Raypanic

There was a post a while ago abot having to rev up the engine to like 3000 to get the pump to prime on the newer 496's....

Scott

Soap up the new impeller when you install it. Are you using the right flushing muff for the Bravo? It should be a V- shaped cup that fits like a glove and has a bungee strap to hold it in place. I think most are red in color.

Waterfoul

I don't know about "priming" the pump, but you can take the hose off the back of the drive and fill it with water before you fire it up. One hose clamp near the top of the drive, right uner the steering tiller arm. This is how I run my boat on the hose as I have the LWP with no side pickups. I simply stuff the hose into the inlet hose IN the boat and fire it up. Get some water in the bilge doing it this way, but oh well. At least I KNOW there will be water on the pump when I turn the key.

formula31

Yup, thats how I run them too,. I made up an adaptor that fits into the big suction hose and has a garden hose fitting on it. Dont rev it up to much or it sucks regular garden hose flat. You can put a Globe Rubber Works impeller in the pump which will handle some running dry. I just finished a 2 year test on one. It looks exactly like the stock impeller I changed at the same time but is much more pliable. I dont think I ever ran it dry. I will continue to use them just for the insurance.

Waterfoul

I got one of those on/off switches for my hose and put about 2' of old hose on it. This way the amount of water that gets in my bilge is neglibable. I turn it on, jump jump to the dash and turn the key. When I'm done, I turn the key off and turn the hose off at the motor. Done. Easy. And I don't suck the hose flat at any time.

blue thunder

I take the hose off the transom plate too and shove garden hose in. I like this because it leaks badly, therefore the garden hose won't collapse, and because you can tell from inside the boat how well your pump is working by how much excess water comes out the hose and into the bilge with engine running. Normally there should be none.

BT

ccarloss

Thanks again for all the replies. I am gonna take the intake hose off the transom plate. That's a good idea.

cadyman

I have used the little pump on mine numerous times and never had any problems the next time I take it out. It was probably just time for it to go. I have about 250 hrs on my 496 and have not replaced the impeller yet. I probably need to replace it this spring. I talked to mercruiser on the phone awhile back and they really dont have a certain # of hours between replacement. He said when It starts running warm , then its probably time. It was probably just a coincidence with yours. Hope a new one takes care of it for you.

Joe