Denis Posted August 27, 2018 Report Share Posted August 27, 2018 Background sort of 'Schissing' sound from my engine...doesn't change if I dip the clutch. So listened around with a rubber hose pipe...Water Pump sounded quite noisy. I popped the belt off and the pulley spins freely enough. So assuming it's the water pump bearings...are they easy to change, or get hold of new ones, do I need special tools, and do you have to drain the coolant? Or...any harm in just leaving it? And, was it my fault for being lazy, greasing it the last few times with CV grease that was in my gun? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveR Posted August 27, 2018 Report Share Posted August 27, 2018 They are easy to change, just a spanner. Drain down the cooling system, then remove the three nuts and spring washers around the pump. Remove, then clean off the old gasket, and fit a new gasket and pump. Before doing this I would check for play in the pump by removing the belt and trying to moving the pulley from side to side. There should be very small movement if any. It may not be the pump as sometimes the fan belt can also make noises. To test just put a very small amount of WD40 or rub a wax candle on the belt and see if the noise stops. It may also be the alternator bearings. Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mike C Posted August 27, 2018 Report Share Posted August 27, 2018 The water pump can't be too bad if it doesn't leak coolant from the tell tale hole underneath- put there by Triumph to indicate seal failure. The noise could be the timing chain. If you're water pump is greaseable it's probably an original- much, much better quality than modern copies and rebuildable. I'd get it rebuilt rather than replace it . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bill Bourne Posted August 29, 2018 Report Share Posted August 29, 2018 For re-building your original pump, I've used these guys twice. Well pleased, good service - no connection. http://www.spwaterpumps.co.uk/ best Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chilp3 Posted August 29, 2018 Report Share Posted August 29, 2018 www.ep-services.co.uk Hi Denis, I used 'EP Services' to rebuild the original water pump on my early CR car and was delighted with the service. The bearings on mine were worn which was identified using a stethoscope and probe. Hope this helps, Peter Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Denis Posted August 30, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2018 Thanks for all your replies. Yes, it's the original water pump (Aug 69 CP Pi car) and No it doesn't move about or leak, with the fan belt off it just spins freely, albeit you can hear it spinning. I'll have a listen with my trusty rubber hosepipe to the Alternator which is the original one too 75,000 miles. Timing chain well it was changed in an engine rebuild less than 10,000 miles ago...Really? Would that make a light sort of 'Shissing' light scraping sound ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted August 31, 2018 Report Share Posted August 31, 2018 Timing chain well it was changed in an engine rebuild less than 10,000 miles ago...Really? Would that make a light sort of 'Shissing' light scraping sound ? It would if the tensioner was worn through.. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
astontr6 Posted August 31, 2018 Report Share Posted August 31, 2018 It would if the tensioner was worn through.. Stuart. Stuart, Unfortunately Stuart is correct, this part is well known for poor quality! I had the fortune to have a new OE one and was told to make sure that I used that on my rebuild. Another job for our QA Team? Bruce. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tim D. Posted August 31, 2018 Report Share Posted August 31, 2018 Heard from a well known engine rebuilder that the quality issue was only short lived and that all is now fine with tensioner quality. Cheers Tim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted August 31, 2018 Report Share Posted August 31, 2018 My original one is bright and shiny, probably hard-chromed. I bought 2 new ones from different suppliers, they were black, so maybe had a treatment like salt-bath? The original had too much wear and I could not find a good used one so installed the new black item. Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rcreweread Posted August 31, 2018 Report Share Posted August 31, 2018 Wasn't there also an issue ( or is) with poor quality chains having sharp edges - I would imagine one of these would give a hard time to even the best tensioner - or was that another of my weird dreams!! Cheers Rich Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted September 1, 2018 Report Share Posted September 1, 2018 Hi Rich, Thats what I understand. My old chain was smooth and shiny, probably from normal wear. I bought a better quality Wippermann chain, it was not as smooth as I hoped. Time will tell. Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gadgetman Posted October 2, 2018 Report Share Posted October 2, 2018 (edited) get yourself a German quality IWIS chain through Gavin at Denis Welch Motorsport 01543 472214 , helpful and great quality / service. Edited October 2, 2018 by gadgetman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted October 3, 2018 Report Share Posted October 3, 2018 On 8/31/2018 at 8:32 PM, rcreweread said: Wasn't there also an issue ( or is) with poor quality chains having sharp edges - I would imagine one of these would give a hard time to even the best tensioner - or was that another of my weird dreams!! Cheers Rich Hi Rich, this wasn't one of those weird dreams . As posted above go for the German IWIS. These are well made and have no sharp edges. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted October 3, 2018 Report Share Posted October 3, 2018 I bought the Wippermann chain from Chris Wittor. Wippermann is a well known chain manufacturer too, but the links were not really smooth finish, as a result of the fabrication process ( the links are stamped from strip or plate). For many applications this does not matter, but with the Triumph sliding tensioner it does, obviously. Are the IWIS chain links polished/smooth? Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
astontr6 Posted October 3, 2018 Report Share Posted October 3, 2018 On 8/27/2018 at 6:36 PM, DaveR said: They are easy to change, just a spanner. Drain down the cooling system, then remove the three nuts and spring washers around the pump. Remove, then clean off the old gasket, and fit a new gasket and pump. Before doing this I would check for play in the pump by removing the belt and trying to moving the pulley from side to side. There should be very small movement if any. It may not be the pump as sometimes the fan belt can also make noises. To test just put a very small amount of WD40 or rub a wax candle on the belt and see if the noise stops. It may also be the alternator bearings. Dave Hi Dave, If your water pump is on the way out and you change it for a new one as offered by the usual suspects, do not bin your old one as there are a number of companies in the UK that re-con them better than the current replacement ones! There are plenty of tales of woe on this Forum where people have had aggro! I for one! I had to go down the re-con route in the end. Bruce Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveR Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 Hello Bruce, I agree some of the exchange pumps on offer are not worth using as they have lots of bearing play. Getting yours recon can be a better bet. Pre 1970's had the greasing nipple, most from 1970 were sealed for life type. Though how long is life? GT6, Vitesse and big Saloon used the same pump as the TR5 and TR6. Good old parts bin. Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
astontr6 Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 2 hours ago, DaveR said: Hello Bruce, I agree some of the exchange pumps on offer are not worth using as they have lots of bearing play. Getting yours recon can be a better bet. Pre 1970's had the greasing nipple, most from 1970 were sealed for life type. Though how long is life? GT6, Vitesse and big Saloon used the same pump as the TR5 and TR6. Good old parts bin. Dave Hi Dave! My OEM 1973 pump lasted 44 years before starting to leak and I had it re-conned by SP Water Pumps, has now done 5K no problems to date. Bruce Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 If you order a repro unit, which ones should you buy/avoid? I bought a County, think from Revington, which is now on my car but has not run yet. It feels ok to me, FWIW. Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 (edited) Hi Folks, mine is from the TR Shop and is a PowerTune as was the previous many years ago. It works OK and was killed by age. 10+ years and 100,000+ miles. roger PS - mine is for a 4A so may be different issue. Edited October 4, 2018 by RogerH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveR Posted October 5, 2018 Report Share Posted October 5, 2018 I have had an exchange water pump from T.D.Fitchett some 10 years ago on the Vitesse. No problems with it. I understand they rebuild the pumps. Had a non-exchange pump from another supplier and I sent it back, too much play in the bearings. Bought it as an on the shelf spare, no point! Wish I could find the original type with the grease nipple. Don't ask about TR7 water pumps! Dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.