Thread:

Need Help With 496 HO

Replace the impeller at the beginning of every season!!

Do it yourself. Spend the $30 on a new impeller (always good to buy a second for backup), learn how to swap it out. Invaluable knowledge. It is not difficult if you have the room to work.

Originally Posted by KahunaJuice

Would that $200.00 be including installation?

If you have the one with a plastic housing your better off paying someone else to do it or make darn sure you get it lined up before you tighten the bolts.

Originally Posted by GoJoe

Do it yourself. Spend the $30 on a new impeller (always good to buy a second for backup), learn how to swap it out. Invaluable knowledge. It is not difficult if you have the room to work.

Not talking crap, but if he didn't know where the sea pump is, he might not quite be up to the task of changing it himself.

For a first timer, I would AT LEAST suggest having a friend who has done it before walk him through it. This is nothing to be questionable about.

Or, do like I did and get a new complete pump. Then, you have one rebuilt at all times and you just have to change it back and forth. Plus, you can carry it in the boat as a back-up.

This should help you....
(scroll through the pics)

Opps Nevermind. The link I posted contians the trojan virus.. or at least that what my pc said. Id rather be safe than sorry. Do some research on the net, or have a buddy help you like beer30 suggested.

Originally Posted by partycattin

Doesn't the 496 have the pump with the brass face plate that gets scored from sand running through it?
Something to check for when you pull it apart.

I was just going to mention that too... and depending on what year that motor is will also make a difference on how difficult it may be to change...

Originally Posted by KahunaJuice

Thanks for the info, your point is very well taken. I don't think it should be a problem for me.

the first time the impeller shredded on my 496 happened after a long pull to Powell when putting the boat in at Wahweap. Did not get much furthur than that. Took it too two different shops in Page - the first one wanted $90 per hour labor (no thanks), the second place said "no problem". This is where it got ridiculous. 'Vern', the mechanic, climbs into my engine bay and asks me if the power steering pump is the raw water pump. "Uh, no" says I, "that's the power steering pump, there's the water pump on the left". Well, Vern scratches his head and says, and I'm not kidding, "I've never seen a motor like this before." It was at that time I got Vern out of my boat. Then the chief mechanic comes over to give his two cents - "the engineers just weren't thinking when they designed this engine - you got to pull the engine to get to the water pump". I could plainly see how accesible the water pump was. Enough of that - I pulled back home the same day (21 hours after I left home), went and bought an impeller and changed it out myself. I did not have to worry about someone else working on my boat, as my confidence in mechanics working on my machines is not the highest.

Originally Posted by partycattin

Doesn't the 496 have the pump with the brass face plate that gets scored from sand running through it?
Something to check for when you pull it apart.

Correct - the brass housing cannot be machined, so if scored the impeller cannnot seal to pressurize. This may happen if the impeller shreds excessively as well.

I would just keep running it..The new motor you buy will have a new impeller anyways!

Hope this helps.