Thread: how to change impeller on a mercury 50ELPTO?

There is usually a link in the linkage you have to take apart. Shift from forward to reverse and watch the rod that moves up and down on the motor and follow it and you will find the link.

Try a search on youtube! I saw one for my Marineer on there!

The Marine Doctor - Chronicles of TMD

Like slabs said take the linkage apart,it's about half way down from the top of the motor.

keep us posted on the repair

If you shift it in reverse which that is okay to do, just rember when you drop it out and get it down it will be in gear. So before you start your work remove everything right in front of the impellar bowl is the gear and it will look like a little stud or cap on it. You will have to put it in nuetral (spelling) so leave the stud or cap on it and take channel locks, I would not put visegrips on it. Cover the stud or cap with a cloth or something so you dont put teeth marks in it, turn it clockwise and then turn the prop with your hands. If the prop turns free with a clicking sound it is still in gear so then turn it counter clockwise and turn the prop with your hand if it doesnt turn free with the clicking sound it is back in nuetral. So then proceed with the work and when you are finished with the impellar put your stick in the cockpit in nuetral. Line the lower unit back up with the motor and push it back into place. If it doesnt go all the way up, take one hand while still holding the lower unit and the other up to the fly wheel and turn it just alittle until it pops in place. I did mine last summer and Mercury call center was great when I had any issues they told me what I just told you to do and it worked out great. If you try dropping it out in gear and you dont set everything back to nuetral and your prop does what I explained you will have to drop the lower unit back out and put it in nuetral that is what I had to do. I also watched youtube vids on it and it helped alot and scrapper on here helped and everyone else he did also. One thing everyone told me if I change the impellar to go ahead and put a new thermostat in also at the top of the engine which only takes about five minutes. Good luck

I just did a 75. Leave it in nuetral take the 5 nuts off lower unit 15mm wrench drop down. take 4 bolts off of impeller housing 10mm socket, change impeller put back together. tourqe the 4 bolts to 60in.# or 5ft.# not very tight. There is a rubber seal on the shaft above pump housing if you buy a new one it comes with a guage to put on at right height. If not push down till lip just touches housing put back up. tighten 5 nuts and go get em.