Water pump rebuild

[nick]

Pulled out my water pump while building up the block for the Sprint conversion. It took a 5 pound slide hammer with the pump bolt welded to it. The pump came out. The cage remained in but the bearing came apart leaving the outer bearing race in the cage.

Any ideas how to get the bearing race out of the cage without destroying the cage?

Any ideas how to get the cage out? If it didn't come out with the pump using about 20 strokes on the 5 pound slide hammer, it must be in there permanently.

I have a pump rebuild kit. You have to use a drift to separate the pump from the impeller. The first few stroke of the hammer yielded nothing. Is if foolish to attempt this rebuild this pump?

[whitenviro]

A slide hammer is the way to go for removing the cage. If you mess it up I have a spare brass cage or two you can have. I used a carriage bolt on the end of the slide hammer so you have a pretty big surface in contact with the bottom of the cage when you hit on it.

I've tried to pull apart two pumps to rebuild, with no success. Both of them broke the impeller without separating it from the shaft. A little heat might help. I think Hasbeen will tell you that once it has been removed the impeller won't always bind to the shaft again after a rebuild, and will slip. They aren't too expensive, so a new pump might be the best option.

[nick]

Thanks Dan. I've tried the slide hammer with the large bolt head attached and so far it hasn't budged. This is really discouraging since I'm pretty sure I replaced that pump less the 2,000 miles ago in order to convert it to a 12 vane. It was the machinist who found the bearings shot. I hadn't even looked at it. But I do remember it did not want to seat when I installed it and I had to use a hammer on it. Probably buggered the bearing in the process. There is no way I can see to to get hold of that bearing race to pull it out of the cage. Best bet is to try and pull the cage, like you suggest. Also, I'm wondering where all the bearings are. I only recovered about three of them. I turned the block upside down and one dropped out. The others are either in the water or oil journals.

[sonscar]

Use a bar with a slot in the centre to feed under the cage and use suitable threaded bar with a plate over the hole and draw it out,easy and less brutal.I am sure there is pictures of suitable tools using search.Steve..

[nick]

Use a bar with a slot in the centre to feed under the cage and use suitable threaded bar with a plate over the hole and draw it out,easy and less brutal.I am sure there is pictures of suitable tools using search.Steve..

I got the cage out with my big persuader. My 5 pound slide hammer. I attached a 7/8 bolt to it which just fit the hole in the bottom of the cage. With that I was able to grab enough of the cage to get a solid hit with the slide hammer. But even with that I was having my doubts after about ten hits. The bottom of the cage started to deform and it had not budged. But with some persistence and about ten more whacks it started up.

Once out on the bench I was determined to see how tightly the bearing race was being held inside the cage. It was really in there. I finally wedge it out with hammer and screw driver. The purpose of that exercise was to determine what went wrong. It looks as though when I installed the pump the bearing went into cage at a slight angle. I'm sure I tried to reposition it several times with no success so I took a hammer to it which forced it into the cage at an angle. Subsequently this put an load on the bearing, not to mention that the hammer hits probably didn't help either.

Now the next challenge is to rebuild the pump. I wish I hadn't bought the rebuild kit because for $50 more I could have a new pump. But being one not liking to give up on an idea, I have soaked the pump shaft in penetrating oil and will attempt to separate today.

Dan, I'll be calling you when I get SEA to take you up on your offer for one of those spare cages you have. Beers to follow

[Beans]

... I am sure there is pictures of suitable tools using search ...

The tool I made from some leftovers I had lying around ...



... and in action. Simple but effective ...

[nick]

Tools are the answer to most problems. And tool making tools take care of the rest. My shop is a bit scant of tool making tools. As is my know how.

Anyone have any advise on how to get the impeller off the pump? I'm using a small drift down through the bolt hole. I've used penetrating oil on both sides of the impeller but so far it won't budge.

[FI Spyder]

Just thinking, wouldn't a press work better? Less chance of breaking the impeller. I picked up a cheap 12 ton press for $129. Possibly heating up the impeller prior to get it to expand.

[sonscar]

Be careful,do not let the shaft fall to the floor when it bursts free of the impellor as it is easily damaged,ask me how I know.Steve.

[Beans]

Also careful not to break the impellor, don't ask me how I know

[nick]

I broke it loose by using my trusty slide hammer in reverse. Having welded a pump bolt to it to pull the pump I had the tool I needed. Using the welded bolt screwed into the pump I placed the impeller between two 4x6 blocks of wood and let the hammer do its job. After about 10 solid hits the impeller gave up the shaft. Oh the joy

[dursleyman]

Nick, there is a good write up here on the Dolly Forum

http://forum.triumphdolomite.co.uk/view ... water+pump

[nick]

Thx for that post Russ. It sounds from write up that separating the impeller and shaft is the easiest part. I'm away from the project for a while now so I'll see how it goes when I return.

[dursleyman]

Thx for that post Russ. It sounds from write up that separating the impeller and shaft is the easiest part. I'm away from the project for a while now so I'll see how it goes when I return.

Its not that easy, I broke one myself. Just make sure the impeller is well supported and the support on the back is as close in to the shaft as possible and not farther out. That is how I broke mine.