repairing mysteries

37chief · Jun 2, 2015

All through my life there has been a couple things I never tacked, were radiators, and water pumps. I have replaced many seals in pumps in my past life as a maintenance mechanic in a factory where I worked for 36 years. I have several water pumps on my A/C M that have bad bearings. I took one apart the other day, without breaking the impeller. I sent the bearing and seal to a supplier, they matched the bearing and seal. When they arrive I will be putting the pump back together. Has anyone replaced the bearings on a water pump? How did it work out? I found out almost no one rebuilds pumps any more in my area. I guess because of the import pumps from china. Some of these old tractor pumps just aren't made any more. Stan

notjustair · Jun 2, 2015

I just finished putting on a water pump this morning. It wasn't bad but I needed to replace an o ring behind it. If it has to come off I'm replacing it anyway along with the timing belt. That gator has 5000 miles on it from one side of the barnyard to the other, so that stuff was bound to go. I've got the time right now as it is too wet to get in the field. I think when it finally dries those beans will have to go in and wheat all need to be cut right away. That's when that thing would decide to go. I tend to believe in profelactic maintenance.

I haven't ever replaced parts in a water pump. I may eventually. I had to replace the one on the Onan diesel generator. That water pump was next to impossible to find, so I kept the old one and will rebuild it if needed someday. Until then I will keep throwing the old ones in the scrap metal barrel.

Mike M · Jun 2, 2015

I worked on a lot of JD's and in the past rebuilt water pumps were not to be found for them so you got the parts from JD and rebuilt them.
The old ones have bolt on radiator tanks. I replaced a lot of those cores too.

markct · Jun 2, 2015

You are correct that usually if available they aren't worth rebuilding but Deere ones tend to be pricey and kits cheap. Water pump for my Deere 210c backhoe was gonna be over 250 yet the kit complete with the tool to set the seal was under 20 bucks and ten minutes to press in

oldtanker · Jun 2, 2015

I haven't done one in years now but pumps are not bad.

As far as leaky radiators I've repaired a bunch. You have to be carful not to use too much heat as you can melt solder in other places that you really don't want to melt like where the tank attaches to the core. Replacing a core isn't a bad job but time consuming. The key is to tin it first. If you have never done it that's cleaning the area to be soldered really good. Acid solder cleaners work well. Then if needed acid core soldier tor tinning. A 50/50 tin lead mix works well and rosin cores seem to work best. As far as something like cleaning a core it's best to take that to a shop.

Rick

Geo-TH,In · Jun 3, 2015

Like everything else I try to rebuild, getting parts is an issue. I can no longer get parts for my well pump. Can't get parts to rebuild my shop vacs. Place in town that told electronics parts to rebuild TV's went out of business 20 years ago. We've turned into a throw away society. No longer rebuild electric motors. I remember when we had about 10 motor shops in town, most of them are gone. Took 5 old ink jet printers to the recyclers yesterday. It's easier to pitch it and buy new. I no longer rebuild car and truck starters and alternators. Easier to buy new life time ones than rebuild them. Good luck getting parts.

oldtanker · Jun 3, 2015

(quoted from post at 04:24:40 06/03/15) Like everything else I try to rebuild, getting parts is an issue. I can no longer get parts for my well pump. Can't get parts to rebuild my shop vacs. Place in town that told electronics parts to rebuild TV's went out of business 20 years ago. We've turned into a throw away society. No longer rebuild electric motors. I remember when we had about 10 motor shops in town, most of them are gone. Took 5 old ink jet printers to the recyclers yesterday. It's easier to pitch it and buy new. I no longer rebuild car and truck starters and alternators. Easier to buy new life time ones than rebuild them. Good luck getting parts.

It's not that we went willing into the throw away society, we were led down that path by cost. As manufacturing developed and cost of production stayed the same or went down due to outsourcing and other work force reducing measures cost of living was going up. That meant that repair shops had to start charging more to keep their doors open and make a living. We are at a point now where cost are so high that many things are not worth repairing.

Rick

Geo-TH,In · Jun 3, 2015

But for those of us that know how to rebuilt things, parts are no longer available. I
hate that. Show me where you can buy brushes for craftsman shop vacs. A water seal for
my well pump.

I see no benefit to rebuild a car starter of alternator when I can go to Auto Zone, pay
one time for a life time starter/alternator.

repairing mysteries

37chief

Well-known Member

notjustair

Well-known Member

Mike M

Well-known Member

markct

Well-known Member

oldtanker

Well-known Member

Geo-TH,In

Well-known Member

oldtanker

Well-known Member

Geo-TH,In

Well-known Member

Similar threads