© Boat City Yachts, Inc. May 3, 2024
Palmer 60 Marine Engines with
Oberdorfer Gear Drive Raw Water Pumps
Oberdorfer Gear Drive Water Pumps
Some early model Palmer M60 engines used a gear drive
Oberdorfer water pump. These pumps offered positive
displacement water flow rather than rubber impellers which
can allow water to slip past the impeller. The renewable
rubber impeller seems to offer better suction lift capabilites
when used with a smoothly machined pump body.
Oberdorfer Gear Pump Installation
The Gear Pump was installed with the discharge out the
top and the intake on the bottom using a typical flange
mount. Water flow was somewhat limited as the intake and
discharge were only ⅜” and used the same size pipe or
tube connectors for water flow. These pumps were not
self-priming, and work best mounted below the waterline.
Oberdorfer Gear Pump Size
The pumps were small and would fit easily in the palm of
your hand. Aside from turning the grease cap once in a
while, they needed little maintanance. There was no
annual replacement of the impeller, because they did not
have one. The drive shaft coupling was a large circular
rotator that connected to a flat drive.
Oberdorfer Gear Pump Dis-assembled
There were very few parts to the gear pump, and it
functioned much like the engine oil pumps. The drive shaft
was pressed into one of the gears (in place inside the
pump), the lubricant injector was screwed on the outside,
and a paper gasket (not shown) went between the two
bronze face plates. A small removeable drain plug was
also installed in the outer face.
