D4-300 Impeller Puller

[JeffreyAC77]

Anyone have the part # and resource for this tool? thanks.

 

[Mastercraft]

I was successful using two needle nose pliers. Grab the rubber on each side with pliers and wiggle it off.

 

[JeffreyAC77]

There is a screw (bolt) in puller I am looking for but cannot find the proper size (Fisheries Supply in Seattle doesn't carry it).

 

[Mastercraft]

On my D4-300 2017 R29, there was no place to screw on a puller. It wasn’t like pulling a 1970 steering wheel off a car where you can use a puller with 2 or 3 bolts. So I am not sure how an impeller puller could grab the impeller. Bolts or no bolts, how would the puller grab the impeller?

 

[dbsea]

Two needle nose pliers is your best bet. I bought two different pullers and both were non usable due to the angles and stuff in my way. Pliers ftw !

 

[Gin]

If there is a perfect impeller puller for the D4, I want to know what it is!

I don't have sufficient strength to pull the impeller out with channel locks, knipex pliers, or other plier type tools I have tried. At least not until I followed the advice to lube up the housing and, with the cover off, bump the starter a couple of times to get the impeller to start out on its own. At that point, on my impeller change a few months back, I was able to leverage it out with knipex pliers.

The only tool I know that may work best requires modification. It is the smaller Seadog impeller puller. The first time I used it, I got it to work. But it really wasn't a good fit and, a year later, when I was replacing the impeller for a second time, I couldn't get it fitted well. It is difficult to get the "arms" into the impeller to grab well with the long shaft in the middle. The handle is too long and hits the engine block. I managed to get it to work the first time I used it, but the second time, I just couldn't squeeze it into the available space and get the arms to grip the impeller well enough to pull it out.

Still, with modification, it may be a good option. Basically what you need to do is cut down the center shaft and round the end. Without cutting it down, the puller is a difficult fit. The center shaft is just too long. The local Volvo diesel in the Portland, Or area recommends the Sea Dog as modified. I've yet to modify mine as recommended, but I hope to do it before my next impeller change (which shouldn't be until next year).

The impeller seems to have both gone up in price and is in short supply these days. Here's one source: https://www.hodgesmarine.com/sdg660...H24jT7KZlY1-Twycw71lGAqX-1jIX-TxoCcXcQAvD_BwE

Jabsco also makes a similar impeller that retails for much more: https://www.amazon.com/Jabsco-50070...locphy=9032968&hvtargid=pla-457549119111&th=1

But again, if there is some other perfect tool out there that I don't know about, I would really like to know!

Gini

 

[NorCal]

I have changed a bunch of these impellers on my boat and friends boats.

Two methods

1. I use two flat blade screws on opposite side of the impeller and pry the impeller out. I know they say you can mark the housing but I haven't had a problem. To reinstall I use zip ties to compress the blades to make it easier to get new impeller in housing. I use Dawn soap as lubricant and install goes well. I use Vaseline to hold the o ring in place while I put the plate back on the water pump

2. A Volvo mechanic told me this one and it is quite easy as well. Remove serpentine belt, remove 4 bolts holding water pump to block and I think one hose clamp and just take the complete water pump off and take it to work bench. Replace impeller, reverse the other steps.

Hope this helps.

John

 

[S@LTD]

You might try the Jabsco 50070-0080 compact version up to 2 1/4 inch. This is a more compact version of the ones above providing more room to turn the handle. The part numbers are very similar so look closely when ordering. Like you the pliers and vice scrips didn’t work for me either. I take the impeller cover off, spray the impeller with WD 40 and tap the starter a couple times (without starting the motor). This helps walk the impeller out so you can grab it with the impeller puller or pliers. I have found little need for the puller when doing it this way although because I have one I will use it to save my knuckles instead of pliers.

 

[Gin]

I've used John's method of replacing the impeller (zip tie, Dawn soap, vaseline on o-ring -- which is especially helpful if you have the older style "snowman" shaped o-ring). Great way to do it!

The one tip I would add comes from the local Volvo shop owner (also a mechanic), who put on a D4/D6 maintenance seminar a few months back for several of us on this forum (thanks fellow Tugnut Patrick Norris for arranging that!). The owner advised putting a good waterproof grease on the splines in the middle of the impeller to provide lubrication between them and the shaft that the impeller slides onto. He assured that, if the grease is limited to that metal-to-metal contact area, it won't hurt the rubber impeller, and it will make removal much easier after the impeller has been in use for a year and 100-200 hrs. The idea made good sense to me, so on my impeller change a couple of months ago, I added grease to the splines. It'll be awhile before I change the impeller again and find out if it makes removal easier. By then, I plan to be using a modified impeller puller as well (or the smaller Jabsco impeller, as Scott recommends, which looks like a better way to go). My goal is to have the tools and technique down well enough that, if I ever have to replace it while on the hook on an extended cruise, I can do it quickly and without a lot of sweat and strain. Something to aim for, anyway!

Gini

 

[JeffreyAC77]

Thanks all - at least I now know I am not losing my marbles in trying to remove the impeller - needle nose pliers were the answer and I did apply grease on install of new impeller.

 

[Mike and Sarah]

Ok here you go. Volvo Penta makes an impeller puller that threads into the end of the impeller and then thread the bolt into the tool to pull the impeller off. The VP impeller has threads in one end of the splines (works on VP impellers I’m not sure on other brands). Just make sure you install the impeller with the threads facing you when installing.
Some people suggest getting a bit longer bolt but the one that comes with the tool does work.

https://marinepartssource.com/screw-pul ... NdEALw_wcB

 

[dbsea]

Ok here you go. Volvo Penta makes an impeller puller that threads into the end of the impeller and then thread the bolt into the tool to pull the impeller off. The VP impeller has threads in one end of the splines (works on VP impellers I’m not sure on other brands). Just make sure you install the impeller with the threads facing you when installing.
Some people suggest getting a bit longer bolt but the one that comes with the tool does work.

https://marinepartssource.com/screw-pul ... NdEALw_wcB

Those impeller pullers only work on some models… definitely not on the D6-435-I-F, as I learned…

 

[Mike and Sarah]

Ok here you go. Volvo Penta makes an impeller puller that threads into the end of the impeller and then thread the bolt into the tool to pull the impeller off. The VP impeller has threads in one end of the splines (works on VP impellers I’m not sure on other brands). Just make sure you install the impeller with the threads facing you when installing.
Some people suggest getting a bit longer bolt but the one that comes with the tool does work.

https://marinepartssource.com/screw-pul ... NdEALw_wcB

Those impeller pullers only work on some models… definitely not on the D6-435-I-F, as I learned…

I guess I was responding to the original posters question on the D4 300 as that is what I have although 320 (same setup) I can’t say for other models.

 

[Gin]

On my D4-300, the inside of the impeller only has metal splines. No threads. In the DIY seminar I referred to in my earlier post, the Volvo dealer had a threaded impeller puller, but only for the D6.

Gini

 

[Mike and Sarah]

My new impeller with the threads part number is 21951356. From what I can tell that impeller fits several D4 which would make sense.