Replacing Air Conditioning Water Pump

[FreedomWorks]

Hi All,

Brand new to the forum and a new (1 year) boat owner.

I’m trying to replace the air conditioning water pump on my 2003 Carver 366. I can’t figure out how to remove the coupling between the pump intake and the sea water strainer, or if I need to remove it at all. Could I simply remove the nuts that attach the pump to the boat structure and rotate the pump to unscrew it from the coupling or is there a way to undo the coupling? I tried undoing the coupling by hand and it seems pretty difficult; plus I’m afraid to apply too much force.

I’ll attach a pic of the pump and a close-up of the coupling.

Thanks much!

FreedomWorks
2003 Carver 366

[image][image][image][/image][/image][/image]

[km1125]

That's a union or universal joint. The big nut unscrews from the part on the right (in the last picture), which would separate the pump from the strainer. Then, you can remove each part (if necessary) from the pump and the strainer. If you're just replacing the pump, then you just need to remove that side from the pump and put it on the new pump. The part on the left has a flange under the "big nut" in the center, so the "big nut" can rotate indepedently of it. The part on the right has threads that the "big nut" tightens onto. So there are three parts to that fitting. The left side, the "big nut" in the middle, and the right side. When looking from the pump side, the "big nut" needs to rotate counterclockwise to remove it (lefty-loosey, righty-tightey)

If you have a strap wrench that might be the easiest to get ahold of that big "nut" in the middle. You can also use some channel locks or even a pipe wrench, but those will mar it up


Here's a link to one in a store... you could go there and see how they come apart if that helps
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Charlotte-Pipe ... ng/3695994

Here's a better angle on a similar one where you can see the threads that the "big nut" comes apart from

Union_fitting.jpg

[FreedomWorks]

So helpful! Thank you very much.

If I may ask another question; how about the joint on the output (pictured below)? Any ideas on getting that one apart?

Thanks Again,

FreedomWorks
2003 Carver 366

371C91B8-03A7-433B-B276-31840BFA0475.jpeg

[km1125]

You just have to pull the hose off that first. Then, pull the pump out and then remove all those fittings. You can leave them on as a set and just remove the whole group from the pump if your new pump has the same arrangement (same size output and same location). The white piece is an adapter to change thread size to a slightly larger one, then the "street el" right angle connector, then there is the hose barb on that. Be careful when you loosen that group from the pump though, as the pump plastic may be brittle and may crack easy, so take it easy when you're twisting that off so you don't end up just snapping the post off the pump and then having to clean out that broken plastic from the fittings so you can reuse them.

[FreedomWorks]

Thanks again sir. On it!

[Viper]

Don't try to remove that type of hose without heating it first otherwise you might crack it or the fitting. That type of hose is hard to work with. You could also undo the clamps and give the hose a twist in hopes of breaking the grip between the hose and the barbed fitting. After you do that, you can simply rotate the fitting and it will spin in the hose without removing the hose. Do the same when reinstalling then tighten the clamps again.

[FreedomWorks]

That is excellent advice. I struggled with that hose all day. I’m able to twist it but not pull it off. I’ll try warming it a bit with a heat gun.

The other difficulty has been removing the pump from the board it’s mounted to. The locknuts won’t loosen because the bolt’s screw heads rotate when I turn the locknuts. I think I’ll have to remove the seawater straining housing, then the mounting board and then I’ll be able to get to the bolt screw heads.

[Viper]

It looks like the pump and strainer were put together as an assembly on a piece of starboard, then fastened to the stringer. That complicates things as it hides the other end of the fasters that you need to hold and prevent from turning. The pump is also mounted on an additional plate with spacers which I assume was to bring it in line with the strainer's output. Unless you can squeeze a tool into the gap between the pump's mounting plate and the Starboard sheet to hold the fastener, you may have to remove the entire assembly to get to those bolts. It's not an ideal installation, it works but it's a pain to service.

[FreedomWorks]

You’re exactly correct on the problem with removing the old pump. I’m going to have to pull the strainer, then the mounting board, then take the old pump off the board. Then reverse the process with the new pump.

[FreedomWorks]

I’m having great difficulty removing this hose. I’ve got some extra hose so I tried making a longitudinal cut in the hose and warming it with a heat gun. I am able to twist it but unable to move it more that 1/8 inch (or less) longitudinally.

I feel like I’ve got a couple of choices. I could cut the hose but then I’d need to figure out a way to splice it to regain the length I’ll need. I’ve never done a splice and have no idea if it can be done or is a good plan.

The other option is to cut the plastic pump output (about where I’m pointing in the attached picture). Once it’s cut I think I’ll have better leverage to remove the hose by doing 360 degree twists while pulling.

Any thoughts on these options (or other, better choices I haven’t considered) would be much appreciated.

Thanks Gents,

FreedomWorks
2003 Carver 366

5032959E-FD41-478D-9DDB-E6A58D921778.jpeg