Water Pump Leak

[Thistle]

I have a Beta 10 engine with a very minor water leak from the water pump shaft. From what I can tell with the help of Google, there are a couple of seals on the shaft which seem to be fairly readily available from spares suppliers. What I can't find is any detail about removing/replacing these seals: can anyone point me in the right direction, please?

(Unless there are particular problems with this set-up, I'm happy to do the work myself but would rather know what I'm getting into before I start taking things to bits.)

 

[Boater Sam]

Fresh water pump or engine circulation pump? The first is simple the second means a new pump or a specialist refab.

 

[Thistle]

Fresh water pump or engine circulation pump? The first is simple the second means a new pump or a specialist refab.

Sea water pump ... but if it's a replace or specialist job, why do seals seem so readily available?

 

[Plum]

Sea water pump ... but if it's a replace or specialist job, why do seals seem so readily available?

A seawater pump is not a specialist job, just needs some care. After a certain life the shaft starts to wear where the seals rub which then means the new seals wear out quicker. If you are not in a rush, dismantle and inspect shaft, then buy seal kit with or without the shaft.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[vyv_cox]

Lots of information here Water pumps

 

[PaulRainbow]

With regard to the seals wearing the shaft.... if it's a single lip seal you can often replace it with a double lipped seal, but fit it "backwards", this moves the lip that keeps the water in to a new section of shaft.

 

[BabaYaga]

I have a Beta 10 engine with a very minor water leak from the water pump shaft. From what I can tell with the help of Google, there are a couple of seals on the shaft which seem to be fairly readily available from spares suppliers. What I can't find is any detail about removing/replacing these seals: can anyone point me in the right direction, please?

(Unless there are particular problems with this set-up, I'm happy to do the work myself but would rather know what I'm getting into before I start taking things to bits.)

It is not very complicated, you need to take the pump off the engine block. The engine side of the pump may look something like in this photo (a Jabsco pump on my Beta 722). Just remove the circlip and the shaft can be pulled out (with the help of a little force IIRC). On the shaft there will be a couple of bearings, followed by the two rubber seals.

 

[Boater Sam]

I

Sea water pump ... but if it's a replace or specialist job, why do seals seem so readily available?

I did not say that. fresh pump is easy, engine pump is not designed to be easily repaired is what I said.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I

I did not say that. fresh pump is easy, engine pump is not designed to be easily repaired is what I said.

Where is the fresh water pump located on the engine ?

(Not expecting a reply)

 

[Supertramp]

Sea water pump ... but if it's a replace or specialist job, why do seals seem so readily available?

I have a Beta 60 but I think the pump is similar in design. The sea water circuit with the impeller has a seal behind the impeller. You can carefully prise this out. I used a hooks made from bicycle spokes. Then replace. The inner seal into the engine is an oil seal I think. No need to remove the shaft to do the sea water pump seal only.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I have a Beta 60 but I think the pump is similar in design. The sea water circuit with the impeller has a seal behind the impeller. You can carefully prise this out. I used a hooks made from bicycle spokes. Then replace. The inner seal into the engine is an oil seal I think. No need to remove the shaft to do the sea water pump seal only.

Good thinking on the bicycle spoke, i use a stainless welding rod.

Hook the seal out then tap a new one in with a suitable sized long reach socket, no need to even take the pump off.

 

[V1701]

I have a Beta 60 but I think the pump is similar in design. The sea water circuit with the impeller has a seal behind the impeller. You can carefully prise this out. I used a hooks made from bicycle spokes. Then replace. The inner seal into the engine is an oil seal I think. No need to remove the shaft to do the sea water pump seal only.

Yes exactly the same here, I managed to find a full rebuild kit from Germany with bearings, impeller, seal, etc. but in the end all I had to do was replace the seal behind the impeller. ASAP wanted something like £25 for just the seal. I replaced the seal that I used from the rebuild kit for £3 or £4 off ebay so now have a full rebuild kit again. Here's the thread, some of the links might be useful...

 

[Thistle]

Many thanks to all. I'll give it a go and report back.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Note of caution with non-genuine seals, make sure they have stainless steel springs.

 

[vyv_cox]

Note of caution with non-genuine seals, make sure they have stainless steel springs.

Not sure if it is still the case but my Yanmar kit seals had bronze springs whereas the identical size Volvo ones were stainless.

 

[PetiteFleur]

As Paul Rainbow says - get seals with stainless springs which may need to be ordered from a specialist seal/bearing supplier. Not expensive though. I've used simplybearings.co.uk in the past.

 

[Daydream believer]

So out of interest. When fitting seals . How does one know what way round does the spring of the seal face? Assuming one has not seen the one that came out. Furthermore it may have been incorrectly fitted in the first place. So how does one check?
I asked this question of the MD of Volspec? I was replacing the seals on the prop shaft of the sail drive & he was embarrassed to admit that he did not know. He got one of his engineers to call me back, when they returned from a job, but I have forgotten what he told me.
My guess is that in the case of a water pump seal it would go away from the water side & on an oil seal it would go on the oil side. But is that right?

 

[PaulRainbow]

So out of interest. When fitting seals . How does one know what way round does the spring of the seal face? Assuming one has not seen the one that came out. Furthermore it may have been incorrectly fitted in the first place. So how does one check?
I asked this question of the MD of Volspec? I was replacing the seals on the prop shaft of the sail drive & he was embarrassed to admit that he did not know. He got one of his engineers to call me back, when they returned from a job, but I have forgotten what he told me.
My guess is that in the case of a water pump seal it would go away from the water side & on an oil seal it would go on the oil side. But is that right?

With a normal single lip seal (usually fitted in these water pumps) the springs goes to the side of whatever it is you're trying to contain. So, water side for the water seal and oil side for the oil seal.

If you fit it the wrong way round it won't seal.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Sea water pump ... but if it's a replace or specialist job, why do seals seem so readily available?

Read Boater Sam's reply again.

 

[forelle541]

Note of caution with non-genuine seals, make sure they have stainless steel springs.

Replace the spring with an O ring.