Joe Flanagan Posted December 27, 2009 Report Posted December 27, 2009 This afternoon I noticed that there seems to be some side to side play in the shaft of my water pump. I can grab the fan and make it wobble from side to side a little (pulley moves too). I rebuilt the water pump, but when I switched out the bad hub for one that Jim Yergin gave me, I also replaced the shaft and impeller because the one from his pump looked a lot better. I'm wondering if that shaft is narrower than my original. Before I took the rebuilt original apart, I never conducted the grab-the-fan test to see if there was any play, so I don't know if it was tight or not. I checked the four bolts that attach the fan to the hub and they're tight. I'll have to check and see if the hub is moving on the shaft, though I doubt it because that was a very tight fit. Is this something to worry about? I don't have the belt on and everything under tension yet, if that makes a difference. Quote
RobertKB Posted December 27, 2009 Report Posted December 27, 2009 Joe, I don't like the sound of any play in that shaft. If there is play, to me, there is wear. It may not leak and could run for thousands of miles...... or could leak tomorrow. If possible, I would try to get rid of the play or get a new pump from somewhere like NAPA. Just my thoughts for what they are worth and they may not be worth much. Others will chime in also I am sure. Quote
JerseyHarold Posted December 27, 2009 Report Posted December 27, 2009 If the pump has a grease fitting, have you tried shooting it up with grease to eliminate the play? Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted December 28, 2009 Author Report Posted December 28, 2009 Yes, the pump does have a grease fitting and when I took it apart, I wiped all the grease off the shaft because it had hardened from sitting for so long. Good idea. Maybe that's all it is. I also haven't yet determined whether it's play in the shaft or the hub itself is moving. Will know more tomorrow. Quote
Harvey Tank Posted December 28, 2009 Report Posted December 28, 2009 Man Joe, you sure are having a lot of problems aren't you. if an't one thing its another. thats the way it is with beauties. don't for get to use water pump grease. I know you won't. just joking. Quote
chopt50wgn Posted December 28, 2009 Report Posted December 28, 2009 I would change the pump. With play like that, even filled with grease it will and could go anytime. It should not have any play in it at all. Putting grease into it to help is just a bandaid. Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted December 28, 2009 Author Report Posted December 28, 2009 Thanks, guys. I'm going to check this morning and see if it's not just the hub moving on the shaft. I'll post again on it when I know more. Quote
desoto1939 Posted December 28, 2009 Report Posted December 28, 2009 You stated that you rebuilt the pump. Did you use a water pump refacing tool to face the seal on the inside of the body of the pump and also burnisg the hole where the shaft comes trough the body of the pump. Did you install the pin that hold the flange for the hub? If you did all of this and the hub has some wiggle or play then get a new pump or you will be going downthe road and the pump then could go at anytime and doing this type of fix onthe road is not fun espcially at night. rich hartung desoto1939@aol.com Quote
Don Coatney Posted December 28, 2009 Report Posted December 28, 2009 Water pump shaft failure at speed could destroy the radiator. Replace the pump with a new one. Fifty bucks well spent. Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted December 28, 2009 Author Report Posted December 28, 2009 Oy vey. Things I didn't want to hear. But I agree. To answer your questions: I was unaware of a tool to reface the inside of the pump body and unaware of the procedure. I don't recall it from reading the manual. So no, I did not do that. But if I understand you, you're talking about where the back plate meets the body? I cleaned those two surfaces and sanded any excess junk off and put them back together with a new gasket and some grease. I rebuilt the pump about seven years ago and I believe I did hone the bushing that the shaft goes through. Yes, the pin is installed in the shaft. I went out and pulled the fan and the dome-shaped damper that goes behind it. I tried to move the hub and see if there was freeplay in the shaft. It's tight. It rotates freely and what freeplay there is you can't see with your eyes. You can hear a very slight click when moving the hub back and forth but that is likely the few thousands of clearance between the shaft and the bushing. At least that's my opinion at this point. I re-installed the fan and the damper (don't know what that thing is called) and tightened them down. Less freeplay than before but still some freeplay. I'm thinking it's in the damper/fan. I installed the belt, slid the generator over and tightened everything up. It all feels tight. Quote
RobertKB Posted December 28, 2009 Report Posted December 28, 2009 I believe it is called a pulley. Sounds like you have narrowed down any problem and it is quite minor. Don's suggestion of a new pump is good advice, even to have as a spare, or vice versa. Quote
TodFitch Posted December 28, 2009 Report Posted December 28, 2009 If the bearings are loose then the seal will not be effective and you will get coolant washing out the grease. That in turn will cause more wear on the bearings which will make the shaft wobble more, making the seal leak more, washing away the grease faster, wearing the bearings faster..... I don't recall any play that could be felt by hand on a good water pump for my 1933 which has basically the same internal design as the later ones. If you have any play in the shaft at all that you can feel by hand, follow Don C's advise. At least you can get a new water pump for your 1935 and up engines. I am stuck with rebuilding my old ones (yes I have more than one so I can have a rebuilt one on the shelf ready at all times). Quote
desoto1939 Posted December 28, 2009 Report Posted December 28, 2009 (edited) When you go to the NAPA store or whereever you buy the pump ask them if the pump was rebuild with the sealed and more modern bearing. If you are going to buy one then you should get the better pump Airtex was making a newere version of the pump several years back. ALso if the pump has a fitting then use a water pump grease or a Marine application grease that you can use on outboard motors. Rich HArtung Edited December 28, 2009 by desoto1939 added more info Quote
RobertKB Posted December 28, 2009 Report Posted December 28, 2009 If you buy a new pump, buy one without a grease fitting. All my cars have pumps with no grease nipple and although not totally original, a nice upgrade. Quote
Jim Yergin Posted December 28, 2009 Report Posted December 28, 2009 This afternoon I noticed that there seems to be some side to side play in the shaft of my water pump. I can grab the fan and make it wobble from side to side a little (pulley moves too). I rebuilt the water pump, but when I switched out the bad hub for one that Jim Yergin gave me, I also replaced the shaft and impeller because the one from his pump looked a lot better. I'm wondering if that shaft is narrower than my original. Before I took the rebuilt original apart, I never conducted the grab-the-fan test to see if there was any play, so I don't know if it was tight or not. I checked the four bolts that attach the fan to the hub and they're tight. I'll have to check and see if the hub is moving on the shaft, though I doubt it because that was a very tight fit. Is this something to worry about? I don't have the belt on and everything under tension yet, if that makes a difference. Joe, I don't know if it has anything to do with the issue you posed but the pump I gave you was one I replaced on my car because it had failed. Is it possible the shaft you transferred was worn out? Just so no one gets the idea I purposely gave you a bad pump, the reason you needed it was just for the fan hub attachment. Jim Yergin Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted December 28, 2009 Author Report Posted December 28, 2009 Right, Jim. Switching out the shaft was my idea. The reason I got the pump from you was for the hub, which worked out great. The shaft on my pump was badly scored. The one from yours was perfectly smooth. Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted December 28, 2009 Author Report Posted December 28, 2009 Also, isn't it more likely that the bushing would wear out, rather than the shaft? Isn't the bushing a much softer material? Quote
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