[wplaine]

Couldn't find this with searches here so...
Had a raw water pump impeller last 2+ years. Then a 1 year old impeller go bad. Replaced it just to have that one go in one trip!!!

Lessons learned:
1. If you have a multi-piece impeller housing, order the new kit that has the one piece housing and impeller. I think the old housing was basically eating impellers. I polished any potential rough spots inside the new housing to help prevent impeller eating.
2. You MUST remove the pulley (4 bolts) before you pull the pump on some models as the raw water pump wont come out of the bilge area due to its' size. That took me an extra30 minutes in 98 deg heat.

Hope this help. Any others with similar stories please add on....

[Hudson River Steve]

I just had my raw water pump go south on me this past weekend. I replaced the impeller last year but the bearings and front seals let loose this time. By the way, it was a one piece design.
I researched possible options and found two. A company in California (GLM) makes an all brass replacement pump, seem like a nice design but I could not find one available at a decent price. All the low price GLM distributors are out of stock and on back order (2 to 3 weeks). The second option is a bronze pump from Jabsco. People rave about these pumps and they are supposed to last forever. Unfortunately I have a serpentine belt rather than a V belt and I was not sure if I could get a pulley to fit the Jabsco pump and line up with the drive line on my 7.4 MPI. So in the interest of time I am replacing my pump with another Merc pump.

[Boatcrazy]

Stainless Steel Sea Pump Assembly - Hardin Marine