Stuart,
My guess, based on many years of dealing with both original and replacement
XPAG/XPEG water pumps, is that you have one that was fitted with
sealed-for-life bearings when it was manufactured. The hole is there to
allow water to escape, in the unlikely event the seal fails and water gets
into that cavity. So, fear not, your bearings should not fail (as long as
you do not overtighten that great, thick fanbelt............!)
Lawrie
British Sportscar Center
-----Original Message-----
From: Stuart Keen <simbafish@home.com>
To: MG <mg-t@autox.team.net>
Date: Saturday, April 22, 2000 1:04 PM
Subject: Water Pump Grease Fitting
>I'm looking for a miracle worker. When I purchased my 51 TD, a brand new
>water pump spare was included, purchased from Abingdon Spares in 1984.
>When I had the engine rebuilt two months ago, I asked that the new water
>pump be installed (the keyway on the old pump is a bit battered, making
>it still good for an emergency spare but not one for a permanent
>installation). I assumed everything was all right by the machine shop.
>
>3,000 miles later, I decided to lubricate all the car fittings. When I
>came to the newly installed water pump, I discovered there was no grease
>nipple, only a small hole, approx 1/8 inch diameter (hopefully the
>bearings were well greased by the manufacturer and therefore no damage
>done without grease being packed). With a small jeweler's screwdriver, I
>have determined that the hole goes all the way to the bearings and there
>are no threads (I was hoping that a larger hole was closed off when the
>machine shop painted the engine and components). It appears that the
>hole for the grease fitting nipple was never tapped by the manufacturer.
>
>For an interim, I have pumped lithium grease into the small opening
>which was liberally accepted, but I don't think that is the answer. The
>grease fitting on my old pump appears to be Whitworth. I do not have a
>Whitworth tap nor would I think it a good idea to tap in place where
>filings could fall into the bearings below.
>
>Perhaps I am barking up the wrong tree. Maybe there is an easier
>solution. But the three options I see are : 1) reinstall the old pump,
>2) purchase a new water pump or 3) remove the water pump and tap for a
>grease nipple (being an iron casting, don't know if it can be tapped).
>My preference is to not remove the pump but come up with a viable
>solution for packing grease into the small opening.
>
>Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>
>Stu Keen
>Venice, FL
>51 MGTD MkII
>simbafish@home.com
>
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