Replacing mechanical seal (water pump)

klam06

Joined
Aug 14, 2006
Messages
24
Location
KS
Coolant is slowly leaking from the weep hole (the small round one); it is a very slow process, may be a drop or two per day. By going through the manual, sounds like in order to replace the mechanical seal, it requires special tools to remove the bearing and hydraulic press to put the new seal in place. :eek::eek:

1. Do I have to have the special tools for this fix, or is there any tricks for doing this job without them? Can't bear the thought of having the dealer work on it.:scared2::mad1:

2. The leak is very slow for now, any chance it will deteriote very quickly and drops become puddle suddenly?

Thanks for any comments.
 
Take it to the dealer....I just did this to stop an oil leak from the same seal. Lots of parts and yep...the special tools. Also....coolant needs to be replaced in the process. Oil level is below opening for the opening.....so if the coolant hasn't mixed with the oil....you should be ok with the oil you have in the case.
I've been told...that if your leak is on the coolant side of the seal....that it's sometimes self healing. You might give it a bit of time.

Forest
 
uptoblackwood said:
Take it to the dealer......
Forest
Click to expand...

That's what I am afraid of.:(:( This coolant leak business has been haunting me on and off since the day I bought it back in 08/2007. It is frustrating..:cus: :mad1:

May be it is time to trade it for a Wing... :think1: :think1:

thanks Forest
 
A good machine shop might be able to do the replacement for you if you take them the housing, parts and instructions.

--Mark
 
The bike is 04 and out of any warranty. In the past, I have done all the maintenance work on it, but this one may be out of my comfort zone.

Does anyone know any type of write-up for replacing the mechanical seal? I am not able to find it here.
 
The service manual has a good write up...there are several service updates on the specs for placement of the impeller. Honda's changed that spec at least two times. Be sure to check on the latest spec. I also....wouldn't do this job without changing out gasket, bearings, impeller....etc. My local dealer didn't hesitate to agree. Parts were ordered and arrived in about two days. It took the shop 1 1/2 days to do the job....and I'm sure the tech was working on a few other jobs at the same time. Don't ask.....

I watched part of my bike being worked on for a while....and I think it's a for certain job that someone with a bit of experience can handle. It just takes time. You've got to drain the coolant....and in that, you've got a good opportunity to clean the cooling system. Time...LOL.
A lift would be a huge help doing this job....and of course whatever special tools you need. The seal leaking oil was a bit more critical than when it leaks water....some folks on the site have suffered the small leak you describe for long periods. (forever...:))

Forest
 
uptoblackwood said:
The service manual has a good write up...there are several service updates on the specs for placement of the impeller. Honda's changed that spec at least two times. Be sure to check on the latest spec. I also....wouldn't do this job without changing out gasket, bearings, impeller....etc. My local dealer didn't hesitate to agree. Parts were ordered and arrived in about two days. It took the shop 1 1/2 days to do the job....and I'm sure the tech was working on a few other jobs at the same time. Don't ask.....

I watched part of my bike being worked on for a while....and I think it's a for certain job that someone with a bit of experience can handle. It just takes time. You've got to drain the coolant....and in that, you've got a good opportunity to clean the cooling system. Time...LOL.
A lift would be a huge help doing this job....and of course whatever special tools you need. The seal leaking oil was a bit more critical than when it leaks water....some folks on the site have suffered the small leak you describe for long periods. (forever...:))

Forest
Click to expand...

At this point, I am leaning more towards the Wing route. Got the feeling the Wing may be an overkill for my riding style (always one-up, lot of in-town/out-town riding year round, but seldom over night trips..), but may be it will be a new beginning.

I am pretty deflated right now about the leak; ST is a very nice ride for what it is designed for, very smooth power delivery and precise handling..... oh well, life is full of decisions.
 
klam06 said:
At this point, I am leaning more towards the Wing route. Got the feeling the Wing may be an overkill for my riding style (always one-up, lot of in-town/out-town riding year round, but seldom over night trips..), but may be it will be a new beginning.

I am pretty deflated right now about the leak; ST is a very nice ride for what it is designed for, very smooth power delivery and precise handling..... oh well, life is full of decisions.
Click to expand...

That's a pretty expensive alternate to getting it fixed but sounds like you are looking for a change anyway.. You won't be disappointed in the wing if that is the choice you make.
 
klam06 said:
At this point, I am leaning more towards the Wing route. Got the feeling the Wing may be an overkill for my riding style (always one-up, lot of in-town/out-town riding year round, but seldom over night trips..), but may be it will be a new beginning.

I am pretty deflated right now about the leak; ST is a very nice ride for what it is designed for, very smooth power delivery and precise handling..... oh well, life is full of decisions.
Click to expand...
LOL....holy smokes....it's just a small and easy to fix coolant leak!! But...if you need to use it as THE excuse to move to the wing....go for it!!! The Wing is a great bike...
 
I always thought that my next bike will be a Wing anyway, how ever long the horizon might be. Don't get me wrong, I loved the ST, it excels in so many ways. But at this point, I have a bad taste in mouth with the experience of the leaky green stuff.

You're right, the Wing is a significant investment, for me anyway. May be I just need to button up all the plastics and go ride some more.... But deep down, I am still leaning towards the Wing.
 
The Wing has coolant and a water pump also. If it leaks then what?:D

I just had mine done under warranty. If I had to pay for it I'd order the parts, remove the covers myself, and take it to the Honda shop for the press work then reinstall. Labor should be minimal.
 
Pete in PA said:
The Wing has coolant and a water pump also. If it leaks then what?:D

I just had mine done under warranty. If I had to pay for it I'd order the parts, remove the covers myself, and take it to the Honda shop for the press work then reinstall. Labor should be minimal.
Click to expand...

I suppose the leak issue is the straw the broke the camel's back for me, been dealing (and still am) with the heat, pain in the wrists, and the way it "dances" on interstate. I know I know, your miles may vary but this is just my experience.

But you do have a good suggestion, I trust myself whole lot better to do most of the work than the dealer... thanks.
 
Please excuse a bit of ignorance here... never had to fix a water pump on any of the bikes I ever owned. Just lucky I guess. The ST13 Shop manual says that if the mechanical seal is defective one should replace the water pump as a unit. But it gives no directions on how. Instead it gives detailed instructions on how to replace the mechanical seal.

So is replacing the whole pump so difficult? Is it more expensive than letting the dealer fix the mechanical seal? Or is one better off buying the special tools and doing the job at home and keeping the tools in the bargain?

I'm just wondering if anyone would care to offer informed comment?

TIA

Pete
 
Hi everybody,

After reading a lot of posts concerning the water pump change,
i decided to dismantle the front crankcase myself and have the honda people change the whole pump assembly.
I did order all the parts and they change the pump assembly.
I did not want them to play around with the Tupperware and the radiator stuff. No way.

Once home, i put everything back on the bike and now everything is perfect.

So i beleive that a person with a bit of mechanical knowledge, can remove the crankcase and have them do the job.

Note: Pay attention when you remove the crankcase cover... The chain for the impeller will surely fall behind the clutch.
Well it did for me anyway and my heart almost stopped..

All you have to do is use a flexible wire and pull the chain from behind the clutch. Quite simple when you know it...
You dont have to disassemble the clutch.
The Service manual, does not say anything about falling screws and chains. I guess you learn that at the Honda courses.


Pall
 
Pall said:
Hi everybody,

After reading a lot of posts concerning the water pump change,
i decided to dismantle the front crankcase myself and have the Honda people change the whole pump assembly.
I did order all the parts and they change the pump assembly.
I did not want them to play around with the Tupperware and the radiator stuff. No way.

Once home, i put everything back on the bike and now everything is perfect.

So i believe that a person with a bit of mechanical knowledge, can remove the crankcase and have them do the job.

Note: Pay attention when you remove the crankcase cover... The chain for the impeller will surely fall behind the clutch.
Well it did for me anyway and my heart almost stopped..

All you have to do is use a flexible wire and pull the chain from behind the clutch. Quite simple when you know it...
You don't have to disassemble the clutch.
The Service manual, does not say anything about falling screws and chains. I guess you learn that at the Honda courses.


Pall
Click to expand...

I did mine a few months ago.
I should get all the pictures I took together for a how too post, and yes My chain fell too but I was forced to remove clutch and promptly broke the clutch outer and had to get a new one.
The mechanical seal was pretty easy to replace with the use of a press and some scrap pipe of different sizes.
 
Hey! I got a little tire shake on the front end ,I was thinking maybe new Vfr .no just kidding ,but it sounds like the coolant leak is the thing that put you over the edge and on the path to gold wing city?


:slv13: Mike-07-ST
 
Pulling the tupperware today in preparation for a steering stem bearing change and found my coolant overflow bottle empty :eek:4: Further inspection revealed a coolant seep from the round weep hole that indicates a mechanical seal failing....never had a drops on the garage floor so I'm hoping that it's just an intermittent leak and I won't have to visit the STealer...:doh1:
 
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