Just a survey here, but how many of you replace the water pump on your relatively new four stroke outboards every two years? Being told I need to every two years but it’s expensive of course.
I don’t have a relatively new anything, but I try to change the pump in my old beater every year. I night shrimp, freecast, putter up kneedeep creeks, idle up onto mudflats, juice the boat onto the trailer at the landing, and occasionally encounter the bottom when it is least expected. I don’t want to deal with an overheating motor near midnight when I am a long run from the landing. Change the water pump impeller, the foot oil, and repack the wheel bearings. Good insurance!
spec
1980 Skandia 21 w/ '93 JohnRude 150 gas drinker
Spec summed it up quite well.
You can save a lot of money doing it yourself. Lots of info on You Tube. May need someone to help removing, then reinstalling the lower unit.
Time on the water is more enjoyable knowing everything is “Ship Shape”!
NN
Very easy to do. One tip is to clamp two pieces of wood to a table and let them hang off in a v shape. This will give you something to place the lower unit in to work on it. YouTube most any outboard for water pump replacement and you will see what I am talking about.
-Albemarle 248xf “Chella”
-Dolphin 18BC Pro
-HT Bugbuster
I want to replace mine too, videos are all pretty straight forward except removing the shift linkage under the carbs, looks like two nuts or bolts. It’s going to be hot-mess if I unbolt the wrong one and have to put it back.
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
190cc Sea Pro w/130 Johnson
1- 20 year old (boy of leisure)
1 - 17 year old (fishing maniac)
1 - wife (The Warden)
ECFC
Once a year for me on the water pump, gear lube, prop shaft lube, plugs, grease fittings… no matter if it needs it or not.
Which reminds me that I’m a month overdue [:I]
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
Forgot the thermostat.
spec
1980 Skandia 21 w/ '93 JohnRude 150 gas drinker
Just as important is to get those bolts moving annually. If you wait to long you will be extracting and re-tapping.
According to Yamaha it is every 100hrs.!!
But I change mine every other year !!
I also use anti-seize on my bolts just for the S & G’s 
!!
You cannot inspect the water pump without taking the foot off. Just one time running it a little dry can overheat that rubber. It may only damage it a little bit, but I am not taking the chance, learn to swap it yourself and buy an extra one, just my opinion. Pump is cheap compared to the damage you can do when it fails and you are not close to your port.
I just replaced the impeller and t-stat on a 90 2-stroke Yamaha for the first time with 1000+hrs on it, and everything looked really good. I have run the hell out of this jon boat, and begged for that motor to get me into and out of places it should never go, and it looked amazing all over. I know you said 4-stroke, but I just don’t have those kinds of hours on my 4-stroke yet to answer how often I will change.
But, parts to do all of that by myself was less than $65 and then $10 for foot oil.
2 years for water pump here. not too difficult.
i did the plugs, racors, LP fuel filters, oil, foot oil, water pumps, zincs, thermostats last spring (2 year maintenance).
total cost of parts was around 500 bucks for 2 x 150’s. i cannot imagine the bill being less than 2500 is i were to take it to a shop.
and anyhow, all this can be done in half a day as opposed to having your boat sit in line for 2+ weeks.
quote:
Originally posted by Half-hitchedI just replaced the impeller and t-stat on a 90 2-stroke Yamaha for the first time with 1000+hrs on it, and everything looked really good. I have run the hell out of this jon boat, and begged for that motor to get me into and out of places it should never go, and it looked amazing all over. I know you said 4-stroke, but I just don’t have those kinds of hours on my 4-stroke yet to answer how often I will change.
But, parts to do all of that by myself was less than $65 and then $10 for foot oil.
Jon boat with a 90. Dayum
“Enough hijacking, this is a major thread”