Replacing gen set raw water pump with electric pump

[DCMY #92]

I recall seeing threads on this issue, but a search did not turn up any. I have a Westerbeke 8KW gen set. When replacing a shaft seal years ago I apparently didn't press the shaft far enough into the pump to fully engage in the drive gear. This partial engagement has resulted in wearing the slot in the gear so that it will no longer drive the pump. The conventional fix would be to replace the gear, but I'd prefer not to go to that much trouble.

I recall one or more threads where folks replaced the engine driven pump with an electric pump. If anyone can point me to one of these, or supply information and experience I would appreciate it.

 

[Pascal]

I may be stating the obvious but If you go this route you have to make sure the pump will turn off as soon as the genset shuts down so you don’t fill up the exhaust and eventually flood the engine

 

[Glory]

Over complicated. Fix the real issue.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I think the other threads you are recalling are about replacing an engine driven fuel pump with an electric. I have never heard of anyone replacing an engine driven raw water pump with electric.

 

[Cricket]

I agree with Glory, fix the problem. Btw, where did all of the metal go from the gear wearing down????
Maybe there's another accessory spot you could use to place a gear driven water pump?
Or, how about running the pump with a belt?

 

[Briankinley2004]

There is a thread on a Facebook group called Recreational Marine Diesel engine something or other. Someone did the same thing with a main and his wife forgot to turn the pump off when he killed the engine. Apparently it was her job and fault. Filled the cylinders with water and she is now online asking if she f'd up the engine.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/484370111700924/

 

[Captain Ralph]

It is a common fix on Cats and snail botes where the lift is high or access to the pump sux.
A small 800 gph A/C pump is wired ,with fuse, straight to the gen-sets ACv out put. Water pump only runs when electricity is made.
Some folks keep the impeller installed so it offers a governor on the water flow. Installed this way, the impeller last a life time.
With or with out the impeller, I have witnessed many, many hours of zero problems of operation.

I have a spare LittleGiant pump for my A/Cs and a kit to install it for my gen sets quickly if needed.
My large gen-set (30kw) already has blowers to it's box wired this same way.

 

[miboatnutz]

Actually, 12VDC electric water pumps are pretty common in the racing world as they reduce parasitic losses for engine power especially at high RPM. There's no risk of engine flooding because the pump is wired into the ignition circuit of the engine. If the engine isn't running then the pump isn't running either.

Have a look:

https://www.summitracing.com/search.../water-pumps/part-type/water-pumps-electrical

That said, if a replacment gear is available, I'd be more inclined to replace the worn part rather than re-engineer the cooling system. It'd make selling the boat some time in the future much easier.