Water Pump end play

roddyb34

roddyb34

Senior Member
Just noticed our water pump has end play ,the shaft moves forward a quarter inch or so ,is this normal ,could it come out and damage the radiator?,,it was supposedly a new pump ,
 
No it is not normal for that much play & it could damage the radiator. If you just purchased, return it or get some weld put on shaft where it fits into head. Check everything else ; is it a new 'leakless'? I wouldnt bother with one, just rebuild original style which are perfectly adequate. Part of the Model A experience is adjusting the packing nut & winding on more packing from time to time.
BTW, visited Geelong last year & loved it, especially Ford Discovery Centre. I would live there after what has happened here in Canterbury [ earthquakes= a lot of damage.]
Tom
 
There is a collar sold by the vendors that will keep the shaft from moving as well.

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Thanks ,we are about to pull the engine to do the bottom end so we will check then ,it has the gland nut ,the previous owner installed it so i dont know where it came from ,,
 
WaterPump-1.jpg


More than about 1/16" of end play can let the thrust washer drop out of place and chew up the shaft until the impellor snaps off. Last year I saw a radiator cut up by a water pump with about 1/2" of end play.

To control end play, I prefer the lock collar that Mike shows above. I also prefer the square brass thrust washer.
 
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Welding the end of the shaft makes a "custom" waterpump, I drilled the head and used a stainless bolt to fix the wear. The collar pictured in an above post is a quick fix, with as much movement as you have the thrust washer inside is gone or out of place by now.

After a few years of use the gland nut type for me has become leak less and less,
 
The end play is usually caused by wear in the head. A new pump does not correct that. The fan actually travels further from the radiator not closer so the radiator is not in immediate danger. A number of solutions exist like adding weld to the end of the shaft. I prefer the collar that Mike shows, the objective being to keep the thrust washer Tom mentioned in place.
 
Thanks for the replys and the detailed pics ,we are going to pull the engine this week for the rebuild ,without the fordbarn info and help i have had so far working on this car i wouldnt have had the confidence to do what i have done ,thankyou guys so much ,,
 
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