Suzy DF70 impeller

[Bruce M16]

Has anyone changed out the impeller on a 2003 suzuki DF 70.Looks like the lower end has to drop. How long is the drive shaft that drops with the lower end and are all fluids contained in the lower end or could anything spill. I'm going to replace it this weekend and want to do it while it in our slip. Thanks in advance for your help

[Billy]

Bruce, I haven't changed mine but keep an impeller in the parts box. Suzuki on their website has videos of how this is done. http://www.suzukimarine.com/videos/maintenance.php Maybe this will help. Good Luck.

[Billy]

I can't seem to get the link to work now. Maybe the Suzy dealers didn't like the factory telling the customers how to work on their own engines. Sorry.

[Bruce M16]

I changed out the impeller Saturday without a problem. Huge difference in the water flow. Billy, thanks for the link but I could not get it to work either. The whole job took about 2 hrs. Next time it should only take 30 minutes. The lower unit drops out easy, all fluids are contained (no need to drain anything), the drive shaft is about 16 inches long and the water pump housing removes with just 4 bolts. I did it with the boat in the water. Just slid the dinghy under the raised motor and did it all from there. So if anyone needs to replace thiers its easy just do it.

[Frank C]

Good info Bruce. Sounds as if the 45-degree tilt presents zero problem?
Might you have changed lower unit oil at same time?
And, where did your extra 90 minutes evaporate to?

Thx

[Bruce M16]

The 45 deg tilt worked to my benefit as the weight of the lower unit was somewhat supported by the driveshaft in the race thru the mid unit. Trying to support the lower unit weight in a verticle position and remove/install the bolts would be more difficult. I of course had just changed out the lower lunit gear oil but it would have been a great time to do it. As for that 90 minutes, it was mostly comprised of readeng the instructions, rereading the instructions removing one bolt then rereading the instructions etc, etc. I hate breaking things when I am supposed to be fiting them so I tend to go slow the first time. Next time however BAM 30 minutes. Note to remove 4 of the 7 lower unit bolts the 14 mm ratchet is to long ( clearence between the lower unit flange and mid unit fin is 1.5 inches and you guessed it the blots are 1.5 inches long. I had to use an open end wrench at a 1/4 turn at a time. One of those closed end ratcheting wrenches would save alot of time.

[Frank C]

Thanks