Water pump oil leak.. another one, sigh

[cranky]

I know it's been beat to death, but now I got the problem!!! ... sigh..

I had my wrench put in a new pump and all new seals @7K miles ago for a leak.....
yup, got another leak....

I "assume" that the oil seal is leaking.... what is the best fix to put new seals in and
make sure they stay!!!!!

I read the one about blue locktite... also read where Carl suggested epoxy... epoxy scares me...
I'd personally prefer locktite.... a little less forgiving...

What say the forum, new round of seals and blue locktite on the oil seal?

Other thoughts? Thanks for your time.... I'd like to run @10K this year... and don't
want to leave a trail!!! GBG

[doug of so fla]

No. 1, Don't assume the oil seal is leaking. Find where and what is leaking. Reason I say that is the "wrench" may have made a error installing kit . Have never heard of a oil seal leaking again after a proper install. (I think they were put in wrong at factory) imho...


To check if it is the seal:: If you have a magnifying mirror & flashlite, (aim lite at mirror) place it under exhaust pipes and look up under engine to the water pump and there is a space between the pump and the engine about a 1/4" wide and 1" long, in that little space you can see the "WEEP" hole for the pump. If after you clean that area with a spray cleaner and dry it, you see lube in the weep hole as the engine is running, that tells you the seal is bad, if it stays dry it is the big o-ring around the pump body that goes into the engine. IF the pump has been split in half it may be one of those bolts or the formed gasket in it is bad.

As far as I know, Carl is the only place you can get the PROPER seal kit for that pump. There is no KAW KIT per se, Carl gives you exactly what you will need in the KIT he personally makes up.

Example: when the leaking seal is observed, taken out for the first time, the seal is at the outer end of the pump housing on the shaft, so someone may put the new seal in at that same position, IT WILL leak again this way very soon (7000mi). the new seal should go all the way in as far as you can get it into the hsg. Blue loctite or a epoxy on the outer edge of the seal where it rides on the hsg is good.

FYI, imho I and others think that if you have more than 3qts 22oz oil in engine, this is a cause for the seal to work loose and leak.

The o-rings for the hsg are VERY fragile and upon install could have been nicked. I use a 3m rubber lube when doing seals & o-ring work. Great stuff!!! especially on the o-rings on the pipes that go into the pump. Those and the o-rings on the water pipe manifold in front of the engine can get cut just by looking at them!!!..

If you had a PAID "wrench" to do the job, you should be able work with him as warranty.
new seals should last 100,000mi +++++ Best of luck with it. Ride safe..

[voyager55]

Great info Doug

[cranky]

... much appreciate the info!!!! I sent Carl a note about the O rings....
I wasn't sure if he was still "in the game" or not... Thanks!!!!

[cranky]

Resolution was!!!!"

I talked to Carl Leo and he said to get a new seal and Epoxy it into the pump!!!

I was a tad reluctant, but I figured I had nothing much to lose.. so I had my wrench
do it... and so for so good!!!! The Epoxy outta keep it in place!!! And I guess
Kawasaki, when they designed this... just hoped it would stay in place!

[cushman eagle]

When I did mine,I used blue locktite After several years,it is still holding.When I removed the original,I saw no wear on it,and I felt I could have just glued it in place and it would have been fixed.

[ekap1200]

When I did mine,I used blue locktite After several years,it is still holding.When I removed the original,I saw no wear on it,and I felt I could have just glued it in place and it would have been fixed.

Same here Loren, I either used blue or red , depending what I had on the shelf. That was APX 75 to 80,000 miles ago.
Key here is CLEAN METAL, I try to keep Loc-tite cleaner , in spray or liquid but MEK on a cotton swab works just as well. Then swab the sealer around the bore and, seal OD, with 1~2 drops.