Water pump leaking

[murf]

I noticed some coolant on the right exhaust side under the water pump on the way back from NAFO. Upon further inspection at home, I can see coolant seeping out of weep hole on the back side of the water pump. The parts schematic shows a mechanical water seal which is probably leaking. Anyone ever repaired a water pump? In addition to the water seal, there are two oil seals and several bearings, plus o rings. I'll probably replace all the seals and o rings since I'm in there, but don't know about the bearings. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

When the water pump seal went "south" on my 04, the dear replaced the following parts on the pump:

#2, O ring

#3, Circlip

#5, Rubber damper holder

#6, Rubber damper

#7, Water pump seal

#8, Oil pump seal

#9, Bearings

 

[scmagna]

Take it or leave it, but here goes:

The water pump seal on my '81 Honda Silver Wing started leaking out the weep hole about 20 years ago. Somebody told me that Bar's Leaks contains conditioners that help rejuvinate seals. I put half of a bottle in, and the leak stopped. Trouble is, it only lasted about 18 years - had to put the last half of the bottle in a couple of years ago. I thought it was still better than removing the engine and cracking the case to replace the seal.

Kurt

 

[conwest]

Geez, never thought of that....ahh... how many times did u replace the coolant over the intervening years before u had to add the second half of the bars?

 

[griff]

Take it or leave it, but here goes:
The water pump seal on my '81 Honda Silver Wing started leaking out the weep hole about 20 years ago. Somebody told me that Bar's Leaks contains conditioners that help rejuvinate seals. I put half of a bottle in, and the leak stopped. Trouble is, it only lasted about 18 years - had to put the last half of the bottle in a couple of years ago. I thought it was still better than removing the engine and cracking the case to replace the seal.

Kurt

I've had that suggestion also. Rode the bike about 800 miles this weekend. Dribbled a few drops. Radiator full, overflow reservoir no change.

 

[griff]

When the water pump seal went "south" on my 04, the dear replaced the following parts on the pump:
#2, O ring

#3, Circlip

#5, Rubber damper holder

#6, Rubber damper

#7, Water pump seal

#8, Oil pump seal

#9, Bearings

Yep, that's about everything except for the impeller, if you're worried about the shaft being bent or something. Murf - how many miles on your 04 when the seal went south?

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Take it or leave it, but here goes:
The water pump seal on my '81 Honda Silver Wing started leaking out the weep hole about 20 years ago. Somebody told me that Bar's Leaks contains conditioners that help rejuvinate seals. I put half of a bottle in, and the leak stopped. Trouble is, it only lasted about 18 years - had to put the last half of the bottle in a couple of years ago. I thought it was still better than removing the engine and cracking the case to replace the seal.

I've had that suggestion also. Rode the bike about 800 miles this weekend. Dribbled a few drops. Radiator full, overflow reservoir no change.

I was told once by a very experienced automotive/diesel mechanic that he thought that a cooling system wasn't sound/integral until it had some Bars Leaks in it. I don't think it (a little) hurts anything? And, may even do some good with regard to the mechanical seal?

The weep hole is there just for the purpose of letting-out what gets past the mechanical seal.

"Tempest in a Teapot"? -- Willy the Shake :huh:

 

[radman]

I was told once by a very experienced automotive/diesel mechanic that he thought that a cooling system wasn't sound/integral until it had some Bars Leaks in it. I don't think it (a little) hurts anything? And, may even do some good with regard to the mechanical seal?

Every new car/truck one buys has it in it.

The weep hole is there just for the purpose of letting-out what gets past the mechanical seal."Tempest in a Teapot"? -- Willy the Shake :huh:

Yes, but mostly as an indicator that something is amiss.

 

[shuswaper]

I was told once by a very experienced automotive/diesel mechanic that he thought that a cooling system wasn't sound/integral until it had some Bars Leaks in it. I don't think it (a little) hurts anything? And, may even do some good with regard to the mechanical seal?

Every new car/truck one buys has it in it.

The weep hole is there just for the purpose of letting-out what gets past the mechanical seal."Tempest in a Teapot"? -- Willy the Shake :huh:

Yes, but mostly as an indicator that something is amiss.

If it weren`t for the weep hole, a fair amount of pressure would build in that cavity, destroying both seals and possibly the bearing. Consider the weep hole to be a "pre-emptive" relief valve, albeit a simple one. Concerning Rad`s statement about bars being in all new cars and trucks, is he serious? I never heard that one before. Can anyone else collaborate this. I`m all ears. :blink:

 

[radman]

If it weren`t for the weep hole, a fair amount of pressure would build in that cavity, destroying both seals and possibly the bearing. Consider the weep hole to be a "pre-emptive" relief valve, albeit a simple one. Concerning Rad`s statement about bars being in all new cars and trucks, is he serious? I never heard that one before. Can anyone else collaborate this. I`m all ears. :blink:

Has been for quite some time-it's considered insurance. Not necessarily Bars leak though, for instance, GM uses the veg based stuff, the "pills" you find at GM auto parts counters IIRC. Some use the Solder Seal style.

 

[murf]

When the water pump seal went "south" on my 04, the dear replaced the following parts on the pump:
#2, O ring

#3, Circlip

#5, Rubber damper holder

#6, Rubber damper

#7, Water pump seal

#8, Oil pump seal

#9, Bearings

Yep, that's about everything except for the impeller, if you're worried about the shaft being bent or something. Murf - how many miles on your 04 when the seal went south?

Griff:

The seal went south at just over 5,000 miles and a week before I was to leave on a trip from MN to CA. Dealer did a great job and fixed it before I left as there was no way I was going to head out on a long trip with the water pump seal leaking.

 

[griff]

Well - after 1000 miles of intermittent dripping, the water pump took a big dump last Sunday all over the garage floor. I had all the parts to rebuild the pump, which didn't take too long. All is well now. One thing the shop manual suggested is running cold water over the oil seal and the seal on the impeller to help installation. I actually put the seals and bearings in the freezer for a while and heated up the water pump housing a little bit and the bearings and seals went in pretty easy.

 

[Jimstan]

I was told once by a very experienced automotive/diesel mechanic that he thought that a cooling system wasn't sound/integral until it had some Bars Leaks in it. I don't think it (a little) hurts anything? And, may even do some good with regard to the mechanical seal?

Every new car/truck one buys has it in it.

The weep hole is there just for the purpose of letting-out what gets past the mechanical seal."Tempest in a Teapot"? -- Willy the Shake :huh:

Yes, but mostly as an indicator that something is amiss.

Your dead on, the weep hole is an indicator that your seals are leaking car, bike or truck.

 

[RaYzerman19]

<!--quoteo(post=463709:date=Aug 4 2008, 10:43 AM:name=shuswaper)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shuswaper @ Aug 4 2008, 10:43 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=463709"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->If it weren`t for the weep hole, a fair amount of pressure would build in that cavity, destroying both seals and possibly the bearing. Consider the weep hole to be a "pre-emptive" relief valve, albeit a simple one. <b>Concerning Rad`s statement about bars being in all new cars and trucks, is he serious? I never heard that one before. Can anyone else collaborate this. I`m all ears.</b> <img src="https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=" :blink: " border="0" alt="blink.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Has been for quite some time-it's considered insurance. Not necessarily Bars leak though, for instance, GM uses the veg based stuff, the "pills" you find at GM auto parts counters IIRC. Some use the Solder Seal style.

In my 27 years in the auto industry, we always put a pill in a new car. It would cure minor weepage at hose connections, because when you tighten clamps, you are really bunching up the rubber until it normalizes under a few heat/cool cycles. Those wire constant tension clamps partially solved that. But it is not likely to help much with a seal leak which has moving parts.

 

[FJR Flyer]

Was down in western NC last weekend and had the water pump start with a slow drip on friday at a lunch stop. Saturday morning it was a steady drip coming out of the weep hole, almost a stream. No local dealers had anything in stock, of course, so we pulled the pump and did a picnic table dis-assembly at the camp ground. Appeared the mechanical seal had some slight contamination on it and was pushing fluid around between the seal edge and the pump housing to the weep hole. Bearings looked good, impeller was fine. Cleaned up the mechanical seal and inside of the pump housing. Applied a little Honda sealant on the housing side and reassembled. Hoped for the best and it held okay. Did a 100 mile test ride without any leaks. Rode home to MD on sunday and still had no problems. Ride in to work today looked good, too.

A little shade tree mechanic mojo can go a long way.

Ordered the parts yesterday from Zanotti's to have on hand.

 

[PhilJet09]

Mine just started leaking today with 44,000 miles on it. The YES warranty is still good, but for the little bit of money it'll cost, I'll do it myself and know that nothing else gets screwed up.

 

[Cavguy]

2004 Gen I. Will get me some Bars Liquid today if I can find it. Any suggestions on where to get all the parts needed for a pump rebuild, (looked like 2,3, 5-9)? FJR Flyer sent you a PM this morning. Now wondering if I should just pull it inspect it for junk like you mentioned you did? I have been running it hard a few times a week lately, 90-110 mph.

 

[FJR Flyer]

Replied to PM.

 

[torch]

Most likely the waterpump seal. Here is my experience replacing that little gem:
https://www.fjrowners.com/threads/water-pump-seal-leak.14019/

 

[Cavguy]

decided to have a professional do it. I live in a toy hauler and my shop is not as set up as Id like for this kind of job. so will bite the bullet/$ and pay for it to be done. of course its a local shop not a dealership, here in Tucson. $125 and hour.

 

[Cavguy]

Most likely the waterpump seal. Here is my experience replacing that little gem:
https://www.fjrowners.com/threads/water-pump-seal-leak.14019/

sure hope the shop I took my bike too has looked at this work you did.

 

[FJR Flyer]

Good luck. It can be tricky so probably the wise move.