Water Pump R&R Part 1, 2, 3

This thread is a few months old but I’m surprised that the seal instructions don’t include a warning not to touch it with bare hands. We replace mechanical seals on centrifugal pumps every so often at work when they leak and the instructions include a warning. I clean mine with 91% alcohol before installation because it’s non toxic and doesn’t upset hospital staff. I’ve seen them touched with clean bare hands and fingerprints from skin oils on the seal and not properly seal.
Great info and pics by the way!!

The seals we use all have a warning in the instructions that states:

CAUTION: Never put hands on lapped seal faces or put lapped seal parts face down on the workbench. Keep the mechanical seal in its original container until ready for installation.
 
Ron, I can't answer that one. And I'm sure I must've touched the seal while doing the photos.
I've put over 300 miles on the bike since that repair and no leaks so far.
Perhaps The Force is with me!

I've done water pumps in other bikes without issue and never heard about touching the seals, but manuals do leave out things sometimes.
Members like @Igofar who do many motorcycle repair operations know a lot more tricks and gotchas based upon their experience.

Curious what kind of pumps are you repairing in hospital that require the kind of caution you are speaking of?
 
My pump seal was pressed in by a certified Honda mechanic. The good kind; he races and regularly wrenches on his own stuff and I've wrenched with him. He's done many of these on different machines. There was no special handling of the parts. I guess we will see what comes of it.
 
Indeed we shall.... while no expert wrench myself, and have never been paid for such, the hands-off practice appears on its face to be extreme, or at least OCD.
It's not like we're handling halogen bulbs with bare hands.
But that's nothing more than skeptical, un-fact-based opinion on my part, and I'm always open to correction. Clean hands and fingers would not "seem" to degrade or jeopardize replacement efforts, but I'm just thinking from my own logic base.
Interested to learn the reasoning behind such thoughts and practice of not touching these seals.
 
Hello!
I was not questioning your process or ability.
I saw where Larry @Igofar said he cleaned his seals with denatured alcohol and I wondered why the seal instructions, if it comes with instructions.. I don’t know because I have not ordered one before, did not have a warning on it about keeping clean prior to installation.

Glad you were able to use The Force and it did not leak. Lol.

I was just sharing my experience working with mechanical seals. Had a coworker replace 2 and was ready to replace the pump. He was cleaning the shaft and when he was done he wiped his hands on lint free towel and dumped the seal in his hand. This left slight fingerprints on the lapped surfaces. I had him put on latex gloves, clean the seal with alcohol to remove the oils from hand, install the seal and to his surprise, no leaks. We looked at the old seal that was a few days old and you could still see the oily fingerprint impressions imbedded into the lapped surface.

I repair sterilization and decontamination equipment.
The pumps are centrifugal units used to circulate cleaners and water at temps between 120-185 degrees on instruments washers. We also have pumps that are used to pull vacuum from 10-28” of mercury.
They are attached to 480V, 3 phase motors.
I can’t remember the manufacturer of the seal, it’s been about 4-5 years since I have had the privilege of replacing one.
 
Here is (1) Honda instruction sheet for mechanical seals that explains to use alcohol etc.
 

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Sadlsor said:
It's not like we're handling halogen bulbs with bare hands.
Click to expand...
Your right, it's 10X's worse handling a mechanical seal that cost thousands rather than a $5 light bulb.
The assemblies that I used to work on we're worth $170,000 and if the mechanical seal leak oil into the process, it had to be changed out.
You handle these seals with white gloves in the worlds heavy industry.
 
RiderRon said:
I can’t remember the manufacturer of the seal, it’s been about 4-5 years since I have had the privilege of replacing one.
Click to expand...
John Crane is the leading supplier for mechanical seals when I used to install them and cost thousands each.
Super precision seal.
It you messed up installing one and it leaked, you were almost shown to the front door.
The sealing surfaces for most are a highly polished chromium finish on one side and a highly polished carbon ring for the other side. Carbon side is the wear side.
Look in your mirror at home and that's the finish for the mating surfaces of a mechanical seal.
 
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