Patient: Late model A-4, Pearson 30.
Over the last few months, I've developed a squealing from the water pump area.
My Oberdorfer water pump had the grease cup, and I kept turning it to no avail. I inherited one of the "grease gun" kits with the boat, so I installed it, and pumped the water pump full of grease. Again, no effect.
In another recent thread, John suggested that it might be the accessory drive. Here is what I found today:
1. The alternator had slipped a bit, and the belt was so loose, that it was like a wild banjo string, nearly chafing a hole in the adjacent cooling hose that leads to the thermostat. The belt has a very weird wear pattern from running too loose, so I'll replace it tomorrow.
2. I removed the belt, and restarted the engine to see if the noise was the belt itself, or the alternator. Even with the belt and alternator out of the equation, the noise remained the same.
3. I performed the "leverage" trick with a 1X2" piece of wood against the accessory drive pulley, but failed to change the pattern or pitch of the squealing at all. I was unable to be certain by ear, which end (pump or pulley) the noise was coming from.
4. Frustrated, I called Ken at Moyer Marine parts dept. He advised that I perform the "stethoscope" trick with a breaker bar or screwdriver. Getting my head near enough to touch a screwdriver that could also touch the acc. drive and water pump was a real trick, but I managed to hear the squeal through the screwdriver if I touched the very end of the housing where the shaft exits , on the pulley side. I couldn't hear it at all (through the screwdriver) on the water pump side. Also for kicks, I touched the base of the distributor (because it's in the same general area) and did not hear the squeal.
Ken says that he's never heard a water pump squeal, so between his experience, and my diagnostic routine, I'm hopeful that we've isolated the problem to the accessory drive. I really don't have the funds right now to blindly through money at the engine.
Any additional thoughts are appreciated.
Over the last few months, I've developed a squealing from the water pump area.
My Oberdorfer water pump had the grease cup, and I kept turning it to no avail. I inherited one of the "grease gun" kits with the boat, so I installed it, and pumped the water pump full of grease. Again, no effect.
In another recent thread, John suggested that it might be the accessory drive. Here is what I found today:
1. The alternator had slipped a bit, and the belt was so loose, that it was like a wild banjo string, nearly chafing a hole in the adjacent cooling hose that leads to the thermostat. The belt has a very weird wear pattern from running too loose, so I'll replace it tomorrow.
2. I removed the belt, and restarted the engine to see if the noise was the belt itself, or the alternator. Even with the belt and alternator out of the equation, the noise remained the same.
3. I performed the "leverage" trick with a 1X2" piece of wood against the accessory drive pulley, but failed to change the pattern or pitch of the squealing at all. I was unable to be certain by ear, which end (pump or pulley) the noise was coming from.
4. Frustrated, I called Ken at Moyer Marine parts dept. He advised that I perform the "stethoscope" trick with a breaker bar or screwdriver. Getting my head near enough to touch a screwdriver that could also touch the acc. drive and water pump was a real trick, but I managed to hear the squeal through the screwdriver if I touched the very end of the housing where the shaft exits , on the pulley side. I couldn't hear it at all (through the screwdriver) on the water pump side. Also for kicks, I touched the base of the distributor (because it's in the same general area) and did not hear the squeal.
Ken says that he's never heard a water pump squeal, so between his experience, and my diagnostic routine, I'm hopeful that we've isolated the problem to the accessory drive. I really don't have the funds right now to blindly through money at the engine.
Any additional thoughts are appreciated.
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