Obstinate water pump

[wilf]

I have had to set to and renovate the water pump on my Stag after a tiny leak turned into a torrent. All went well with the initial disassembly, but now, well, I am stuck.

Today the post finally arrived with the slide hammer adaptor I was waiting for.

So I duly commenced slide hammering. With gusto. To the point of aching arms etc.

And......................nada, nothing, nowt - the pump has not budged, not one little bit.

I considered getting some tension on it via a rafter and a ratchet strap, then "persauding " it with an air chisel, turning the impellor in the direction where the skew gears would force it out. But that seems a little drastic and not exactly sympathetic to the jackshaft gear, so I post here in the hope of alternate, and maybe kinder, suggestions.

NB - I have no materials, no welding kit, to make up "special things".

I post a pic of the adaptor and the slide hammer I used, (with my hand in view for scale) so you can see I am indeed using a bit of kit that should have more than enough oomph. At one time I found some sash cord (doesn't stretch) and employed a large sledgehammer in a double loop of it, lifting it upwards as fast as I could, in case more heft was needed - nothing.

Suggestions (no, not rude ones please)?

[alan_thomas]

I would steer clear of air chisels trying to turn the impeller, at best it will turn the impeller on the shaft destroying the milled section on the shaft or worse still you can damage the jackshaft.
We can’t see a pic of the slide hammer adapter you are using but is it the type where you remove the top nut holding the impeller on (left hand thread) and then use the t
bolt to secure the slide hammer. You don’t want anything that pulls on the impeller directly.
As long as there is a solid connection between the slide hammer and the pump shaft any always pull out often leaving the brass cage behind. Have pull Stag, TR7s and Sprints and they always come out in the end. Perhaps it is time to squirt some easing fluid like ‘plus gas’ down there go and pour yourself a beer then come back to it later.
Alan

[Wheelz]

Whe a slide hammer didnt work Wilf, I used a crowbar to lever it out. I had fitted something like a metal loop that I made to fit under the nut to lever on but cant recall exactly what is was.

[sujitroy]

I had a buddy weld a left hand bolt to a bolt which went in my large slide hammer. It will come out with or without the brass cage. I think you need a beefier side hammer. The pump needs that jolt.
Sujit

[mallardstag]

I don't think that the sash cord is applying enough of a shock to get the pump out - you need a solid link.

[flying farmer]

I suspect the hook that links to the slide hammer is springing a bit and reducing the shock effect. The slide hammer I made hasn't got a particularly heavy hammer bit, but the water pump bolt is welded directly to the slide hammer shaft so it has no spring in it.

I supose you could try pre-tensioning the slide hammer withn your sash cord around the rafters, might give it a bit more umph

[MikeParker]

I suspect the hook that links to the slide hammer is springing a bit and reducing the shock effect. The slide hammer I made hasn't got a particularly heavy hammer bit, but the water pump bolt is welded directly to the slide hammer shaft so it has no spring in it.

I supose you could try pre-tensioning the slide hammer withn your sash cord around the rafters, might give it a bit more umph

+1. You need a really solid link from the slide hammer to the shaft. Any curves in the linking wire will give some spring that will reduce the peak force. Make sure the right angle at the bottom of the link is as sharp as possible and close to the bolt head. Again to reduce spring. Ideally get a spare impeller bolt and weld the slide hammer direct to that.

Have you tried the standard method? As you mention above, the gear to the jack-shaft will push the pump out. Steady force from a spanner is fine, but to not apply impulsive force to the spanner (hammers etc) as that may crack your gears. It is always worth trying this first.
Mike

[DZP]

Hi,
I did not have much luck with a slide hammer, I could not get the water pump to move.
I have attached a picture of the "contraption" that I used to "pull-out" my water pump.
The removal tool screws into the top of the water pump.
A bolt goes horizontally through the hole in the removal tool.
Then I used some long bolts and reconfigured my hub puller to latch onto the bolt.
It definitely gets classed as a "Heath Robinson" tool, but it worked!
Regards,
Den

[wilf]

Thanks all - food for thought and avenues to try.

I too had concluded that the S shaped "butchers hook" link I was using to conect the slide hammer to the pump adaptor was flexing and absorbing energy. Going to have to get something welded up I suspect, so that I have a direct link from the slide hammer to the pump, as Neil and Mike suggested.

Whilst waiting for that, we'll see what might be done with a crowbar or two.................

Mike - the direction to turn the pump to make the gears force it up (clockwise) "undoes" the water pump bolt as it is LH thread. Pity!

[singapore stag]

I borrowed Tony Whites ' homemade ' slide hammer, took 30 seconds to remove the pump. His slide hammer had a long heavy hammer on it...thats what done the trick.

[richardthestag]

you need a bigger hammer.

My slide hammer came with all sorts of fittings, one of which was a right angled "shoe", a bit like this but had mine for over 20 years

https://www.amazon.co.uk/WheelsNBits%C2%AE-Heavy-Puller-Hammer-Repair/dp/B07BCLTJSZ/ref=asc_df_B07BCLTJSZ/?

Undid the lh screw, wedged the shoe under the lip of the nut and did it back up again, two hefty "Land Rover" style whacks and the pump came out without the cage. rarely have I found them to come out with the cage. I guess that you could drill a hole / slot into the right angled shoe to that it slots around the threaded shaft of the lh bolt

do not under any circumstances put any spanner force whatsoever onto the lh threaded bolt. it will snap quite easily - been there, done that and have the t-shirt.

[wilf]

Did pretty much everything I could today on the waterpump job - cleaned up inlet manifold and helicoiled the threads for the coil clamp which were ropey, replaced core plug on the underside etc. Ditto on the waterpump cover. Just the vee to paint some time.

Can't get the slide hammer adaptor made up until next week.

[MandM]

I got a water pump bolt welded to a adapter for my home made slide hammer, you are welcome to borrow it , but think you will be faster sorting your own?

[wilf]

Thanks for the offer - hopefully I will have something made up by Tuesday!

[MandM]

Are you now sorted Wilf?