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mechanical seal replacement woes

Posted: 04:10 pm Jun 17 2019
by rofti
I have just replace the mechanical seal combo and too the bike for a quick spin today.

The bike lost much coolant and the oil is grey (but not like coffee). So it seems that I did not manage to fix the problem.

What could have gone wrong?

I see signs of coolant exiting through the wheep hole and the bleed nut next to the spark plug is damp (but the latter is unlikely to be the cause).


See my photos. Image I pressed the mechanical seal in. What if it was not pushed in far enough? I thought it was, though...

I cannot guearantee that the loss of coolant and the discoloured oil is related. The oil may be because of nickel anti seize...

I am obviously clueless. Does any of this sound familiar? I appreciate some advice. I may just give up and take it to someone to fix, but I may be missing something obvious.

Logically, it sounds like a problem with the mechanical seal, but why would it not seat properly? Is it possible to take the impeller off and use a plastic pipe exactly the size of the outer metal of the seal and tap it in? Can I do this without taking the clutch cover off? Would the blue locktite (?) ring around the mechanical seal have bonded?

Re: mechanical seal replacement woes

Posted: 04:26 pm Jun 17 2019
by Vossman
If the coolant got into the oil then you have 2 bad seals. Where exactly is the coolant going?It looks like your water pump seal is correctly seated though.
What condition was the pump shaft in? Any wear on the shaft when took it out?

Re: mechanical seal replacement woes

Posted: 11:14 pm Jun 17 2019
by rofti
Image

Here is a photo of the shaft (slightly out of focus). It is not shiny smooth but it did not feel pitted under my fingernail.

I looked a the mechanical seal photo again. Zoomed up, it does seem seated correctly.

Thank you.

Re: mechanical seal replacement woes

Posted: 11:18 pm Jun 17 2019
by rofti
Vossman wrote: 04:26 pm Jun 17 2019 If the coolant got into the oil then you have 2 bad seals. Where exactly is the coolant going?
I wish I knew. I think I must fill up with coolant and let the engine run, actively looking for a leak/looking at the weep hole.

I cannot understand why it would leak past the brand new mechanical seal.

Re: mechanical seal replacement woes

Posted: 07:08 am Jun 18 2019
by Slick_Nick
Did you replace both the mechanical seal and the oil seal? They need to be changed as a set. Take some scotchbrite to the shaft and buff it up also, might help if there’s any tiny grooves in it.

Re: mechanical seal replacement woes

Posted: 08:57 am Jun 18 2019
by rofti
Slick_Nick wrote: 07:08 am Jun 18 2019 Did you replace both the mechanical seal and the oil seal? They need to be changed as a set. Take some scotchbrite to the shaft and buff it up also, might help if there’s any tiny grooves in it.
I replaced the two seals (mechanical and oil) and the bearing.

I used some sort of metal polish to rub out what I could, but it was not rough enough to hook my nail when scratched over it.

I am going to look for leaks in the coolant side.

Re: mechanical seal replacement woes

Posted: 01:01 pm Jun 18 2019
by kdx633
in the first picture it appears the seal is cocked to one side.Did you lube the face of the mechanical seal prior to assembly?A dry seal face can be destroyed in one rotation.

Re: mechanical seal replacement woes

Posted: 02:04 pm Jun 18 2019
by rofti
kdx633 wrote: 01:01 pm Jun 18 2019 in the first picture it appears the seal is cocked to one side.Did you lube the face of the mechanical seal prior to assembly?A dry seal face can be destroyed in one rotation.
I did not notice that it was cocked. It does not mean that it was not, though.

I lubricated the (blue strip) surface that touches the wall of the pump. The problem is there is no way to know, unless I open it up and do it all over again, it seems...

If you were referring to the side facing the back of the impeller: I lubricated it with coolant, as per (my understanding of) the manual.