Water Pump shaft end play

panhead_pete

panhead_pete

Senior Member
Hi from Japan


After a several month process I have been able to get my Model A registered here and have been loving driving my 31 Banger powered coupe and went for a nice leasurely drive today and noticed a new to me noise.

Got out to investigate and its the water pump/fan shaft. There is quite a bit of end play. I noticed the shaft may have needed greasing so did that with some effect but the end play and noise is still there. It sounds worse in the video (link below) than real life but am guessing it shouldnt be like this. There is no apparent leaks so I guess that's a plus. Do I need to repack this or am I needing to look further. Thanks.

https://youtu.be/GKEX6-ia1vo
 
Brattons pn 12500 in front of the pump, behind, (kind of inside) the fan pulley is probably what you need. Make sure you are not using a 2 blade steel fan. If necessary get the aluminum one for safety.
 
pull the belt off and run the engine, just to make sure the noise is the pump.

yes there is a lock collar that can be added to the pump shaft that will limit the endplay.
but there may be more to it than just adding the collar.
if you just add the collar and reinstall the pump, and if you don't check the distance/clearance from the end of the shaft to the casting inside the cylinder head the pump may get damaged.
this is a very basic bit of information. for these repairs the pump has to come off, at that time you should research the procedure for setting those clearances
 
Cheers Fellas. Had thought if Im going that far I should just fit a new leakless pump but reached out to the major vendors and none have stock nor a timeline for getting them.
 
The collar can be installed without removing the pump. The fan has to come off though. This can require removing the radiator.

I'd loosen the belt so that the fan can be turned and end play checked. There is a casting protrusion inside the cylinder head that stops the movement of the shaft but they can wear down so much that the movement is excessive. The bearings can be felt for looseness in the front bearing or the rear bushing while doing the other checks. If it turns free with little or no shake and it doesn't leak water then the end play collar is likely all that would be needed.
 
rotorwrench said:
If it turns free with little or no shake and it doesn't leak water then the end play collar is likely all that would be needed.
Click to expand...


Thanks rotorwrench. There is no shake nor leak. Just end play. Obviously I've never done one of these before and hopefully I can source a split collar here to make the job even easier.



Where do I fit the collar and should the shaft be pushed back into the engine side of the housing or radiator when fitting?



Thanks
Pete
 
the shaft may not push back into the head very far as there is a cast rubbing block that is cast into the cylinder head. it is there to limit the rearward movement of the shaft so the impeller does not contact the head.
the normal position for the shaft is just off of that block. but all that could be askew depending on previous repairs and the condition of that block.
 
Thanks all. I have fitted a split collar (16mm) and set the end play at .007. Its an interim fix as Im not really comfortable with the collar riding against the pack nut.



Whilst I was doing that checked the fan and its aluminium but does have some play in it too. Will order a fan whilst Im there as freight will be the biggest expense.


In the absence of new leakless pumps being available affordably has anyone used the Bratton unasembled water pump kit?


https://www.brattons.com/30-31-LEAKLESS-SHOW-WATER-PUMP-KIT/productinfo/12220/
 
I haven't used their complete pump kit but I've used all the little parts and a new shaft/impeller to rebuild my old cast iron housing.
 
Have you tried putting the collar in front of the casting between the casting and the fan? I have found that with most fans there is enough room to put in the collar and you do not have to use a split collar.



bob
 
Bob Johnson said:
Have you tried putting the collar in front of the casting between the casting and the fan? I have found that with most fans there is enough room to put in the collar and you do not have to use a split collar.

bob
Click to expand...


Cheers Bob will have a look at that and see if I can. Im guessing I can remove the fan with the pump and radiator in place?
 
Do not worry about the collar wearing into the pack nut, the fan pulls ahead when the engine is running . I had a lot of end play on my 31 CCPU I could have cured it by removing the pump and fitting a stainless washer on the impellor end . A pain in the butt as you do several this several times to get the right thickness washer . I did it the easy way and fitted a small suitable stainless hose clip which has been on the shaft for years and no pack nut wear has occured when I grease the pump it does get a bit of lube .

John in sunny Suffolk County England

Many years ago I worked in Fukuoka (Hakata) Kyushu loved it there and RHD country !!!
 
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