The Ford Barn

roddyb34 · 07-02-2011, 01:51 AM

Just noticed our water pump has end play ,the shaft moves forward a quarter inch or so ,is this normal ,could it come out and damage the radiator?,,it was supposedly a new pump ,

Tudortomnz · 07-02-2011, 02:06 AM

No it is not normal for that much play & it could damage the radiator. If you just purchased, return it or get some weld put on shaft where it fits into head. Check everything else ; is it a new 'leakless'? I wouldnt bother with one, just rebuild original style which are perfectly adequate. Part of the Model A experience is adjusting the packing nut & winding on more packing from time to time.
BTW, visited Geelong last year & loved it, especially Ford Discovery Centre. I would live there after what has happened here in Canterbury [ earthquakes= a lot of damage.]
Tom

Mike V. Florida · 07-02-2011, 02:10 AM

There is a collar sold by the vendors that will keep the shaft from moving as well.

roddyb34 · 07-02-2011, 02:11 AM

Thanks ,we are about to pull the engine to do the bottom end so we will check then ,it has the gland nut ,the previous owner installed it so i dont know where it came from ,,

Tom Wesenberg · 07-02-2011, 09:01 AM

More than about 1/16" of end play can let the thrust washer drop out of place and chew up the shaft until the impellor snaps off. Last year I saw a radiator cut up by a water pump with about 1/2" of end play.

To control end play, I prefer the lock collar that Mike shows above. I also prefer the square brass thrust washer.

Kurt in NJ · 07-02-2011, 09:05 AM

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Welding the end of the shaft makes a "custom" waterpump, I drilled the head and used a stainless bolt to fix the wear. The collar pictured in an above post is a quick fix, with as much movement as you have the thrust washer inside is gone or out of place by now.

After a few years of use the gland nut type for me has become leak less and less,

Jerry Parr WI · 07-02-2011, 09:21 AM

The end play is usually caused by wear in the head. A new pump does not correct that. The fan actually travels further from the radiator not closer so the radiator is not in immediate danger. A number of solutions exist like adding weld to the end of the shaft. I prefer the collar that Mike shows, the objective being to keep the thrust washer Tom mentioned in place.

roddyb34 · 07-02-2011, 03:42 PM

Thanks for the replys and the detailed pics ,we are going to pull the engine this week for the rebuild ,without the fordbarn info and help i have had so far working on this car i wouldnt have had the confidence to do what i have done ,thankyou guys so much ,,

07-02-2011, 01:51 AM	#1
roddyb34 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Geelong Australia Posts: 119	Water Pump end play Just noticed our water pump has end play ,the shaft moves forward a quarter inch or so ,is this normal ,could it come out and damage the radiator?,,it was supposedly a new pump ,

07-02-2011, 02:06 AM	#2
Tudortomnz Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Canterbury, New Zealand Posts: 1,242	Re: Water Pump end play No it is not normal for that much play & it could damage the radiator. If you just purchased, return it or get some weld put on shaft where it fits into head. Check everything else ; is it a new 'leakless'? I wouldnt bother with one, just rebuild original style which are perfectly adequate. Part of the Model A experience is adjusting the packing nut & winding on more packing from time to time. BTW, visited Geelong last year & loved it, especially Ford Discovery Centre. I would live there after what has happened here in Canterbury [ earthquakes= a lot of damage.] Tom

07-02-2011, 02:10 AM	#3
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Water Pump end play There is a collar sold by the vendors that will keep the shaft from moving as well. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

07-02-2011, 02:11 AM	#4
roddyb34 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Geelong Australia Posts: 119	Re: Water Pump end play Thanks ,we are about to pull the engine to do the bottom end so we will check then ,it has the gland nut ,the previous owner installed it so i dont know where it came from ,,

07-02-2011, 09:01 AM	#5
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Water Pump end play More than about 1/16" of end play can let the thrust washer drop out of place and chew up the shaft until the impellor snaps off. Last year I saw a radiator cut up by a water pump with about 1/2" of end play. To control end play, I prefer the lock collar that Mike shows above. I also prefer the square brass thrust washer. Last edited by Tom Wesenberg; 07-02-2011 at 09:07 AM.

07-02-2011, 09:05 AM	#6
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,156	Re: Water Pump end play Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Welding the end of the shaft makes a "custom" waterpump, I drilled the head and used a stainless bolt to fix the wear. The collar pictured in an above post is a quick fix, with as much movement as you have the thrust washer inside is gone or out of place by now. After a few years of use the gland nut type for me has become leak less and less,

07-02-2011, 09:21 AM	#7
Jerry Parr WI Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 619	Re: Water Pump end play The end play is usually caused by wear in the head. A new pump does not correct that. The fan actually travels further from the radiator not closer so the radiator is not in immediate danger. A number of solutions exist like adding weld to the end of the shaft. I prefer the collar that Mike shows, the objective being to keep the thrust washer Tom mentioned in place.

07-02-2011, 03:42 PM	#8
roddyb34 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Geelong Australia Posts: 119	Re: Water Pump end play Thanks for the replys and the detailed pics ,we are going to pull the engine this week for the rebuild ,without the fordbarn info and help i have had so far working on this car i wouldnt have had the confidence to do what i have done ,thankyou guys so much ,,