T&T: Changing John Deere Raw Water Pump Impeller

[Milt Baker]

Earl,

The right tool makes most any job so much easier!

Using a pair of screwdrivers to pry out impeller, as one poster recommended,
can damage a pump casting and ruin a perfectly good pump.  Getting proper
leverage for removing an impeller using vise grips or other pliers-like
devices is often too hard in my experience, especially for big impellers with
a lot of surface area.

For removing impellers on most boats the right tool is a Jabsco impeller
puller.  For the impeller on your John Deere 6068, probably the the same as on
my Lugger 668 which is based on the John Deere 6068, what you need is the
(large) Jabsco 50070-0200 impeller puller.  At a list price of $78.30, it
ain't cheap, but it sure does the job; I've used it and it makes removing that
big impeller like child's play.  A smaller version (5007-0040) for smaller
impellers is also available, list price $61.80.

To quote Lewis Marine's catalog, "These new tools provide an easy way of
removing flexible impellers from a pump's impeller bore.  Simply tighten the
tool's grip fingers into the rubber hub of the impeller and turn the
extraction screw clockwise."  I've been using these for a few years now, and
removing impellers has never been easier.  Take a look at the following link:
www.depcopump.com/catalog108/149.pdf

The impeller pullers are available from the Depco Pump Company in Clearwater,
FL, and can no doubt be special ordered from West Marine, Defender, and
others.  I like to send business to Depso because in my experience, Depco is a
terrific resource and can answer any and all pump questions.  They also sell
at competitive prices, but you have to ask because the first price quoted is
always list price.  "Can you do any better on the price?" usually works pretty
well.

No business or financial connection with Jabsco, Lewis Marine or Depco, other
than as a satisfied customer.  (Lewis sells to wholesale accounts only.)

--Milt Baker, Nordhavn 47 Bluewater, Barcelona



Earl wrote:

Today I started work on changing the raw water impeller on my 6068 TMF John
Deere main engine.  Ive changed impellers in the past with no difficulty; in
fact, I changed my Northern Lights generator impeller just two weeks ago.
However, this Johnson Pump impeller on my Deere as me defeated.