Water pump headache

[Joe L.]

Re: Water pump headache

David,
As I said in my earlier post I bench test my pumps on the bench as the final part of the rebuild.

I use air and have metal plates that I bolt on the pump where it attaches to the block.

I use neoprene as a gasket between the plate and pump. The auto parts or hardware store has expandable rubber plugs that fit the large inlet hole to plug it.

Then the threded hole can be used for tha guage and air fill.

I use about 40 lbs of air and watch the guage.

The big hole pluged by the expandable rubber plug wil be dangerous if the plug blowes out so I safety it to the pump housing.

The plates are 1/4 in and drilled for the 3/8 bolts, the rubber gasket can be purchased in sheets and you can find a leak with dishwash liquid mixed with water and sprayed on the suspected place.

DOM

DOM-------


I'm surprised that you don't have problems when using 40 lbs of test pressure. When I've pressure tested these pumps I couldn't get any to hold pressure at anywhere near that level. I found about 20 PSI to be the absolute maximum.

[Domenic T.]

Re: Water pump headache

Joe,
We may be using different seals. But 20 lbs is only slightly over the running pressure and I like to exceed that by 1/3 or more on the test.
I am only testing the A-6 compressors I rebuild at 210 lbs ( nitrogen) and that is under what the the high side is, I guess I am chicken there when it comes to the 1/3 more than operating pressure there.

DOM

[David H.]

Re: Water pump headache

"Then the threded hole can be used for tha guage and air fill. "

Dom, can you give me more detail on how you connect the gauge and air input to this?

Thanks

[Domenic T.]

Re: Water pump headache

David,
Glad to help,

Get your guage and fill valve and go to the hardware store.

Get a tee from the hardware store and get the fittings that adapt it to your pump.

Also get the fittings that adapt your guage & fill valve to the tee.

Put the guage in one hole of the tee.

Put the fill valve in the other hole of the tee.

Connect the final hole to the pipe thread on the pump.

DOM