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Lousy Parts

prb51

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Gents, About a week ago I started a thread about a unique noise and then figured my water pump had self destructed. Today I recv'd exactly the same pump from a supplier. This pump comes with an attached pulley w/nylock nut. The bearing body has the grease zerk and the pulley has a polished/machined body past the pulley run. The body is a dark gray color and it has a ridiculously small brass impeller. This unit's pulley contacts the body when spun and drags - exactly what destroyed the same pump on my car. This is the cheapest repro part I've ever seen in my life. The LBC parts seller, to his credit, pulled one off the shelf and had the same result. He said 'what a piece of cr@p' and told me to send it back. These same units are also sold on ebay for about $85. Run away. There has to be better out there.
 
I can't take the suspense, where did you get the part & what name was on the box ?
 
I've come across the same problem. I had to use a die grinder to modify the housing so the pully woulden't rub, or in the case of the first one I did, lock up completely when tightened down.
I'm not sure what the suppliers problem is but they're all coming through like that. It's been that way for a while (over a year ago when I did mine) so they have to be aware of the problem. They don't seem to care.
If you want to try to fix it yourself (cause I bet the next one he sends will be the same way), you need to grind down the housing where it widens out (right where the pully ends) where that lump that sticks up is. Do it with a Die grinder or a bench grinder. don't try it by hand, you'll be there all day. Good luck Guv'na /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif
 
Banjo, I'd rather let the car sit than put this junk on it. The only reasnon that the pulley is polished is because the casting is so poor they had to do that to get some semblance of balance. I could cast this in my backyard sandbox - i can just imagine what the internals look like. The supplier is not sending me a replacement.
 
Every replacement pump I have seen for the past 25 years (okay so that would be 3) has required grinding for the pulley to clear. Fortunately there is a lot of material there so no danger of grinding through. I ground (and repainted) my spare pump the day I got it so I never even thought of this when you described the sound of your problem with your nearly new pump. Sorry.

I have never obtained an aftermarket pulley so can't comment on whether the one you got is typical -- but original pulleys should be plentiful and it is a part where old & used is just fine.
 
Talked to TRF today and was told that they have found a company that will reproduce the pumps/pulleys to original spec but it will be 4-6 months before they are available.
 
Hi all,

I put a new pulley on a 25+ year old pump and, guess what, it rubbed slightly!

Another important point when buying a pump, ask about the type of seal being used and the initial break in of the pump.

The original type of seal needed to be run dry for about a minute, before adding water to the cooling system, to insure a good seal. If that's not done, the seal will begin to leak much more quickly and need replacement far sooner.

However, many modern replacements use a different type of seal that doesn't require "dry" break in. So, it's a good idea to ask for break in instructions when buying a pump.

Has anyone bought a water pump for their TR at a Massey Ferguson dealer lately? Here in the U.S., it used to be that the same pump could be found at the tractor dealer for about half the cost. I don't know if this is still true.

Cheers!

Alan
 
On the subject of alternatives, I have heard that Ken Gillanders at British Frame and Engine [626 443-0939] offers an improved water pump. I expect the difference is an improved impeller.

https://www.britishframeandengine.com/

On the subject of Massey Ferguson -- a parts list I have dated 5/73 shows a 'water pump repair kit' p/n 825 440 M91 which appears to be what you would commonly call a water pump (everything exclusive of the pump body and pulley).

I have never attempted to obtain such a part so do not know for sure that this is accurate or available. The MF pulley is not suitable for a TR as it is designed to have a fan bolted to the front of it.
 
Gents, Pulled the pump and the common problem (as you've pointed out) of pulley/bearing housing clearance was never addressed. The unit came assembled (see ebay) and over time the constant contact actually cracked the pulley run (banging noise)and then self destructed. The unit looks to be almost new. A rhetorical question; who would make a part with a major built in defect?
 
prb51, Don't know of anyone who carries the kit now, but the bearings are standard Timken, got the numbers somewhere, but any parts guy can measure them and the only seal I have seen is the one in Vicky Brit. You will need to get someone to press out the shaft and getting the old seal out and the new one in is an adventure. As info, if you have a big boat dealer in the area, they rebuild a lot of pumps and have seals. I did a few but the bearings are about $17 each and the seal about $9 and as NAPA had them for $45 I went with that. Wayne
 
There is a video on rebuilding TR water pumps... makes it look easy (?!?). Below is a poor quality still taken from a copy of a copy of the video showing a homemade tool for pressing out that shaft:

water%20pump%20shaft%20tool.JPG
 
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