Water Pump plug-How to tighten?

[DMC-81]

Hi there,

I am testing my new coolant system. I am holding 15 lbs, but there is a small weep around the copper seal of the plug on the water pump. The problem is that there is no room to fit a 19 mm socket or open wrench to tighten it because of the flange on the pump.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Dana

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[novadmc]

Give the bolt 1-2 wraps of Teflon tape. Use a new crush washer. Then I used needle nose locking pliers to grab the bolt head and crank it down when I swapped that bolt from my old pump to my new one. Took a while but did the job without cutting into the bolt too much.

[DMCMW Dave]

Buy better thin wall sockets.


Sent from phone

[novadmc]

Buy better thin wall sockets.


Sent from phone

Well yeah, if you want to do it the right way! .

But yes. Thinner walled socked would make it much easier. Surprisingly I was able to get the bolt off the old pump with my normal 19mm socket. Just couldn't get it onto the new pump with it. I resorted to my locking pliers because it was late and I was tired and frustrated.

[DMC-81]

Thanks for the suggestions. I had the bolt re-plated and used a new copper washer. I bought 2 thin wall sockets, but there still wasn't enough room. I was able to tighten it some last night using a 3/4" crows foot. The cooling system held 15 lbs all night, and there was only a drop on the plug this morning. So it's almost there.

I'll try to find another thin wall socket or the needle nose vice grips.

Thanks a bunch!

Dana

[DMC5180]

Sockets are Cheap, modify the one you have with a grinder to fit. Obviously you're spending the extra $$$ to have things re-plated, in the end it's a trivial cost sacrifice. You never know it might come in handy someplace else one day.

[DMC-81]

Sockets are Cheap, modify the one you have with a grinder to fit. Obviously you're spending the extra $$$ to have things re-plated, in the end it's a trivial cost sacrifice. You never know it might come in handy someplace else one day.

Ha! Good idea. I'll try that before I break out the vice grips.

Thanks.

[Bitsyncmaster]

Sockets are Cheap, modify the one you have with a grinder to fit. Obviously you're spending the extra $$$ to have things re-plated, in the end it's a trivial cost sacrifice. You never know it might come in handy someplace else one day.

+1
I've cut some sockets down on my lathe for other people needing a special fit.

[DMC-81]

Success!! I ground off half of the thickness of the socket wall 1/3 of the way around, and it worked. Cost.. $6.

Thanks for the suggestions.

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[DMC5180]

👌🏻