505/508 - Panda raw water pump leak

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Panda raw water pump leak

Printed From: myHanse.com
Category: Hints & Tips
Forum Name: 505/508
Forum Description: 505/508 Hints, Tips and News
URL: https://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10704
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 03:41
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Panda raw water pump leak

Posted By: kipwrite
Subject: Panda raw water pump leak
Date Posted: 12 April 2018 at 19:56

Went to change the oil on my Panda 10000i genset today (160 hours) and discovered dried salt all over the front of the unit. I think the likely culprit is the sea water pump seal, based on the rust by the weep hole where it mounts to the block. I’ve ordered a new pump and will rebuild the old one as a spare.
Otherwise this genset works as it should.
Anyone ever remove and replace the sea water pump on one of these Kubota engines? Can’t find documentation of how to do this.
Note, Fischer Panda advised replacing this pump as soon as possible. A catastrophic sea water leak from the sea water pump quickly fries the electronics on these gensets, apparently. This is a known fault with these Johnson F4B-9 pumps, according to the US distributor in FL. 160 hours/2 years is a pretty short life span. Sheesh.

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Kipwrite

Replies:

Posted By: Wayne's World
Date Posted: 13 April 2018 at 10:18

Kipwrite,

We have a FP 10Kva unit onboard and have had the same problem. The pump is crap. We now have 930 hrs after our 4 year of liveaboard and purchased a a new pump, rebuilt the original pump and then both had the same issue again. I have just had both pumps rebuilt over winter.

To remove the pump -Remove the water hoses after turning the water vales off, then there is a bolt (about 7mm - 1/4in head size and about 50mm - 2 inches long) which goes through the clamping arrangement which holds the pump on the motor. Once you remove this bolt you will be able to pull the pump out of the motor housing. You don't need to remove any other bolts, just this one.You may need to use a flat screw driver to pry the pump out and maybe a back and forth twisting action will help. But it will come out.

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Wayne W
Cruising, currently in the Pacific until the end of 2026.

Posted By: kipwrite
Date Posted: 13 April 2018 at 17:55

Thanks. This is really helpful.

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Kipwrite

Posted By: marcopone
Date Posted: 22 August 2024 at 09:53

same problem on my FP 8000i

a lot of problem with this crap pump

to service it is a nightmare, very poor accessibility on my H575

very often I get broken impellers !

the right solution would be to have an external electric pump placed near the AC sea water pump

also a bigger sea water filter, the original one is often easily clogged and this destroy the impeller

I would leave the other filter after the pump to collect the broken impeller blades.

unfortunately no information are available from FP about which pump size to use and how to connect it to the gen set so that it will switch on/off automatically.

any help would be much appreciated !

br, Marco