Water Pump Problems (?)

Joe/Ct

Joe/Ct

Senior Member
I am trying to grease the water pump on our '28 roadster. The front fitting accepts grease, but the back one does not. I have removed and cleaned the fitting and checked the passage way; they were both OK. What's going on? I am concerned that the grease hole on the rear bushing may not be aligned with the housing grease hole. I have checked the depth (seems short) and tried to feel rotation with my probe while rotating the shaft...nothing. Any ideas? Is it possible to rotate the bushing without removing the pump?
 
Perhaps it has been modified from stock ---the original bushing had a groove all the way around so it didn't matter how it was orientated.

You could also have a "leakless" pump that doesn't take grease there
 
Kurt in NJ said:
Perhaps it has been modified from stock ---the original bushing had a groove all the way around so it didn't matter how it was orientated.

You could also have a "leakless" pump that doesn't take grease there
Click to expand...

Les Andrews' book notes that the bushing has a grease hole, not a groove. (I did not do the engine rebuild so I am uncertain as to what type of water pump it is.)

Note that, with the original style grease fitting, I would get cooling fluid seeping out of the fitting.

Does the leakless pump have both a front and back grease fitting?
 
Brentwood Bob said:
do you have the packing nut backed off before you try the grease gun?
bob
Click to expand...

I did back off the packing nut and still no joy. I changed to a more modern ball-end grease fitting, squeezed the gun really hard and heard a pop/bank. Grease then seemed to go in with moderate force. I hope that I didn't hurt anything.
 
there is a thread that explains the procedure for greasing lightly after a run. you leave the motor idling, loosen the packing nut, apply one, and only one partial pump of your favorite marine grease, snug the packing nut only enough to eliminate any coolant drips. the trick is to minimize the grease that finds its way into the coolant. Roger kaufman of the model a news had an annual lestoil treatment with paper towels to blot the grease out of the radiator as an annual maintenance item.
 
I have used the stock tool kit grease gun for my waterpump, ----for general greasing I have a much easier to use(one hand) era garage type gun
2 plunger applications of the original grease gun is enough to get the grease into the bushing ---but not so much that it gets into the cooling system, I have long life, rarely a drip, and havn't cleaned the radiator in 25 years

A stock rear bushing has a groove all the way around so there is no need to "line up the holes"
 
I'm rebuilding my 1929 water pump which I had previously 'rebuilt' about 5 years ago. I confess to being puzzled by the rear bushing and found this thread after a search. My initial thought was the grease holes do need to be aligned, but I now see that if the external groove aligns with the grease fitting - then grease will fill this groove and find its way to the shaft.

When fitting a new rear bushing - I nevertheless aligned the holes. We'll see if this is a mistake if there's a water leak - theoretical if the grease fitting cap is lost or falls off.

What concerns me is the difference between the old and new rear bush. When the new is inserted so that holes / groove align, there is significant rearward protrusion! See photos. Is the cast iron boss on the rear of the pump body shorter than normal in my case? If the bushing was pressed fully home, then the grease groove would not align with the grease fitting. The nose of the shaft/impellor fits into the cylinder head but the interior bearing pad is badly worn - hence the collar to prevent forward and aft play.
 

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I have a couple of pumps in the garage so I took a picture or two..I can get more pictures if needed...
 

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Hmmm. Thanks to 1955cj5 for the prompt pictures. His cast iron boss appears to measure roughly 13/16 in height. Mine is less at 11/16 and the rim, which at first glance looks chamfered, is irregularly 'chipped'. The shaft is 10" long

So, I'll run this pump as it came with the car and engine, but it has a new, standard rear bushing and I have no idea what went on in Uruguay many years ago.
 
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