading Edge impellers.

If you file your impeller down it will then have too much of a gap when you replace the liner, if it was fine when you put the boat away and all you did was try to start the motor and it wouldn’t move then I doubt you ground anything off of the impeller. You should check the gap carefully on the other side as well as both may need replacing.

I’m assuming you boat in salt water?

The edges of the impeller blades are flat, so what you see is normal.
 
Interesting thread, Jeff. So your thought is, is it's not the swelling of the wear ring that's actually compressing it, but the paint finish on the housing underneath the wear ring? Am I reading that right?
 
Thanks for the reply.
The boat ran great when parked last November. It appears that over the winter the wear ring swelled up enough that when I initially pressed the start button the engine turned over and scraped the blades against the wear ring until it was jammed tight. So, the wear ring actually ‘looks’ fine but the outside edges of the impeller blades are scraped down so they are now flat instead of tapered to a fine edge.
Would be real easy to just lightly file and dress the blades to fit the ‘now swollen’ wear ring.
If I just buy a new wear ring I feel that my impeller would have a much greater tolerance that it is supposed to have.
I would NOT file or touch your impeller. I would go to Leading Edge and buy new ones. They're not cheap, but you'll be back in business in no time.
 
After talking with Jeff from Cobra Jet Steering I purchased a pair of these wear ring housings with delrin inserts from SBT (see link below). They were great to deal with and even gave me a 10% military discount, and free 2 day FedEx shipping.
Also at his recommendation I’ll lightly dress the minor burrs on my impellers and check the fit with the new wear rings. I can always purchase new impellers but thought it best to check the fit first.
Thanks for all the great replies….i learned a lot :-)!!
 
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