Water pump mechanical seal end of life?
 

Hi Folks,

Had a quick blast home from work on the motorway last week and noticed some coolant had sprayed onto the bash plate of my xtx. For a few days, I had some drips and sprays, never enough to be even close to the low mark on the coolant header tank. It then stopped leaking and hasn't since.
Is my mechanical seal on way out? Do these things have a habit of fixing themselves? Should I prepare to replace the seal (and maybe bearing whilst I'm at it). What else do I need? (Gaskets/ O-rings /etc).
Thanks
Brian

In my experience, water pumps on bikes and cars do often have a habit of leaking, then not leaking intermittently for a while before they sh!t themselves completely. I take it coolant is leaking (or rather was) leaking out of the drain hole on the underside of the housing? It's function is act as a tell-tale (and to prevent any leaking coolant from the mechanical seal getting into the oil).

The mechanical seal will need replacing, but you'd be sensible to replace the oil seal, gasket and the main 'O'-ring too. The bearing will probably be OK as will the two 'O'-rings that go in the external pipework, but obviously inspect them when you take it apart.

http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps9kzrm67t.jpg

Pretty much what I thought myself. Thanks for the confirmation. I had read somewhere that a bearing puller is recommended to get the mechanical seal off..... any thoughts?

Leaking again
 

So, about 500 miles after the first leak stopped, it started up leaking again!
Better get them parts on order I guess.

No puller needed. The mechanical seal can be driven out from the back of the housing, the bearing and seal are driven out from the front of the housing. However, the biggest issue is that the replacement mechanical seal shouldn't be driven back into the housing as they can be very easily damaged, unlike the bearing, which can be driven home with a socket on its outer race. The mechanical seal should really be pressed in.

Hi there , I am also having the water pump issue on my xt , im just having trouble driving the bearing and seal out of the housing , do you have any tips ?

just starting to replace the water pump seal but is there an easy way to remove the seal that is in the back of the impeller, does the shaft come out?

After some looking & reading removing the old ceramic seal & buffer rubber is easily done with a small sharp screw driver & just working your way around the outer of the seal. Also if you need the Bearing size for the XT660 water pump impeller it is a "6001" (28od x 12id x 8mm wide with no rubber seals & has 8 balls) The water pump oil seal is 21od x 12id x 4mm thick.