Packing nuts and distributors available?

[Guest SteveInColorado]

Hi all-

Got the beast ('17 Buick) running fairly well, but I still have some issues. The water pump continues to leak, and likes to play games with me. I noticed the rear nut is bulged out a fair amount, and allows the packing to squish out a little. I'd like to replace it if anyone knows a supplier. Is it something I could get from a modern pump supplier?

The other thing I'm fighting is the distributor. I don't know if the cap is original, but it doesn't fit all that well. I can move it side to side, but not front to back. I suspect it IS original, and has wear from time. The tray the cap mounts on is also a problem, and tilts around on the shaft housing. Does anyone make a replacement distributor?

Thanks,

Steve.

Edited November 1, 2010 by SteveInColorado (see edit history)

[1939_Buick]

Got the beast running fairly well, but I still have some issues. The water pump continues to leak, and likes to play games with me....

Going by you other posts the beast a 1917 Buick.

http://forums.aaca.org/f165/whole-pile-new-questions-17-buick-290281.html

Good luck with it

[Guest SteveInColorado]

Oops, sorry. Yes, it's a 1917 Buick. Original post edited.

Steve.

Edited November 1, 2010 by SteveInColorado (see edit history)

[Larry Schramm]

If you can post some pictures of the distributor cap, I can tell you if it is the correct cap. Top & bottom will work best.

[Mark Shaw]

Steve,

If you can post the diameter of the shaft and O.D. of the packing nut, I can compare it to what I have on hand. These are also called gland followers for valves or pumps.

[keiser31]

Hi all-

Got the beast ('17 Buick) running fairly well, but I still have some issues. The water pump continues to leak, and likes to play games with me. I noticed the rear nut is bulged out a fair amount, and allows the packing to squish out a little. I'd like to replace it if anyone knows a supplier. Is it something I could get from a modern pump supplier?

The other thing I'm fighting is the distributor. I don't know if the cap is original, but it doesn't fit all that well. I can move it side to side, but not front to back. I suspect it IS original, and has wear from time. The tray the cap mounts on is also a problem, and tilts around on the shaft housing. Does anyone make a replacement distributor?

Thanks,

Steve.

If you scroll over to the Plymouth forum, there is a post there about packing rope for water pumps. I believe the guy said he got the graphite rope from the Grange.

"30U water pump packing size" is the post

The Grainger part number is "4VLH7". It is 3/16 graphite inpregnated rope in a 5ft lenth made by Palmetto Packings. Fit like a glove. Mine had four rows of packing so I put four back in but I think I could have gotten away with three as four was hard to get the nut back on. I noticed if you tighten the nut after each row a little bit to cinch it in there it works pretty good.