Any of ya'll rebuild your own water pumps?

[wanderinthru]

Have the equipment to do it with, and a couple old pumps laying around. Any idea where a person could find the specs and clearances? Also had a John Deere tractor that need one show up at the shop today, can't imagine there is any difference....

 

[Bextreme04]

Have the equipment to do it with, and a couple old pumps laying around. Any idea where a person could find the specs and clearances? Also had a John Deere tractor that need one show up at the shop today, can't imagine there is any difference....

They're so cheap I usually don't bother. I'm assuming most rebuilds are just cleaning the blades and putting new bearings/seals in. I'm not sure where you would get a bearing and seal kit though to be able to rebuild your own.

 

[wanderinthru]

They're so cheap I usually don't bother. I'm assuming most rebuilds are just cleaning the blades and putting new bearings/seals in. I'm not sure where you would get a bearing and seal kit though to be able to rebuild your own.

Yes sir...would assume they are a pretty well standard size bearing and seal. Guess I need to take one apart and see. Bought one a couple months ago, it was new not a reman, from a the local small town parts house, it was 50 to 55 bucks, so would be about a wash money wise for me.....
Thanks!!

 

[Bextreme04]

Yes sir...would assume they are a pretty well standard size bearing and seal. Guess I need to take one apart and see. Bought one a couple months ago, it was new not a reman, from a the local small town parts house, it was 50 to 55 bucks, so would be about a wash money wise for me.....
Thanks!!

After reading this post I went and looked around... standard rebuild kits are available for chevy water pumps, but they run something like $60-70. So it costs more than a rebuild and you have to spend the time to so it. Makes sense if you have a rare engine or want to do a full crazy detailed restoration of a rare classic I guess. Still doesn't seem worth it to me.

 

[wanderinthru]

After reading this post I went and looked around... standard rebuild kits are available for chevy water pumps, but they run something like $60-70. So it costs more than a rebuild and you have to spend the time to so it. Makes sense if you have a rare engine or want to do a full crazy detailed restoration of a rare classic I guess. Still doesn't seem worth it to me.

Appreciate it, would have not thought there was a kit, nor thought it would be that expensive. Though, wager it has a new shaft, impeller, seals bearings gaskets etc.... everything but the housing. Not to sound like an ass, but this has nothing to do with cost, it has to do with me tooling down the road in MY truck, and another way to not support some foreign country. I drive and use these old trucks daily, because I like them, I can fix them....ish.... I enjoy that they are MINE. Now I can't rebuild, or build an ECM module, but I can a water pump, alternator and starter.
Again I do appreciate it!

 

[Vbb199]

After reading this post I went and looked around... standard rebuild kits are available for chevy water pumps, but they run something like $60-70. So it costs more than a rebuild and you have to spend the time to so it. Makes sense if you have a rare engine or want to do a full crazy detailed restoration of a rare classic I guess. Still doesn't seem worth it to me.

Seems kinda like rebuilding a rear wheel brake cylinder lol

 

[80BrownK10]

They're so cheap I usually don't bother. I'm assuming most rebuilds are just cleaning the blades and putting new bearings/seals in. I'm not sure where you would get a bearing and seal kit though to be able to rebuild your own.

This is what I was thinking. There so cheap, even a decent brand I would think would not be worth the time. But if the parts are really cheap and you can do it relatively fast go ahead and do it.

 

[80BrownK10]

Seems kinda like rebuilding a rear wheel brake cylinder lol

Again on a rare one or one that is not available or would take weeks. I would do it if I could get a kit easy. But no sense to buy a wheel cylinder kit for the same price , more or just $1 less than an actual wheel cyl

 

[Ricko1966]

Seems kinda like rebuilding a rear wheel brake cylinder lol

I still rebuild wheel cylinders even If it costs more, if my options are a 3rd world country wheel cylinder or a name brand kit.I've seen too many cheap wheel cylinders fail in under a year.Rebuilding rear cylinders use to be part of a standard brake job.

 

[wanderinthru]

I still rebuild wheel cylinders even If it costs more, if my options are a 3rd world country wheel cylinder or a name brand kit.I've seen too many cheap wheel cylinders fail in under a year.Rebuilding rear cylinders use to be part of a standard brake job.

Glad to see I ain't the only one Richard!!

 

[Donald]

Back in the 70's I worked for Pontiac and they wanted us to rebuild water pumps , it didn't turn out well . We broke more housings then we repaired plus rusted housings leaked . I tried to get a kit for an aluminum housing last year and could not find a kit to rebuild it .

 

[Curt]

I know it’s not exactly on topic,but now is a good time to look at your heater hoses,clamps and test antifreeze.

Wrong mixture of coolant can cause premature water pump failure.

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

I would definitely look into this in situations where the OEM impeller is cast iron, the aftermarket is some kind of stamped aluminum or something, and a new one with a cast impeller is just ridiculously priced. I just came across this with a 3.1 water pump. The impeller on the old one had like 205K miles, plus it also sat in rust and sludge for 15 years, and it looked totally immaculate.

 

[SirRobyn0]

Have the equipment to do it with, and a couple old pumps laying around. Any idea where a person could find the specs and clearances? Also had a John Deere tractor that need one show up at the shop today, can't imagine there is any difference....

A long time ago I did some water pump rebuilding, the thing is that the amount of time I'd put into rebuilding a pump vs just buying one. And while I am a professional mechanic I'm not a professional water pump rebuilder, so a few I did leaked which meant I had to pull them apart again and see what I did wrong. If you want to try it for fun and knowledge go for it. If you want a good solid reliable water pump with less work buy a quality reman or new unit.

 

[wanderinthru]

A long time ago I did some water pump rebuilding, the thing is that the amount of time I'd put into rebuilding a pump vs just buying one. And while I am a professional mechanic I'm not a professional water pump rebuilder, so a few I did leaked which meant I had to pull them apart again and see what I did wrong. If you want to try it for fun and knowledge go for it. If you want a good solid reliable water pump with less work buy a quality reman or new unit.

Thanks! Can I ask what you did wrong that caused them to leak?