Elusive water loss??

Pilkie

Pilkie

Active Member
Hi all.

Ive been suffering from an elusive water loss problem for a while,and as I could not see ANYWHERE!!! that it was coming from,just put it down to a possible small seep in a head gasket!
I thought I had cured it in the summer when I removed and replaced the heater matrix,which was knackered!
But NO!!
Recently I noticed a build up of reddish brown material around the pas pump side of the engine? :?
MMM!!!!??? :?
Then this friday I noticed my temp get high quicker than normal! I looked underneath to see the tell tale drip of a leak!! Horray found it!!
It is the water pump leaking from that little hole that dribbles before the bearing gives out! Closer inspection shows this red/brown material has been coming from there,so it has been everso slightly seeping for a while,and getting almost vapourised when spun off the pulley.
Now I know that replacing the water pump has its dangers! Thats mainly one of the 4 long bolts shearing off deep in the front dizzy/oil housing,leading to a major operation!!
OH CRAP!!! :cry: :cry:
Well!! its got to be done! and if the TR6 has to come out to play in this shitty weather so be it! :cry:
PHEW!!!!!!!!YIPPIE!!!!!!! :D
The only bolt to shear off was the very top 1/2" x 1" long one by the heater outlet hose!
If there had to be one I would choose to break this would be it! as its the easiest of all to get to,to fix!
Now ive had my bikkie and cuppa, I can go and drill it out and fit it all back together with the spare pump I bought 4 yrs ago just incase!!
Thank god that wind and rains stopped from last night!!
IMAG0163.jpg
 
Well that went smoother than expected! :D
No hassles drilling it out and tapping the thread,all went back as easy as it came apart,test blast no leaks seen! :)
Replacement water pump was new,fitted,driven 10 miles then removed due to the block being cracked by the Ebay seller 4 yrs ago,and its doing what it should,so that was £15 inc p/p well spent! :D
Heater works better now the water level doesnt drop!!
Better get another in stock just incase!!! :wink:
And I managed to do it all without damaging myself!!
I usually end up with a cut,burn,whack,swarf in the bum! :roll:
 
Nice one Dave,

I must admit, shearing bolts is one of my nightmares! I've not had a problem yet, but having never had to deal with one, I'd definitely have a brown trouser moment!

Well done for not damaging yourself too - I leave traces of my blood everywhere I go!
 
Well done Dave! I know there's a few heart-stopping moments when you wonder whether the bolts are going to give..or shear. Did you coat the threads with anything when they went back in?
 
Hi Stan.

I gave all the bolts a quick go over with a fine wire brush on the airdrill,then I sprayed them with WD40,ran them in and out of the threads a few times to clean it up a bit.
Finally dipped them in LM grease before putting them back in.
If any of you have to do this job,when starting to remove the bolts,first tighten them up a smidge first,this has the effect of cracking the grip that years of crud gives them,then start to loosen of very gingerly,undo them slowly,""DONT!!! use an airgun!!!"" to lessen friction heat and the chance of snapping off!
Make sure you clean off every last bit of old gasket with a blunt edge or carefully with a sharp blade!
When putting the bolts back in,do them finger tight first then each one a bit at a time so the pump gets pulled onto its dowels and the mating face evenly.

Dave
 
That must have been a very satisfying weekends work, Dave! I always leave bits of me all over things I've worked on. My Mother says I'm clumsy. Whatever, if there is a nut to be dropped or a bolt to be sheared you can always rely on me! Great on the theory - but you can see why I finished up in mamagement and not on the tools!!

Chris
 
I had a real lazy do bugger all day on Sat after a hard week!! :LOL:
BUT!!! at 11am Sun morning I remembered I had to do the leak! :roll:
I had it done in 3 hrs not rushing,and I have to confess I have found an injury,but I dont know how I got it??
Somehow I whacked my previously busted left wrist and bruised it,but as it was aching anyway,I didnt notice at the time!
BTW???
Do you know the very nice looking Cameron green S2 P6 I saw coming out of Thornbury a week or so ago?? Think it was a V8 with minilites and black webasto!!

Dave
 
pilkie said:
I gave all the bolts a quick go over with a fine wire brush on the airdrill,then I sprayed them with WD40,ran them in and out of the threads a few times to clean it up a bit.
Finally dipped them in LM grease before putting them back in.
Dave
Click to expand...

I've also got a new ebay bargain pump to fit when the top end goes back together. I'm looking at fitting suitable lengths of stainless steel studding into the block to avoid any problems in the future, should it need to come off again.


pilkie said:
If any of you have to do this job,when starting to remove the bolts,first tighten them up a smidge first,this has the effect of cracking the grip that years of crud gives them,then start to loosen of very gingerly,undo them slowly,""DONT!!! use an airgun!!!"" to lessen friction heat and the chance of snapping off!

Dave
Click to expand...

I'd second all that. I'm sure getting a blowlamp on the heads, and giving them a few hammer taps on the face of the bolt heads before attempting to move anything also helps a lot.


Again, sounds like a good job done Dave! And the satisfaction will compensate for your aching wrist! :D
 
Did you cut a new thread with a tap or get the old bit out with a Eazee-out or similar ?

Lucky it wasn't one of the long bolts that goes through the timing cover
 
DaveHerns said:
Did you cut a new thread with a tap or get the old bit out with a Eazee-out or similar ?

Lucky it wasn't one of the long bolts that goes through the timing cover
Click to expand...
QUOTE ME!!
PHEW!!!!!!!!YIPPIE!!!!!!!
I know that replacing the water pump has its dangers! Thats mainly one of the 4 long bolts shearing off deep in the front dizzy/oil housing,leading to a major operation!!
OH CRAP!!!
The only bolt to shear off was the very top 1/2" x 1" long one by the heater outlet hose!
If there had to be one I would choose to break this would be it! as its the easiest of all to get to,to fix!
No hassles drilling it out and tapping the thread clean!!
 
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