Water pump nut

[farmputzer]

My water pump packing nut keeps coming loose after driving 5,10,15 miles, and water leaks out when I stop the engine. I tighten it up quite tight and the same thing happens next time I drive it, it’s loose and water leaks. How can the nut come loose when the direction of rotation would tend to tighten it?

 

[nkaminar]

You may want to invest in a leakless water pump. Snyders is temporarily out of stock but here is the link. https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/product.htm?pid=984030&cat=41793

 

[Big hammer]

Nut cracked ? Nut threads worn ? Time to rebuild or replace .

 

[old ugly]

it may just need more packing around the shaft. that will stop the leak and should hold the packing nut from backing off.

if you don't have the packing cord rite on hand, and until you can get some, back the packing nut all the way off pull it forward then grease up some thick cotton cord, (don't take out the old packing yet) wrap a few wraps around the shaft put the nut back in position. if that helps your problem order the proper packing

ps. you may not need a leakless pump try this first so you don't have to take it all apart.

 

[Joe K]

For a while you could buy a nut which included a rubber "knife edge seal." The object of these was you pack it normally, but if you develop a leak you "screw it home" and the knife edge does the sealing.

I used mine along with teflon tape around the stuffing box threads.

Later they moved the knife edge seals (there may be two used here) into the stuffing box with more or less the same operating criteria. These are still available (I just bought two from Snyders) and may form the basis of the "leakproof" pump.

Joe K