Oil from Oberdorfer

[Lubrdink]

Question of the day: While working on the fuel pump on the hard I pulled the impeller and shaft. Now that I’m done I went to put the shaft back in and have oil running out.
Bad news or normal with the shaft out? The latter I hope as I’m hoping to launch tomorrow!
TIA

[ronstory]

You should be fine. The slot-end of the shaft mates with a pin in accessory drive. The entire inner accessory drive is part of the crankcase oil system, so it fully possible that a bit of oil left on accessory drive side of the seal could seep a bit.

Just to be sure, the oil is leaking down the gap at the bottom of the water pump between the two seals, Correct?

[Lubrdink]

Ronstory actually it wasn’t seeping, it was running out of the water pump housing, down onto the motor mount and into the bilge. I would estimate a couple of tablespoons maybe. I had run the motor for about a minute and revved it a few times so it might have been actively flinging it. I never thought about the fact that shaft out would do that or would have pulled the impeller off and put the shaft back in.
What do you think? Thanks again.

[ronstory]

Just to be clear, you had the pump housing removed and started the motor?

[Lubrdink]

No, just the impeller and shaft

[ronstory]

OK, you are fine. You had shaft-sized hole in your crankcase... so just consider it confirmation you that the accessory gear was well oiled.

Good luck with the launch tomorrow.

[Lubrdink]

Ron
Thanks for the affirmation and just what I thought was happening!Onward!

[sastanley]

If it is still leaking after a few hours, you might have nicked a seal. Hopefully it stops leaking. Water pump rebuilds are no more a PITA than everything else..you already solved the mech fuel pump problem. It also never hurts to learn how these work. The water pump has two seals...one to keep the water OUT of the motor and one to keep the oil IN the motor. There is a small gap in between that is supposed to let either drip in the bilge. Look just under the upper mounting bolt head where the shaft goes into the flange.

[Lubrdink]

SAS...
I’ll keep an eye on it and thanks for the good info!

[Sam]

Just a little extra info - I take pull the shaft/impeller out every season for winter lay up - impellar remains flexible longer. To avoid problems I recommend deburring and filing a small bevel edge on the end of the shaft to facilitate insertion through the seals.

[JOHN COOKSON]

I slather oil on the water pump shaft before I gently twist it in.
No "proof" that there is any benefit you it does make me feel better.

ex TRUE GRIT