496 HO Impeller Question

[HPBoats83]

I'm curious about what most people are doing for their impellers and housings on their engines, are you guys keeping it stock, upgrading to a Hardin kit or somewhere in between? I'm still trying to get my new to me boat sorted out and am planning a trip back to Havasu this next weekend to change it in the hotel parking lot before labor day. Talking to the previous owner he had an aftermarket setup in there that I think I'm going to throw a hail mary at and see if it works and if it doesn't I'll run down to a local shop and see if they have a stock unit in stock and go that route.

Here's what's in there now (i think):

DISCOUNT IMPELLERS , WATER PUMP OUTDRIVE MERCRUISER, O.M.C. WATER PUMP, STERNDRIVE IMPELLER MERCRUISER, WATER PUMP WITH TOP SPECIAL, MARINE MERCRUISER RAW WATER PUMP, FRESH WATER COOLING SUCTION PUMP IMPELLER KIT , MARINE DISCOUNT O.M.C., IMPEL

Boat I bought this May:
View attachment 914402
View attachment 914403 View attachment 914405

 

[4Waters]

@namba860 to the white courtesy phone please

 

[Shlbyntro]

keep it stock. Merc is now offering an end cap with a stainless insert as an oem replacement. There's no need to spend the hundreds of dollars for the "upgraded" pump anymore unless you just want something pretty to look at

 

[Mcob25rg]

I’m sure you’ll get lots of opinions. My experience - I’ve had 2 2003 versions, and 2 2004 496 HO’s. I change the impeller every spring, with the factory setup. Those 4 motors represent over 1,000 hours of run time. I’ve never had 1 problem, malfunction, or break down because of a bad impeller. Many have said I OVER SERVICE, but the actual little time I get to boat is too pricey for me to go cheap on the impeller. If you do push one to the limit, and pieces break off, they can go places you’ll never be able to get to w/o a complete tear down, and these motors are SUPER finicky to temp - there’s 23 DIFFERENT sensors on it that can ALL trigger an alarm/limp mode/ shut down. The factory one is fine if serviced properly - read annually in the spring, NOT fall winterizing. OK, next opinion!!

 

[guest hs]

When the face plate gets worn out or has grooves in it, I put a repair kit in the pump that uses stainless steel plates and gaskets. I stick with the original Mercruiser pump.

 

[GRADS]

Stock, replace it every year, done.

 

[HBCraig]

I’m sure you’ll get lots of opinions. My experience - I’ve had 2 2003 versions, and 2 2004 496 HO’s. I change the impeller every spring, with the factory setup. Those 4 motors represent over 1,000 hours of run time. I’ve never had 1 problem, malfunction, or break down because of a bad impeller. Many have said I OVER SERVICE, but the actual little time I get to boat is too pricey for me to go cheap on the impeller. If you do push one to the limit, and pieces break off, they can go places you’ll never be able to get to w/o a complete tear down, and these motors are SUPER finicky to temp - there’s 23 DIFFERENT sensors on it that can ALL trigger an alarm/limp mode/ shut down. The factory one is fine if serviced properly - read annually in the spring, NOT fall winterizing. OK, next opinion!!

I have mine the same as well. 2004 with just about 425 hours. I change it yearly too

 

[AJ13]

I put the Hardin on mine this year. Keeps the temp lower. Glad I went with the Hardin pump

 

[HPBoats83]

I'm good with going the stock route, I'll just have to track one down in Havasu. I'm not sure if the "aftermarket/upgraded crap that's in there now is going to make me buy the whole new kit for like $350 or if I can just ditch their wear plate and return it back to stock. The faster I can get it done the better as I will be doing it in the hotel parking lot Saturday morning.

 

[HPBoats83]

I put the Hardin on mine this year. Keeps the temp lower. Glad I went with the Hardin pump

Looks like those are back ordered until November.

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

Same..... 2006 496HO w/ 500 hrs and simple Mercruiser annual service instructs to change.... never an issue.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

The brass on the OEM pump does wear over time, so I’d run the Hardin, or put the stainless wear plates in the stock one.

I did the Hardin last year. I’m happy with it and will change the impeller next spring.

 

[HPBoats83]

I’m sure you’ll get lots of opinions. My experience - I’ve had 2 2003 versions, and 2 2004 496 HO’s. I change the impeller every spring, with the factory setup. Those 4 motors represent over 1,000 hours of run time. I’ve never had 1 problem, malfunction, or break down because of a bad impeller. Many have said I OVER SERVICE, but the actual little time I get to boat is too pricey for me to go cheap on the impeller. If you do push one to the limit, and pieces break off, they can go places you’ll never be able to get to w/o a complete tear down, and these motors are SUPER finicky to temp - there’s 23 DIFFERENT sensors on it that can ALL trigger an alarm/limp mode/ shut down. The factory one is fine if serviced properly - read annually in the spring, NOT fall winterizing. OK, next opinion!!

When you guys do the annual service, are you just doing the impeller or the impeller and brass housing?


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[AJ13]

Looks like those are back ordered until November.

That sucks.

 

[mjc]

When you guys do the annual service, are you just doing the impeller or the impeller and brass housing?


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If only the back plate is worn do the stainless steel plate and new impeller

 

[HPBoats83]

If only the back plate is worn do the stainless steel plate and new impeller

I won’t know until I take the one currently on my boat apart on Saturday.


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[dribble]

Put the Hardin on mine 10 seasons ago. It puts the factory one to shame.

 

[Wizard29]

I have twin 496HOs and upgraded them both to the Hardin stainless pumps. I highly recommend them if you’ve got the money.

Not only will they never wear out and cause you to use wear plate kits, they use the more standard Mercruiser impeller as opposed to the one that is specific to the 496. If you have an impeller go out and need a replacement right away, it is more likely a shop will have the more widely used Mercruiser impeller in stock.

 

[farmo83]

Dad put the Hardin pump on his. The stock one was grooved and he doesn't like to change things more then once. Also as Shlbyntro mentioned he likes to look at shiny $hit on his motor.

 

[Shlbyntro]

Not only will they never wear out and cause you to use wear plate kits, they use the more standard Mercruiser impeller as opposed to the one that is specific to the 496. If you have an impeller go out and need a replacement right away, it is more likely a shop will have the more widely used Mercruiser impeller in stock.

This statement baffles me every time I hear it. This may have been true back in 2003, but the current Bravo impeller has been around for 20 years now. Every boat shop that works on inboards stocks them. Mine sells them 3:1 over the older style.

The Hardin pumps are great pumps. Imo, not worth the money anymore tho. (and when somebody forgets to inform their mobile mechanic that their boat is equipped with one..... smh lol)

 

[CobraDave]

I have the brass pump with stock wear plates on both ends. $70 kit for impeller and two plates. They get changed every year.

If the pump housing went bad for some reason I’d think I would know it ahead of time. Otherwise, just the kit.


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[Wizard29]

This statement baffles me every time I hear it. This may have been true back in 2003, but the current Bravo impeller has been around for 20 years now. Every boat shop that works on inboards stocks them. Mine sells them 3:1 over the older style.

The Hardin pumps are great pumps. Imo, not worth the money anymore tho. (and when somebody forgets to inform their mobile mechanic that their boat is equipped with one..... smh lol)

Isn’t it correct that the 496 uses a different impeller than other Mercruiser engines? For a consumable part, I’d rather use the part that is more common to the majority of what else is out there rather than a part that is specific to one engine only. Seems to make sense that the more frequently used part would be the easiest to get in a pinch.

If one wants to trust that shops are consistently stocking both types, then that’s an option. But I’d sure hate to be searching for one on a Sunday morning trying to save a river trip and be told the 496-specific unit wouldn’t be available until Monday while the more standard units are sitting right there on the shelf.

 

[CobraDave]

Isn’t it correct that the 496 uses a different impeller than other Mercruiser engines? For a consumable part, I’d rather use the part that is more common to the majority of what else is out there rather than a part that is specific to one engine only. Seems to make sense that the more frequently used part would be the easiest to get in a pinch.

If one wants to trust that shops are consistently stocking both types, then that’s an option. But I’d sure hate to be searching for one on a Sunday morning trying to save a river trip and be told the 496-specific unit wouldn’t be available until Monday while the more standard units are sitting right there on the shelf.

He is suggesting now that the 496 is so common, everyone stocks those impellers. It’s not an issue as it once was. I would think they probably do 10 of those a week, at least.


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[Shlbyntro]

Isn’t it correct that the 496 uses a different impeller than other Mercruiser engines? For a consumable part, I’d rather use the part that is more common to the majority of what else is out there rather than a part that is specific to one engine only. Seems to make sense that the more frequently used part would be the easiest to get in a pinch.

If one wants to trust that shops are consistently stocking both types, then that’s an option. But I’d sure hate to be searching for one on a Sunday morning trying to save a river trip and be told the 496-specific unit wouldn’t be available until Monday while the more standard units are sitting right there on the shelf.

Every standard production sterndrive and inboard motor from mercruiser with the exception of Alphas and some blue motors has used the newer style impeller for at least the last 15years

 

[QC22]

I got my first 496 three years ago. I bought the Hardin last year with the plan to rebuild the stock one as a swap out unit. I went to install the Hardin myself, and had to take it to a shop. How in the flyin' flip does anybody change that f'ng thing with the Cool Fuel 3? I can change a blue motor impeller in the water with the pump in place, but these things are the worst yet. I'm a small guy and I can't get my hands in the right place to get the hoses off etc. I'm sure there's a trick that I missed, but holy fook!

And.... why not use the the PCM and Volvo, Jabsco style front mount pumps? Soooooooo easy! Rant off.

 

[04-24Stealth]

Changing the impeller on my 496 ho. Pump/motor has 150 hrs on it. Is this level of wear something to be concerned about? If it’s bad anyone have the link for the stainless plates to fix the issue?

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[guest hs]

Changing the impeller on my 496 ho. Pump/motor has 150 hrs on it. Is this level of wear something to be concerned about? If it’s bad anyone have the link for the stainless plates to fix the issue? View attachment 915891
View attachment 915892


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If you put a new impeller in that it won’t suck water up at idle. Put a plate kit in it. JC Marine in Havasu makes and sells them

 

[dribble]

Changing the impeller on my 496 ho. Pump/motor has 150 hrs on it. Is this level of wear something to be concerned about? If it’s bad anyone have the link for the stainless plates to fix the issue? View attachment 915891
View attachment 915892

Yes. Mine looked like that and it wouldn’t pickup water with the earmuffs. I finally put the outdrive in a tank and it did but set off the water pressure alarm the first two times out. The impeller finally wore into the groove and it worked ok. Next time it got the Hardin pump housing and I've been running that since. That was ten years ago.


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[04-24Stealth]

Thanks for confirming my suspicions. I’ll be calling those guys today. See if they can ship one to San Diego for me.


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[Steve-o]

I got my first 496 three years ago. I bought the Hardin last year with the plan to rebuild the stock one as a swap out unit. I went to install the Hardin myself, and had to take it to a shop. How in the flyin' flip does anybody change that f'ng thing with the Cool Fuel 3? I can change a blue motor impeller in the water with the pump in place, but these things are the worst yet. I'm a small guy and I can't get my hands in the right place to get the hoses off etc. I'm sure there's a trick that I missed, but holy fook!

And.... why not use the the PCM and Volvo, Jabsco style front mount pumps? Soooooooo easy! Rant off.

the trick for me is to set the clamps where they’re easiest to access then you loosen the clamps on the next change and pull the pump from the hoses. Don’t try pulling the hoses off the pump.

 

[Mcob25rg]

If you take the serpinetine belt off, and the twin pully on the left, the pump will be completely exposed for R & R. What Namba860 said for SURE!!!!

 

[HPBoats83]

Dealt with this headache today, looks like you have to take off the water pump bracket and the idler pulley bracket. Should shoot these engineers

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[Shlbyntro]

Oh, you haven't had the pleasure of doing an impeller on one of the new merc built 8.2 cat motors. You'll be dreaming of these days

 

[Rotten deal]

Stop crying untill you try and change one in a playcraft pontoon. Take half the boat apart and still can barely get the job done . I don’t think changing plugs is possible with out pulling engine.

 

[LuauLounge]

Change them every year. First time 2 hrs to get it off, 1 hr to rebuild and install.
Second year, 45 minutes to remove and 45 minutes to rebuild and install.
If you skip a year, it’s 3 hours all over again.