# Raw water pump hack **URL:** \ **Category:** Newsgroups Archive Prior to 2025\ **Created:** [November 18, 2022, 12:03am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/raw-water-pump-hack/8711 "2022-11-18T00:03:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/1X/39e3f8ffb93f4278d654ae38d831066e407d616b.jpeg) [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 12:03am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/raw-water-pump-hack/8711/1 "2022-11-18T00:03:48Z")
My Westerbeke 33 with vee drive requires me to change impellers one handed in a place where I can only see about a third of the cover. In order to make this easier with my older style pump I replaced two of the hex /slot screws with studs and the rest with Allen head screws. This allowed me to place the gasket and cover in one trip and return on the next trip with nuts / screws. It makes the job a lot easier. I have just replaced that old style pump with a new one ($$$$$$$!!!😲) and decided to modify it before installation. I replaced all the hex / Phillips screws with M4 studs. I currently have M4 hex nuts on them but I will be replacing them with wing nuts. If you’ve ever tried to do this job with one hand you have to wonder what they were thinking when they designed these things. Paul M NS30U #211, Sandpiper Cowichan Bay, B.C. > **(attachments)** > > ![4B4AB394-5154-4E06-928A-77183CBF2922.jpeg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/2X/d/d6622e0c263c71c9a08098c0347fec09a3d806ba.jpeg) > ![A13FA793-BD51-4F63-BD43-051680FA3B33.jpeg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/2X/0/03ab6d20ddbbee8ff5ce07f534a7af958598c960.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/1X/39e3f8ffb93f4278d654ae38d831066e407d616b.jpeg) [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 12:47am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/raw-water-pump-hack/8711/2 "2022-11-18T00:47:26Z")
Would brass thumb screws work? Mark Powers ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/1X/39e3f8ffb93f4278d654ae38d831066e407d616b.jpeg) [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 1:11am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/raw-water-pump-hack/8711/3 "2022-11-18T01:11:05Z")
Sure, thumb screws, wing nuts, even the hex nuts are better than screws. I like wing nuts because you can tighten (loosen) them with pliers, wrench, or screwdriver. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/1X/39e3f8ffb93f4278d654ae38d831066e407d616b.jpeg) [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 3:06pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/raw-water-pump-hack/8711/4 "2022-11-18T15:06:40Z")
Looked up JMP pumps. Good looking gear. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/1X/39e3f8ffb93f4278d654ae38d831066e407d616b.jpeg) [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 7:36pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/raw-water-pump-hack/8711/5 "2022-11-18T19:36:37Z")
I got a small water pump wrench from Crappy Tire. Helps turn the thumb screws. My plate is double the thickness and uses only 4 of the 6 fasteners, as wll the lower 2 are slots making placement easier. ---
**Author:** ![user24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c4cdca/32.png) [@user24](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/user24)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 7:45pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/raw-water-pump-hack/8711/6 "2022-11-18T19:45:47Z")
Thor, Did you make, or have made, the double thickness cover plate? Jim Cosgrove FATE 30U #343 Galesville, MD ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/1X/39e3f8ffb93f4278d654ae38d831066e407d616b.jpeg) [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 8:09pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/raw-water-pump-hack/8711/7 "2022-11-18T20:09:16Z")
If I could have bought a speed seal, I would have Thor, but alas they are no more. 😢 ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/1X/39e3f8ffb93f4278d654ae38d831066e407d616b.jpeg) [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 9:20pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/raw-water-pump-hack/8711/8 "2022-11-27T21:20:19Z")
Latest update. I just replaced the M4 nuts on the studs with knurled thumb nuts. Finger tight there are no leaks. I will monitor for a while but I think this is as close as I can get to SpeedSeal efficiency. The job is now actually quite quick and easy one handed. > **(attachments)** > > ![20221127_130859.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/2X/2/22c7cfc2eefdca00b8dabad659cc4f5143c7e5f7.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/1X/39e3f8ffb93f4278d654ae38d831066e407d616b.jpeg) [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 10:16pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/raw-water-pump-hack/8711/9 "2022-11-27T22:16:14Z")
Paul, That is ultra amazing. The pump on my Beta 35 faces aft under the intake manifold on the starboard side with little clearance to the ice box wall. I have not yet attempted an impeller replacement on this engine as it has 105 hours and one season of use. I will replace the impeller this spring. I’m stealing your fix to the ugly placement. Ward Woodruff 413-847-0620 cell > **(attachments)** > > ![20221127_130859.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/2X/2/22c7cfc2eefdca00b8dabad659cc4f5143c7e5f7.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/1X/39e3f8ffb93f4278d654ae38d831066e407d616b.jpeg) [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 11:38pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/raw-water-pump-hack/8711/10 "2022-11-27T23:38:08Z")
So what the purpose of the looking for a stud in the photo? Mark Powers ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/1X/39e3f8ffb93f4278d654ae38d831066e407d616b.jpeg) [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2022, 11:40pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/raw-water-pump-hack/8711/11 "2022-11-27T23:40:22Z")
Whaaaat? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/1X/39e3f8ffb93f4278d654ae38d831066e407d616b.jpeg) [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 12:29am UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/raw-water-pump-hack/8711/12 "2022-11-28T00:29:24Z")
I’m going to repost the picture. I posted it as an attachment in gmail on my phone but it appears (to me at least) to have enlarged itself by about 100X when viewed on the forum. > **(attachments)** > > ![20221127_130859_Original.jpeg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/2X/0/0791b18520d441f8c462c453c9e6da2a4d6f5f6d.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![l02g053](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@l02g053](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/l02g053)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 2:07pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/raw-water-pump-hack/8711/13 "2022-11-28T14:07:10Z")
Paul, I use those knurled nuts on my MG to fasten air filter covers, and would advise you to check the tightness of them because they definitely can come loose due to vibration. After I lost several I put lock washers on the studs first and haven’t lost any more since then. They are very handy! Ed Cook Chat-eau, N26c #173 Middle River, MD ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/n26_115_233/original/1X/39e3f8ffb93f4278d654ae38d831066e407d616b.jpeg) [@system](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/u/system)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2022, 3:11pm UTC](https://nonsuch.discourse.group/t/raw-water-pump-hack/8711/14 "2022-11-28T15:11:52Z")
Thanks Ed. I will monitor them for a bit as I’m concerned about vibration as well. I’m hoping that lock washers aren’t needed. The nuts I was using on the old pump were fine but they were tightened with a small wrench.