Water Pump Rebuild Fail

When I found the water pump was leaking I decided to try and rebuild it as the kits are cheap enough and the casting had ROVER stamped on it. I like to keep original parts when possible.

I took it to a place in my village this morning that does a lot of agricultural repair but before I'd even finished saying 'water pump' the man was shaking his head. He told me he'd rebuilt loads over the years in combines and tractors and if they didn't break during the rebuild they almost always still leaked afterwards. He told me to buy a new one.

When I got home I couldn't just give up. I don't like throwing away original parts, but there's also something inside me that mourns the passing of our ability to fix things. The people still restoring traction engines today can't just buy new parts. If they need something fixed or replaced they have to machine it.

So I made a start myself, with the plan that once it was apart I could freeze the casting and the new spindle/bearing assembly overnight, which would hopefully make it possible to get back together without a press if I worked quickly enough.

To cut a long story short, the casting broke in the process. I think I can sleep at night fairly certain it would have broken anyway even if a press had been used - you've got to put force on the casting at some point in the process, whether with a press or through the shock of drifting the spindle out.

I started by trying to drift the spindle out from above. No chance!

I noticed I'd got the whole impeller/spindle/flange assembly to move through the casting though, so next I tried to pull the flange off the spindle, trying to keep the casting out of the equation as I'd been told it was the weak point. There's hardly any lip on the underside of the flange so the puller kept jumping off. No joy.

So I tried a bigger puller, this time trying to pull the casting and flange back (up) off the front end of the spindle..

..and the casting broke. Sad, but it does mean now I can just buy a new water pump. And I don't have to worry about not having tried.

Two steps forward, one step back

I've been busy this summer so far and have only got some small jobs done.

Thermostat

I've fit a new thermostat and gaskets. I painted the housing in DEB so it rather stands out at the moment. Over time it will fade and fit in again, and the water pump and timing cover will be painted the same colour anyway, as will the engine block if I ever take it out. I am hoping the thermostat was why it was running so hot so quickly when I started her the first few times. I'll find out when the front end is back together.

Wiper Switch and New Blades

The new wiper switch worked as expected and the wipers work and auto-park correctly. I've also fit new wiper blades, so the wipers are now done.

Front Crank Seal

I want a fit a new front crank seal and tap threads to make it easier in future, but this time I need to remove the whole timing cover. I've had a couple of attempts at getting the starter dog off but have now arranged to borrow an air-gun and a socket big enough. I'm hoping that does the job or I'll be dropping the sump in search of a way to prevent the crank turning while I work.

Water Pump

I have a rebuild kit for the water pump which has a slight leak. It's an original pump so I'd rather rebuild than replace it with a reproduction part, but I will do that as a backup plan if I have to - I need to find somewhere to help me with a good press, about 20 tonne I'm told.

Solenoid

I fit a new solenoid as the old one was just that, and failed when I was trying to undo the starter dog with some Stilsons and the coil unplugged and turning it over and.. bodgery does not pay! I'll try again with the right tools..

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I'm going to have more time available over the next month so I'm hoping to finish the front crank seal, water pump, and that last outrigger, and then put her back together for some simple test runs.