New impeller lube

[bob-d]

Rebuilding a 1959 10HP Evinrude gear case, and I am up to installing the impeller. I know in the past dish detergent was mentioned to put in the housing until first start up. I was wondering if that is still the method of choice, or if there is something better, or just leave it dry?
Thanks,
Bob D

[fleetwin]

Well, I wouldn’t leave it dry… I just use the OMC triple guard grease, so most any equivalent will be fine… The dish detergent is fine also if you plan to start the engine within a few days, just wouldn’t want it to dry up in there….

[Buccaneer]

I used vaseline on the last one. I can’t imagine a little bit would hurt anything.

Prepare to be boarded!

[need2fish]

I keep K-Y jelly in my plumbing kit. It’s great for jamming pex fittings together. It also helps in the installation and first time use of water lines with gromments and impellers.

[Mumbles]

If you use any kind of grease, make sure it doesn’t plug the bleeder hole in the top of the housing as it wont wash out to easily. I’ve used silicon grease meant for brake hardware in the past and it is impeller friendly and a rubber lubricant. I also have the KY on hand and it washes right out on startup.

[bob-d]

Thanks everyone, good tips.
Did some additional research, and silicone based products seem to come up as the most used.
I am going to use Dow Corning 111 since I had a tube laying around. It’s a silicone lubricant, used on orings and valves, so a light coating on the impeller housing surfaces should help the impeller for its first startup, without any bad after effects on the rubber.
Bob D

[JOHN HOLBIK]

Putting lube on the impeller seems pointless to me every time you shut the motor off and the lower unit is out of the water the impeller and housing are dry with no lube.
Am I missing something?

[Mumbles]

JOHN HOLBIK wrote:

Putting lube on the impeller seems pointless to me every time you shut the motor off and the lower unit is out of the water the impeller and housing are dry with no lube.
Am I missing something?

Youi don’t start your motor out of the water. Or at least you shouldn’t. The lube aids in impeller installation and also protects it if doing a compression test or turning the flywheel checking for spark before starting the motor in water.

[JOHN HOLBIK]

You made a good point Mumbles I clean forgot that you tilt the motor up BUT put the lower unit back down in the water before starting it.Got me where is the crow I have to eat?

[crosbyman]

Crow ain’t so bad… I had a few on my plate 🙂

Joining AOMCI has priviledges 🙂

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