Attach a hose to the pump inlet. Put some water in a paper cup and pinch to form a spout and pour the water down the hose till full. Turn the engine a few times to get the air out of the pump then repeat.
Agree with John and Al. I would also add a little grease - lithium or silicone etc to shaft when carefully inserting shaft back in through the bushings. I remove the impeller / shaft at the end of every season for winter layup and store the shaft w/ a film of oil. I also suggest taking a file and beveling the shaft slightly to make passage through the bushings easier and prevent damage. [ With the shaft out you can check that the grease fitting/cap works if so equipped]. This may seem a little overkill but in 45 seasons I have only needed to change water pumps once from the original small Schafer pump on my early model A4. The impellers are changed every 3-4 seasons as a preventative measure [old ones have been used in a neighbors engine in a pinch]
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