Paul,
I have some experience with this. First the issue would be with the
seal.
A water pump seal is different than the typical rotary oil seal (as you
find on wheels, etc). The sealing is accomplished (usually) by the mating
of a fixed carbon face with the moving seat. There are several ways to do
this, but with a cast iron original (to 73, say) B pump, the carbon is
imbedded in a rubber "housing" that incorporates a spring that provides a
specifified load on the carbon against a machined face of the cast iron
impellor. Conditions that cause "weeping" and leaking are: a) cracked
carbon (it is fragile and hammer blows to the pump shaft can crack it) b)
corroded and pitted impellor face (usu. from sitting or non-use of
antifreeze, etc.) c) grooved impellor face from "foreign" objects d) loss
of spring tension or mis-alignment of the bearing shaft. (There are many
variations with other pumps and I can expand on that if necessary)
So, in the case of the 73 B _cast iron_ pump, one could demonstrate
that a
"running in" period of non-lubricated water would be beneficial IF the pump
has been sitting either uninstalled or installed for a period of time that
would allow some corrosion (rust) on the impellor face. Running in wont fix
a poorly manufactured or remanufactured pump, however. New sealing methods
and rebuilding techniques using ceramic rather than the impellor face
should do away with running-in altogether. Another story. Running in has no
bearing on the bearing. ;-)
Sorry to be so long. Hope this helps you and others.
Peter C
--
At 10:32 AM 9/30/1999 , wizardz wrote:
>Hhhhmmm..... can't remember.... but is there
>a special process for installing a new water pump
>in regards to the seating of the new bearing?
>That is to say... isn't there a process of running it in
>with clear water only or something like that
>before using anti-freeze to get the bearing in the pump
>to seat properly first?? Or am I just 'out there' somewhere as usual?
>
>
>Paul Tegler
>1973 BGT - Daily Driver
>Rat - 1980 Spitfire w/ O/D - in re-hab
>Punkin' - 1978 Spitfire - in Superb Shape!
>email: wizardz@toad.net http://www.teglerizer.com
>
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