Hey Flusher,

 I am not rich so because of that I actually take all the maintenance of my investment very seriously. It's also the reason Im seeking out people who know more than I do when it comes to these things. I grew up in and  around boats, I design them, and I could drive a boat long before i ever drove a car. But the Jet pump is a new beast to me. So, maybe after a few hours of running the pump, once the boat is put together and engine installed etc. I will replace the wear ring with a standard one. I will also be removing my Droop, and likely also my Place Diverter because Im not going for top end straight line speed. Im looking at running white water, albeit deep white water but very aerated. So, Im looking for low end, hole shot, and agility as well as the ability to run in some pretty big white water. so I will add an inducer once the boat is set up. Ill keep all those points in mind. the condition of the pump looks to be excellent from what I can tell, but I think Im going to add a shim anyway, maybe .005" so it will free up the spin a bit on the pump.  As always , thanks for the input!. Im open minded to anything being said.

I no longer have a sense of humor, so I never laugh at anyone.

Did Dwayne build the pump?

It is possible that it was intentionally assembled without a bearing cap in anticipation of installing a JetAway.  Check in front of the packing clamp to see if the seal is turned around backwards (lip towards the thrust bearing).  Standard would be the lip towards the impeller.

I'm not saying that there is anything wrong an Ultimate Wear Ring, it's just not our preferred method.  Regardless, the shaft should rotate, a full 720-degrees, without any tight spots.

No bearing cap/JetAway could allow the thrust bearing, and therefore the impeller, to move forward and rub.  With a stainless or bronze wear ring, we would set the front/rear clearance ranging from .035-.065 (.125 is stock Berkeley). Depending on usage.

As far as a dirt magnet, the pump will pick up a surprising amount of debris from simply towing.  That's why I don't think grease on the wear ring is a good idea.  It's also a good idea, at the ramp, to dunk the boat, submerging the pump, pull forward to rinse the pump out, then drop it in the water.  Anything that you can do to keep abrasives out of your pump will help maintain a tight clearance.

Well the Dude I bought it from, used the Bearing Cap on another boat. but today Rick from CP Performance, said he thought that the pump was built "tight"  this pump was actually used as a racing pump on lakes or so the seller said. Rick also thought the impeller was a B cut so im wondering how to check that for certain? he said the grease would get blown out anyway from the water pressure.
I actually asked David from Hi-perf to check his records to see what had been done to it but i guess he didn't find anything...
regardless, Im getting a shim kit sent to me and add a shim to give the pump some better tolerances. it is rubbing against the wear ring, can't fit and feeler into it at all.

  Be advised that you may very well have an Ultimate Wear Ring, it would be an orange colored urethane and would most likely be set up with interference against the impeller.

Flusher. you are correct. it has The Ultimate wear ring. pleasant surprise(?).
 I removed the packing gland to make sure. Its even tighter than before.
I can fit a "25" feeler into the gap between the wear ring and the impeller but will double check that with a proper feeler later.

 so maybe  now I have to take the whole pump apart?  ugh.

would the interference be that tight?

 

quick question. since im learning new things about the Berk/AT pump I just bought.



 the pump has been completely reconditioned. But the stamp shows this was done in 12/2002, by hi-tech performance.
the inside of the tunnel and all parts look nearly new, there is not a scratch inside the tunnel.

so Im guessing(hoping) it has not been used since the rebuild.

When I tired to turn the pump by hand, I could barely get it to turn. After  doing it for a couple minutes it started to free up
and I could turn it with both hands using one inside the cleanout port and the other on the spline.
In fact I have blisters on my hand from turning the shaft.

it appears to feel like resistance against the side of the wear ring, based on feel at a certain points.
 there is no grinding noise.(but it is lubricated).just a slight sliding or swishing sound.

After talking to Alex at intermountain marine here in Canada, he told me that the new packing glands would make it difficult to turn.
and I know they must be water lubricated and have a slight "drip" about once every minute.

I am assuming new packing gland. The Impeller is greased heavily at the wear ring.
Zero end shaft play (horizontally or vertically). seems the impeller feels tight to
the wear ring?

it has a bronze impeller.
 IS this normal for a reconditioned pump to be that tight? or any pump?