Water Pump Tell Tale Leak

[gerard]

During the recent scorching English summer when I got back from a hard run on a very hot day I noticed a tell tale black line coming from the water pump. There had also been slight weep from around the water temperature sensor. Basically the engine seemed to be not enjoying the extreme heat. The coolant temperature gauge remained normal and the coolant level is also ok.

I never did anything about it, just stopped using it knowing that I had a job to fix it and no time to do that job.

With the colder days now, I try and fire up and do short runs on my bikes over the winter at occasions to ensure the oil gets circulated and so on. I decided to start up the RE5, figuring that it as better to run it occasionally. I ran it for a while and there was no further sign of a tell tale line.  I went for a 50 mile ride this morning on it (what a fantastic day for biking today was) and still no leak from the tell tale.

Now I know the seal must be failing, and it is not going to fix itself, but is it possible that the extreme heat of the summer run signalled an 'early warning' of the failure. I suppose I am really thinking that I can ride the bike over the winter as long as I don't see anymore from the tell tail, or am I on a path to wrecking the engine doing that?

If it is a must fix now, is there anyone in the UK East Anglia / East Midlands who can do that type of work?

[wayne]

Firstly, don't panic. The owner's manual does, I've learnt not to. Once you have the water pump apart and see how it all works, an occasional leak of a little coolant coming out of that hole is not really a big deal. Oil is a different matter.


So if you're happy that's it's just coolant, leave it alone and monitor it. If it starts leaking every time you run the bike, then you can start thinking about replacing it. Which isn't hard.


It's fairly normal to have an occasional leak of coolant, a small leak when you shut down the bike, a leak that persists for a thousand kilometres and then "fixes itself".

The seal is an over-the-counter item in most places. The clutch cover needs to come off but it's not as intimidating as it looks. When you replace the seal, you should consider doing the oil seal as well and inspecting the little bushing that supports the end of the water pump shaft. Chances are that'll need replacing and I believe Jess may have a quality replacement still available.

[gerard]

Hi Wayne


Thanks for the advice. I am not 100% positive the leak was coolant rather than oil, however I think I will not worry unless it shows again. In the mean time I will source the required seals ready for when it finally does fail.

[t140v]

Nov 18, 2018 16:12:47 GMT -5 gerard said:

During the recent scorching English summer when I got back from a hard run on a very hot day I noticed a tell tale black line coming from the water pump. There had also been slight weep from around the water temperature sensor. Basically the engine seemed to be not enjoying the extreme heat. The coolant temperature gauge remained normal and the coolant level is also ok.

I never did anything about it, just stopped using it knowing that I had a job to fix it and no time to do that job.

With the colder days now, I try and fire up and do short runs on my bikes over the winter at occasions to ensure the oil gets circulated and so on. I decided to start up the RE5, figuring that it as better to run it occasionally. I ran it for a while and there was no further sign of a tell tale line.  I went for a 50 mile ride this morning on it (what a fantastic day for biking today was) and still no leak from the tell tale.

Now I know the seal must be failing, and it is not going to fix itself, but is it possible that the extreme heat of the summer run signalled an 'early warning' of the failure. I suppose I am really thinking that I can ride the bike over the winter as long as I don't see anymore from the tell tail, or am I on a path to wrecking the engine doing that?

If it is a must fix now, is there anyone in the UK East Anglia / East Midlands who can do that type of work?

Bung a bit of Barrs leak fluid into the cooling system Gerard, helps to lubricate the pump bush and stop that little leak

Regards Stuart

[gerard]

Hi Stuart

I will do that. Thanks