Mercury 200 jet pump advice?

[Johnny Utah]

Hi guys,

I have a 200 merc tiller with the pump on it. It is pushing a 21 foot super v pro and doesn't seem to get on plane lice it used to. I asked the boat dock about the difference between getting a new impellor and blueprinting and this is what he said...

"On the pump blueprinting and sharpening and shimming are most important. Also upgrading to the power pump will be a big change in performance if you don't already have it"

Anyone have an idea on the price of blueprinting and sharpening and shimming the pump?

Also what the heck is a power pump and what do those cost?

Do you guys have a recommendation about blueprinting vs. buying a new impellor?

Thanks a bunch,

Fred

[NWaddict]

I dont know for sure, but my understanding is that a super pump is a whole new lower unit. That would be spendy.

As for sharpening and shimming, all impellers need this if they see any gravel up the grate. It is basic maintenance for a pump. An impeller has to fit snugly in the pump housing in order to operate efficiently. Use and abuse wears away the leading edge of the pump blades and creates slop and inefficiency. To make up for this you have to re-sharpen and shim the impeller farther up into the pump housing.

When I was a guide in Alaska we'd sharpen and re-shim the impellers at the start of every season. If you buy a new impeller you are just throwing your money away unless it has been sharpened and shimmed so many times that it it cant be seated any higher in the pump housing. I think this process was described in a recent STS as well.

Assuming you have a aluminum impeller and a file you can sharpen and shim yourself. I wouldn't pay anyone to do it.... that's my two cents.

Dom

[namu mac]

In addition to the sharpening and shimming of the impeller, you want to look at the condition of the liner. If it is grooved and erroded then you might consider replacing it. Also if you don't have a stainless 4 blade impeller you might consider buying one.

[budnate]

you dont need a new pump, take it to Three Rivers and have big Dave do it,

install new liner, sharpen the impeller and make sure they set the side clearance at .20...

lots of so called mech's just eyeball it, waaaaaay wrong, after a little love your going to be reall happy again,

[Big_Daddy]

+1 for Big Dave @ Three Rivers Marine.

He is the only guy that "maintains" my pump.

Mine is on a 23' Super Vee Pro......Runs like a champ......

[Johnny Utah]

Thanks a million guys. I guess I will be doing some pump maintanence soon. You guys just saved me a lot of money. I can't wait to see the difference it makes. I can almost guarantee my tolerance is closer to .60 rather than .20!