Yanmar 6BY2 260 pump impeller durability?

[kelpline]

We bought our 2011 C28 with its Yanmar 6BY2 260 at 450 hours. At 480 hours I decided to look at the raw water pump's impeller; it was in good shape. A new one was installed, and the used one stored aboard as a spare.
Now at 1100 engine hours, I wonder how long do Yanmar impellers last?
I ran salmon trollers which had sea water wash down pumps running continuously. We would get 4000 hours out of those Jabsco impellers.
What do you think?

 

[knotflying]

Yanmar recommends checking the Impeller once per year. If you go through the trouble to check I would replace. I changed mime annually and for the most part they were all good. I ran about 150 hours per year. I would save the old one as a spare. In my opinion extending the use can be a sucker's bet. Trying to clear a destroyed impeller is a chore if it gets into the cooling coils. Then there is the added issue of having to replace an impeller while underway. As they say, pick your battles. I would change the impeller regularly and limit the failure possibility.

 

[fishheadbarandgrill]

I have mine replaced every 2 years along with the belts... regardless of hours.

 

[kelpline]

I just noticed that the BY260 manual says to check the raw water pump belt for ware annually. But to change the impellor every 8 years.

 

[scross]

Kelpline,
I’m looking at the Yanmar service manual for your 6BY-260 engine and on page 4-5 it says “ Check or replace the seawater pump impeller” and “Check seawater pump belt for wear, replace if necessary” with an interval of “Every 250 hours or one year whichever comes first” for both items.
The only item I see in the manual with an 8 year replacement interval is the alternator belt.
If your going to get in and check an impeller you might as well replace it as it isn’t any extra work to do that. Impellers are relatively cheap compared to the cost of digging impeller bits out of your sea water cooling system.
We have the 4BY2-150 Yanmar and replace the impeller every 150 hours or sooner.

 

[BB marine]

You probably could get more hours out of an impeller. The recommended interval has be quoted by several already. The issue with running for years without replacement is increasing the chance of pump failure. Diesels don't like to be overheated! Impeller replacement is a cheap preventative maintenance item. If you use the boat with a consistent frequency the impeller probably has a better life. Most impellers don't fail from wear they fail because the rubber vanes start to harden and are not as flexible as when new. The vanes start to get a set to them from operating in the pump housing eccentric configuration. When this happens the pump efficiency decreases and eventually a vane or two breaks off and then you have an issue. When removing an impeller that has not failed most of the time it looks good. Most of the time it will have a slight set to it too which equates to loss of efficiency. Replacing the impeller on a regular frequency gives you insurance plus 100 % pump efficiency.

I ran salmon trollers which had sea water wash down pumps running continuously. We would get 4000 hours out of those Jabsco impellers.
What do

These pumps are diaphragm pumps they do not have impellers. They also have a pressure switch built in on them so when they are on they shut off when you are not washing down. Even if you have them run continuously with water flow the motors burn out usually before the diaphragm fails.

If you got 450 Hours out of your raw water Yanmar impeller that doesn't surprise me. Would I ever get 450 hours out of an impeller? No, after 200 hours all I would be thinking about is changing it!!! 😀

 

[Georgevb]

We also have a 2011 c28 with this engine. Accessing the pump was not easy. Having to go through the hole in the floor by the door was not much fun.

Is there a way to remove the panels next to the steps by the door to get better access to the pump?

 

[Captmike]

Anyone know where I can get a new raw water pump for the 6by2?