The Ford Barn

JOHN CT · 03-01-2017, 01:05 PM

I have a leakless water pump it's the type that the rear bearing needs to be greased. The instructions said to loosen the packing nut so the grease doesn't go into the coolant. So that's what I did. The question I have is how tight do I tighten the packing nut ? Do I make it finger tight or just tight enough to hold things together? I don't want to over do it it's a 1 year old pump

redmodelt · 03-01-2017, 01:27 PM

Just tight enough that the shaft spins easy and water does not leak out.

Not sure how that would prevent grease from going into the coolant, the grease would fill the void between the housing and seal and when you screw it back into place would pump it back, it's got to go someplace.
If the seal is the lipped type/modern it does not matter where it sit on the shaft there would be the same amount of pressure on the shaft from the seal.

OH! You don't need to over do the grease, a little goes a long way.

wk2w · 03-01-2017, 02:24 PM

The one I got from Bratton's recommended removing the rear grease fitting altogether, packing grease into the housing with your finger, then reinstalling the grease fitting. This would ensure that you didn't force grease out under the seal into the coolant.

redmodelt · 03-01-2017, 02:28 PM

Using the correct water pump grease helps get rid of that issue, grease mixing with water.

Jeff/Illinois · 03-01-2017, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redmodelt

Using the correct water pump grease helps get rid of that issue, grease mixing with water.

Ditto. Use a separate grease gun with water pump grease keep it separate from the chassis grease gun. Good to go.

1931 flamingo · 03-01-2017, 04:25 PM

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How many turns did you unscrew it?? Tighten it back that many.................
Paul in CT

Synchro909 · 03-01-2017, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff/Illinois

Ditto. Use a separate grease gun with water pump grease keep it separate from the chassis grease gun. Good to go.

You don't even need a separate grease gun. I use the cap on the fitting to push the grease in. Just scoop a little into the cap and screw it back on part way, then tighten some more a few hundred miles later. A little does indeed go a long way. By the time the cap is screwed all the way back on, you've done maybe 1,000 miles. The bush might take more grease as it or the shaft wears, which the soft shafts we are offered these days will do.

barnstuf · 03-01-2017, 04:58 PM

In posts 4 and 5 the use of water pump grease is advised. However in the Ford Service Bulletins for September-October 193 2Ford dealer mechanics are warned against the use of special water pump lubricants for both the 4 cylinder and V8 cars advising that special water pump lubricants have a melting point considerably higher than the maximum water temperature, forcing surplus lubricant to ledge in the radiator water tubes. I know that advice was dated 1932. I have no expertise in the water pump lubricant sold today so I pose the question to posters 4 and 5 to clarify their statements. In 1932 the Service Bulletin went on to emphasize using chassis grease in the water pumps. Is there a lubrication expert in the ford barn forum??

johnbuckley · 03-01-2017, 05:12 PM

x2 Barnstuff! my thinking too....I can understand why you'd want waterproof grease (aka waterpump grease) on say a boats underwater propeller shaft. But on a car water pump using w/pump grease isn't going to stop you forcing grease through into the coolant and once there the water pump grease is much more likely to clag the tubes by not dissolving like ordinary grease would.

JOHN CT · 03-01-2017, 05:41 PM

Thanks to everyone for responding on my thread. But the type of grease isn't the problem. I understand that I should use water pump grease. I just wanna know how tight should the packing nut should be

dennis lumbert · 03-01-2017, 07:13 PM

I have one of those pumps on my car.My understanding is the nut is to be finger tight and only tightened in the event of a seal failure (water leak) to stop the leak to get you home.

Synchro909 · 03-01-2017, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennis lumbert

I have one of those pumps on my car.My understanding is the nut is to be finger tight and only tightened in the event of a seal failure (water leak) to stop the leak to get you home.

That's how I understand it too and the nut tightened only as far as is needed to stop the leak.
That said, I will not have a bar of the so called leakless pumps being flogged by vendors. I consider them rubbish. I build my own with modern seals and a sealed ball bearing at the front. Far more durable and still have the nut and gland packing just in case. Haven't needed it yet.

03-01-2017, 01:05 PM	#1
JOHN CT Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: In my garage Posts: 465	Leakless water pump I have a leakless water pump it's the type that the rear bearing needs to be greased. The instructions said to loosen the packing nut so the grease doesn't go into the coolant. So that's what I did. The question I have is how tight do I tighten the packing nut ? Do I make it finger tight or just tight enough to hold things together? I don't want to over do it it's a 1 year old pump __________________ 31 Tudor 66 Bonneville 57 Chevy pickup 27 T roadster pick up

03-01-2017, 01:27 PM	#2
redmodelt Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland OR Posts: 6,342	Re: Leakless water pump Just tight enough that the shaft spins easy and water does not leak out. Not sure how that would prevent grease from going into the coolant, the grease would fill the void between the housing and seal and when you screw it back into place would pump it back, it's got to go someplace. If the seal is the lipped type/modern it does not matter where it sit on the shaft there would be the same amount of pressure on the shaft from the seal. OH! You don't need to over do the grease, a little goes a long way. __________________ I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas! Last edited by redmodelt; 03-01-2017 at 01:33 PM.

03-01-2017, 02:24 PM	#3
wk2w Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 22	Re: Leakless water pump The one I got from Bratton's recommended removing the rear grease fitting altogether, packing grease into the housing with your finger, then reinstalling the grease fitting. This would ensure that you didn't force grease out under the seal into the coolant.

03-01-2017, 02:28 PM	#4
redmodelt Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland OR Posts: 6,342	Re: Leakless water pump Using the correct water pump grease helps get rid of that issue, grease mixing with water. __________________ I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!

03-01-2017, 04:25 PM	#6
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: Leakless water pump Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) How many turns did you unscrew it?? Tighten it back that many................. Paul in CT

03-01-2017, 04:58 PM	#8
barnstuf Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cape Cod MA Posts: 2,840	Re: Leakless water pump In posts 4 and 5 the use of water pump grease is advised. However in the Ford Service Bulletins for September-October 193 2Ford dealer mechanics are warned against the use of special water pump lubricants for both the 4 cylinder and V8 cars advising that special water pump lubricants have a melting point considerably higher than the maximum water temperature, forcing surplus lubricant to ledge in the radiator water tubes. I know that advice was dated 1932. I have no expertise in the water pump lubricant sold today so I pose the question to posters 4 and 5 to clarify their statements. In 1932 the Service Bulletin went on to emphasize using chassis grease in the water pumps. Is there a lubrication expert in the ford barn forum??

03-01-2017, 05:12 PM	#9
johnbuckley Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,443	Re: Leakless water pump x2 Barnstuff! my thinking too....I can understand why you'd want waterproof grease (aka waterpump grease) on say a boats underwater propeller shaft. But on a car water pump using w/pump grease isn't going to stop you forcing grease through into the coolant and once there the water pump grease is much more likely to clag the tubes by not dissolving like ordinary grease would.

03-01-2017, 05:41 PM	#10
JOHN CT Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: In my garage Posts: 465	Re: Leakless water pump Thanks to everyone for responding on my thread. But the type of grease isn't the problem. I understand that I should use water pump grease. I just wanna know how tight should the packing nut should be __________________ 31 Tudor 66 Bonneville 57 Chevy pickup 27 T roadster pick up

03-01-2017, 07:13 PM	#11
dennis lumbert Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: central Arkansas Posts: 150	Re: Leakless water pump I have one of those pumps on my car.My understanding is the nut is to be finger tight and only tightened in the event of a seal failure (water leak) to stop the leak to get you home.