[Problem Child]

Is the limit really 500 hp on an aluminum impeller?

Berkeley JE pump A2 aluminum impeller?

Thanks

 

[IMPATIENT 1]

yes and no. it'll handle 600hp until you unload and reload it reallllllly hard, then kaboom ask me how i knowwwwwhand

 

[Blowncat 509]

ran an Agressor "A" (Berkley AA) @6400, at around 960hp since around 2002 with NO problems, but like IMPATIENT says, shock loads can really
tear up s--t! + maybe agr's TENZALLOY is stronger than billet unobtainium! maybe I was just lucky! have seen cut berkley imps. mysteriously rev 8500, with 2 1/2 blades ripped out though

 

[johnray069]

i agree with impatient 1 , have seen the stock impellors used and abused and survive beyound intention, have also seen them gernaded without warning when shocked. have never understood the logic of spending thousands on the boat and engine and then cheapen out on the impellor upgrade. personally never thought it was worth the chance.

 

[jetboatperformance]

450 hp on OEM and 500 on aftermarket, after that your a canidate for a Bronze or Stainless IMO Not going to tell you its not done just not recommended Tom

 

[SmokinLowriderSS]

i agree with impatient 1 , have seen the stock impellors used and abused and survive beyound intention, have also seen them gernaded without warning when shocked. have never understood the logic of spending thousands on the boat and engine and then cheapen out on the impellor upgrade. personally never thought it was worth the chance.

My last Aluminum was in perfect condition in 2005, spring. Had seen 16 years, but was perfect, undamaged, no cracking.
Fall of 2005, suddenly was cracking at the outer corners of the blades. I was already upping my power, and was planning to upgrade. I was only running about 450HP @ the time.


The reason as I was headed past 500HP, to 600+ on Nitrous, that I bought Aggressor Mag-Bronze.

I sleep nights without worrying over my impeller, opening my pump every weekend to dress away the slightest imperfection in the Aluminum one.

Someone here used to say it was no problem to run 900+HP on one, did it all the time, 'till his last one lasted all of 15 minuites or so................................
Name withheld.


People also fiorget about Aluminum's fatigue properties.

 

[Boat 405]

On a decent powered deal most aluminum impellers will be ok. probably less than 700 hp, BUT if you load and unload just once your boating trip will probably be over. Why risk it? I have a AA aluminum in my cruiser and it works great and had been working great for 5 years now with 500 hp.

Berkeley SS are good for around 750 or less in a river boat. I did a number on a Berkeley SS in my race boat, each of the blades began to tear, entry and exit side. This was due to unloading going down the track. In a river boat a Berk SS is fine.
The better SS impellers are made from 17-4 stainless I believe which withstands the shock loads, yet I'm sure that you can still break one with enough shock loading. I believe AMT, Aggressor, dominator, are made from 17-4.

I know of someone that put about 800hp to one in a race boat it gernaded just past the tree. But it had one hell of a holeshot

 

[lbhsbz]

yes and no. it'll handle 600hp until you unload and reload it reallllllly hard, then kaboom ask me how i knowwwwwhand

Thats about right...a bit over 600 hp, unloaded and reloaded once...pretty hard.

Everything broke, so I can't blame it on the impeller, but get bigger badder shit if you're making that kind of horsepower.

 

[Problem Child]

Thanks for the input and pics!

Looks like I will be buying a SS impeller.

Not worth the risk!!!!!!!!

 

[SmokinLowriderSS]

I know of someone that put about 800hp to one in a race boat it gernaded just past the tree. But it had one hell of a holeshot

DuaneHTP has a very nice picture (has posted it before), and I have seen the "artifact" personally at his shop.
Some guy, against Duane's advice, chepo'd an Aluminum in his blown-motor drag boat.

Part-way down the first pass, the impeller SAWED THE BOWL IN HALF RIGHT BEHIND THE MOUNTING BOLTS to the suction housing. The only thing that kept it off the bottom of the lake was the steering and reverse gate cables that didn't snap.

 

[SmokinLowriderSS]

Thanks for the input and pics!

Looks like I will be buying a SS impeller.

Not worth the risk!!!!!!!!

If you boat in deep water, go bronze and save 1/2 the cost, HP ability is equal according to Aggressor.

If you boat in shallows and plan to pump sand/gravel/crap a lot, yes, go Stainless.