Leaking Water Pump

[MikeT]

I rebuilt my water pump last spring. In the process of getting the inner shaft seal out in nicked the the shaft sleeve. It was a very small knick but right on the edge where the sleeve meets the housing. The pump is leaking, more accurately, it's spiting water out. Could this be from the nick or is it more likely I installed the shaft seals wrong?

[Don Moyer]

Mike,

It's a little hard to say. The inner seal (the one nearest the impeller chamber) should have been installed with the name "Oberdorfer" facing you as you drove the seal into place. If you did nick the side of the housing as you removed the original seal, you can usually seal such a blemish with most any good sealer. We like to use Permatex Aviation brand sealer in this application, but others could work as well.

Unfortunately, to remove the seal to reseal it, you'll undoubtedly ruin the new seal, so you'll need new seals in any case.

Regards,

Don