Sorry, I did not get back to you earlier. The internet was down here at work. In the Johnson pump it does not really matter which way the fins are facing when you intall the impeller it will fix itself, but I would put some lubricant on the fins to help them "fix" themselves. I always put a little plumbers greas on the fins to help with the first dry start after that there should always be a little water in there to help things out.