View Single Post
Old 03-14-2012, 09:43 AM   #7
Dave R
Senior Member
 
Dave R's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,985
Thanks: 246
Thanked 743 Times in 443 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by MAXUM View Post
I can't understand why Merc can't make an impeller on the Bravo configuration that doesn't last. That's poor engineering IMHO. I do wonder why they didn't use a similar design as the alpha which obviously is pretty much bullet proof.

The alpha pump would be too big to mount on the engine without affecting the engine package size because it is designed to run at a much lower RPM (lower than engine RPM). Slowing it down would require a huge pulley. The Bravo pump is really small and is designed to spin pretty fast (faster than engine speed) so it has a small pulley. The fast speed and compact design makes it necessary to have smaller and stiffer vanes. Those vanes just don't last as long as the floppy vanes in the Alpha.
Dave R is offline   Reply With Quote