Dave39MD Posted May 5, 2018 Share Posted May 5, 2018 I have noticed engine coolant coming out of the grease fitting on the water pump. It has a screw on cap but that does not stop it. When I hit it with a few pumps of water pump grease it stops leaking for a couple of trips in the car. Is this normal? If not what would you suggest as the cure? Thanks Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmg1959 Posted May 5, 2018 Share Posted May 5, 2018 My car does the same thing, but the cap seems to stop the leaking. Then after a little grease no leaking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted May 5, 2018 Share Posted May 5, 2018 Is that a grease cup you mean? No doubt you know, but.... you fill it with grease to the top and then turn the cap down a turn at the intervals stated in the manual. The turn of the cap forces grease into the bush. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave39MD Posted May 5, 2018 Author Share Posted May 5, 2018 Spinneyhill, It is an Alemite type zerk fitting with threads on the outside for a cap. bmg1959, thanks for the info. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted May 5, 2018 Share Posted May 5, 2018 (edited) Are you sure it has a ball in the grease nipple part of it? I have something similar in my Studebaker steering box - a "grease nipple" with no ball. It was meant for thick oil using the push gun that came with the car. What sort of bush is it lubricating? Is it a standard brass or bronze bush or an oil-impregnated one? The reason I ask it that my 1930 Dodge Brothers Eight had a similar problem, but mine had an oil cap with no nipple. It had a brass bush with a hole in it open to the oil reservoir around the bush. There was nothing to stop water coming out. It should be an oil impregnated (sintered bronze) bush, oiled with engine oil. "Oilite" was the first brand I believe, but there were others. I was just wondering if yours might have been similar originally. Edited May 5, 2018 by Spinneyhill (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave39MD Posted May 6, 2018 Author Share Posted May 6, 2018 The original fitting was missing the cap and I replaced it with one in my Alemite cabinet. I thought it had the ball but I will check. I have no idea on the pump but do have a spare I will take apart to see what is going on. I suspect it is the same as your Dodge. It seems like the fitting is in water and about two inches behind the packing where the shaft leaves the pump. thanks Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Shaw Posted May 6, 2018 Share Posted May 6, 2018 The grease fitting should be centered on a lantern ring within the packing set to distribute grease around the shaft. The grease fitting should also have a spring loaded ball check to prevent backflow. Since water is much thinner than grease, it will sometimes weep. Just a short shot of grease should stop the weeping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
27donb Posted May 6, 2018 Share Posted May 6, 2018 I had the same thing happen with my 27-25 water pump. A previous owner had installed a grease cup with screw cap. One day I went into the garage and a gallon of coolant was on the floor. I installed a modern zerk fitting, and that leaked to, so I resorted to a brass plug that I remove and install a zerk when I add grease to the pump bearing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted May 6, 2018 Share Posted May 6, 2018 17 hours ago, Mark Shaw said: The grease fitting should be centered on a lantern ring within the packing set to distribute grease around the shaft. I am not familiar with the setup. Is it a bit like this? with packing on both sides? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave39MD Posted May 6, 2018 Author Share Posted May 6, 2018 Spinneyhill, It is not like that in the spare pump I took apart. Going from the impeller there is a bronze bushing the shaft runs through. Then an open chamber where the grease fitting is, then on to the bushing where the packing is at. As someone suggested, it does stop when you pump water pump grease in but it looks like it will require some constant attention (like many other things). The plug idea is good and I may do that. Thanks Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Shaw Posted May 6, 2018 Share Posted May 6, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, Spinneyhill said: I am not familiar with the setup. Is it a bit like this? with packing on both sides? Yes, but usually with several rings on the wet side and maybe two rings on the dry side. The grease fitting must line up with the lantern ring so grease is evenly distributed. As the packing wears & the gland nut is tightened, the lantern ring may move away from the grease fitting and cause more packing wear and leakage. Edited May 6, 2018 by Mark Shaw (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted May 6, 2018 Share Posted May 6, 2018 So what you are saying is that if water comes out of the grease fitting, at least one lot of packing is pretty much worn out and it is time to repack the pump? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Shaw Posted May 6, 2018 Share Posted May 6, 2018 Just now, Spinneyhill said: So what you are saying is that if water comes out of the grease fitting, at least one lot of packing is pretty much worn out and it is time to repack the pump? Yup, and to make sure the lantern ring is still in the right place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted May 6, 2018 Share Posted May 6, 2018 39 minutes ago, Dave39MD said: It is not like that in the spare pump I took apart. Going from the impeller there is a bronze bushing the shaft runs through. Then an open chamber where the grease fitting is, then on to the bushing where the packing is at. So based on Mark Shaw's comment above, it appears the open chamber should have some packing in it, then the lantern ring, then some more packing. Anyone have a cross section drawing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave39MD Posted May 7, 2018 Author Share Posted May 7, 2018 (edited) Interesting but the pump I am looking at doesn't seem to have anyway to have a lantern ring between the packing. The grease fitting is between two pressed in bushings and about 1 inch from the bottom of the packing. This pump may have been rebuilt at sometime. I could not find lantern rings in the catalog, any idea what Buick called them? Thanks Dave Edited May 7, 2018 by Dave39MD (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepcak Posted May 7, 2018 Share Posted May 7, 2018 I have sketched 28 Master setup FYI, not sure what 31 looks like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave39MD Posted May 7, 2018 Author Share Posted May 7, 2018 Yes, that is the same idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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