Water strainer after water pump?

[am_dew]

Is it advisable to install a water strainer of some kind after the water pump, in this case the engine mounted pump on an AQ130C? I want to avoid having to disassemble the oil cooler in case the pump impeller shreds again like it did a few months ago.

If so, what kind of strainer would you recommend? What if I simply took some wire mesh with 1/8" mesh and wrapped it around the end of the pump's outlet tube?

Thanks!

 

[RicardoMarine]

Is it advisable to install a water strainer of some kind after the water pump, in this case the engine mounted pump on an AQ130C? I want to avoid having to disassemble the oil cooler in case the pump impeller shreds again like it did a few months ago.

If so, what kind of strainer would you recommend? What if I simply took some wire mesh with 1/8" mesh and wrapped it around the end of the pump's outlet tube?

Thanks!

Not advisable!
You will want to collect any debris before it reaches the seawater pump.

As for wire mesh at the end of the outlet....... the mesh would provide a very small area of filtration. Very easy to become restrictive!

Why not install a Marine seawater strainer ahead of the seawater pump?
The square area of filtration is large and will not restrict flow.




Remove your seawater pump impeller during winterizing. Re-install it when you prep for the new season.
You will get more life from it by doing so.


.

 

[am_dew]

OK...will not do so....thanks. At this point I am mostly concerned with making sure nothing flows out of the pump and into the oil cooler....ie. shredded impeller pieces.

I am working on resolving an overheating issue, which resulted in, or was the result of (not sure which one), a shredded impeller of which one piece was found in the input side cap of the oil coole and the rest were lodged in the waterpump's output port. I've got the oil cooler all cleaned out, new o-rings and seals in hand, and a new pump cover, new pump cam and new impeller and am ready to put it all back together and test. I am concerned that if I don't get any suction from the pump and the impeller gets shredded again, that I will have to again disassemble the oil cooler again to make sure there are no impeller shreds there. But, I think I will just attach a short hose to the output side of the water pump and see if I get any flow out of it, and if not, shut the engine down before the impleller gets damaged by it running dry.

 

[djhinca]

Not advisable!
You will want to collect any debris before it reaches the seawater pump.

My AQ131A has a seawater strainer between the seawater pump and the heat exchanger. Not a very good filter design however; the plastic body of the filter cartridge has warped, thus allowing unfiltered water to bypass the filter mesh. Welcome to maintaining a 30+ year old engine however: "new" filter cartridges go for about $60-$75 on eBay..

 

[RicardoMarine]

...........................

OK...will not do so....thanks. At this point I am mostly concerned with making sure nothing flows out of the pump and into the oil cooler....ie. shredded impeller pieces.

I am working on resolving an overheating issue, which resulted in, or was the result of (not sure which one), a shredded impeller of which one piece was found in the input side cap of the oil coole and the rest were lodged in the waterpump's output port. I've got the oil cooler all cleaned out, new o-rings and seals in hand, and a new pump cover, new pump cam and new impeller and am ready to put it all back together and test. I am concerned that if I don't get any suction from the pump and the impeller gets shredded again, that I will have to again disassemble the oil cooler again to make sure there are no impeller shreds there.
If all is working correctly, you will not shred another impeller.

Things to check:

Water Neck Fitting..... have you replaced this and the special beaded gasket recently? These are wear items and must be routinely replaced.

S hose..... is this hose in good condition?

Upper pivot tube bushing..... any play or slop here? Slop or play will prevent the beaded gasket from sealing. If so, it will breach suction.

Lower pivot tube O-ring seal...... have you replaced this in the past? Any suction breach here will prevent the pump from working.

But, I think I will just attach a short hose to the output side of the water pump and see if I get any flow out of it, and if not, shut the engine down before the impleller gets damaged by it running dry.
See above first.
Coat the new impeller with glycerin as you install it.

Not advisable!
You will want to collect any debris before it reaches the seawater pump.

My AQ131A has a seawater strainer between the seawater pump and the heat exchanger. Not a very good filter design however; the plastic body of the filter cartridge has warped, thus allowing unfiltered water to bypass the filter mesh. Welcome to maintaining a 30+ year old engine however: "new" filter cartridges go for about $60-$75 on eBay..
Am_Dew has the AQ130C push rod engine. These were not equipped with Closed Cooling.

 

[am_dew]

Thanks Ricardo. I've got my overheating issues narrowed down to a bad water pump, or at least the pump needs to be replaced because water is leaking in a steady stream from the weep hole. Of course, that is not to say that those things you suggested be checked are also not a problem, but I am going to start by replacing the pump first since I could not get it to suck water out of a bucket two weekends ago. I replaced the pump cam and the pump cover and it sucks water now but leaks at the weep hole.

 

[sandkicker]

I went thru hull with external strainer and avoided those hard to inspect and pain to fix drive mounted components. Those few degree warmer water temps from a higher pickup does not have an observable impact on engine operation (after all every inboard engine on the planet has thru hull without issues).... additionally does not pickup sand/mud (which trashes impellers) for soft groundings involving only your drive.

 

[am_dew]

I went thru hull with external strainer and avoided those hard to inspect and pain to fix drive mounted components. Those few degree warmer water temps from a higher pickup does not have an observable impact on engine operation (after all every inboard engine on the planet has thru hull without issues).... additionally does not pickup sand/mud (which trashes impellers) for soft groundings involving only your drive.

Thanks, but this is not something I would even think about trying to do on this boat.