MMI 502 Water Pump SEAL LEAKING?

[roadnsky]

Gang-
This evening while shutting down the boat I noticed a slow drip (1 every 10 sec) just under the water pump (MMI 502 Flange Pump)
It appears to be coming from the WEEP HOLE which suggests a seal is leaking.
The leak has an oily feel to it also.

My question is, can this really be the seal? (The pump is only 8 months old)
Any other ideas or something I'm missing?

(I've checked the lower extender bolt and even removed the back plate to check the O-Ring. Re-applied Permatex to the Lower Bolt to re-seal it too.)

Tomorrow I'm taking a mirror down with talcum powder to verify the source...
-Jerry

[HOTFLASH]

Talcum

Jerry

How do you use the talcum to find the leak?

Mary

[roadnsky]

Mary-
Clean the suspect area really well and then sprinkle generous amounts of talc powder. Watch patiently, and you'll see the "trail" of the water from the origin of the leak.
Sometimes it takes a few attempts to narrow it down if the source is particularly hard to get to. (Which is almost every case)
-Jerry

[sastanley]

Uh oh...let us know of your findings Jerry!

[kaibleu]

You might have already checked this. What about the gasket?

[Marian Claire]

I had a brand new Oberdorfer pump that leaked out the weep hole from day one. It was water only to begin with but progressed to both water and oil. Just a lemon I guess. So anything is possible. Dan S/V Marian Claire

[roadnsky]

Update...

Work got in the way yesterday, so I wasn't able to get to the boat to do the talc powder double check of the leak source.

KAIBLEU- I'm 99% certain the leak is not from the gasket but today's talc-test will confirm.
BTW, is that you on your Avatar or your "First Mate"?!

DAN- Don confirmed that with this model pump, if it is leaking from the weep hole, it's a seal.
He also pointed out that the MMI pump is under warranty!
Gotta love getting stuff from Don!

More info after today's testing...
-Jerry

[roadnsky]

Weeping Hole

Well, today's investigation revealed a little bad news...

Upon checking with the mirror, it was very evident the drip is indeed coming from the weep hole.
I took a few pictures and even shot some video because the drip is hard to see in a still photo using a mirror.

If you want to see the video, it's posted here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjGMYQcg3Lw

Unfortunately, this does mean a seal has failed.

The good news for me is that I bought the pump from MMI and today Don was already on top of this with that wonderful customer support that is such a rare treat these days.
Don already has a replacement pump on the way to me and is very interested in getting his hands on this pump to investigate the cause of the seal failure.
If I hear from Don regarding his findings, with his permission, I'll follow-up on the forum if it's useful info for the community.
I can't say enough what a great service Don and MMI provide to our group of A4 parents!

[sastanley]

Jerry,
That is pretty fancy photography with the inspection mirror/camera!

Sorry about the leak, but glad to hear good folks like Moyer still exist

[Rick_Powers]

Video!

That is the coolest video EVAR !

(Bet it makes the YouTube top ten this week)

[roadnsky]

That is the coolest video EVAR !

(Bet it makes the YouTube top ten this week)

Ohhhh pleeease!
(Thanks)

[ghaegele]

Rick, that can only mean that you've never seen the video of the cat getting spun around by the ceiling fan.

[roadnsky]

Talcum Powder Test

How do you use the talcum to find the leak?

Ok, since Rick and Shawn are so easily impressed, I thought I'd post a few pics of the "Talc-Test". I didn't really need to do the test in my situation since I could actually see the drip "in the act". But since I had the camera, I thought I'd show how the powder test works in pictures.
(Mary, this is for you...)

PIC 1 shows the powder generously spread out (maybe too generous)
PIC 2 shows the powder "catching" the water and making a paste bubble
PIC 3 shows the full "trail" beginning at the start of the drip

I should point out that it isn't always this easy to see depending on the origin and location of the drip!
PS - The credit for originally suggesting this trick was from Ken (knitchie)

[67c&ccorv]

Great pics and fantastic vid! Wondering what the cause of the leak may have been seeing that the pump already comes with its' own new shaft and seals?

[roadnsky]

Wondering what the cause of the leak may have been seeing that the pump already comes with its' own new shaft and seals?

That's what Don wants to know too!
Depending on what he finds out and if he let's me know; I'll ask for permission to pass it on and post it.