Water pump packing nut removal

1

1965 Mustang

Member
How do you get the water pump packing nut to move forward to install packing? With the water pump installed on the engine the nut just spins and spins on the shaft but will not move forward no matter how long I move the nut counter clockwise. The shaft remains stationary. if I removed the whole water pump I could probably figure it out, but I don't want to remove the radiator again. Thanks
 
Is the bushing spinning in the pump housing with the packing nut? That is the only scenario I can think of why the packing nut will not back off.
 
If the bushing is not spinning as Y-Blockhead suggests, use a long angle tip pry bar and place the tip behind the back of the packing nut. Then pry it forward. using the pump housing as a fulcrum. Be sure to clean off old grease, rust or crud from the shaft immediately in front of the packing nut. Any or all of these can keep the packing nut from moving forward when you want it to.
Marshall
 
Yes I noticed that the bushing / collar behind the nut is spinning.
Probably got messed up by previously over tightening the packing nut.
I suppose the only solution is to remove the water pump to deal with it.
(most likely have to get a new water pump) Thanks
 
If you remove the hood, 2 cowl rods, and top radiator hose you should be able to move the radiator forward by tipping it enough to allow removing pump. Replace the 4 pump studs with A-8501- MBM mounting studs. This will allow removing the pump in the future without having to move the radiator.
 
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