Honda VTX 1300 / VTX 1800 Motorcycles Forum banner

water pump leaking

12K views 18 replies 10 participants last post by  dan50w  
#1 ·
Sunday, while out riding, the temp light came on. Stopped and checked antifreezee and found the belly tank empty. Looked underneath and found it dripping from underneath. Got a chance today to remove the side plate and check hoses. All hoses tight, then saw the fluid dripping from underneath the water pump. The manual says to replace the whole pump if fluid leaking from bottom of pump. Found that the parts list shows the gasket and O rings available. Any problems with replacing these? Bike had sat for 18 months after my accident in AUg of 2009. SO far the rebuild goes well.
 
#2 ·
Depends on what part is leaking.
If you can actually get the parts then I would at least attempt.
Make sure you drain the oil before removing the water pump or lean over to the right side. Oil will will come out

Be patient with reinstalling it, aligning it up can be a pain sometimes.
 
#5 ·
^^ +2

You need to look under the bike. Mine had a very slow drip. Raised the bike up and could see the coolant trail from the weep hole down the back side of the pump. It had been weeping for quite some time.
 
#6 ·
Water pump mechanical seal has failed

Sunday, while out riding, the temp light came on. Stopped and checked antifreezee and found the belly tank empty. Looked underneath and found it dripping from underneath. Got a chance today to remove the side plate and check hoses. All hoses tight, then saw the fluid dripping from underneath the water pump. The manual says to replace the whole pump if fluid leaking from bottom of pump. Found that the parts list shows the gasket and O rings available. Any problems with replacing these? Bike had sat for 18 months after my accident in AUg of 2009. SO far the rebuild goes well.
As stated above the pump mechanical seal has failed if antifreeze is leaking from the weep hole.
Replace the Pump as an assembly, O-Ring, and the gasket.
Also fill up cooling system with “Pro Honda HP coolant or equivalent high quality ethylene glycol antifreeze containing silicate-Free corrosion inhibitors.

Standard coolant concentration 1:1 mixture with soft water.

I use the premixed; you can pick up the premixed antifreez at the local car Honda dealership.
 
#7 ·
This is on my "to do" list next week. I've had a small leak for a while. Cannot locate it but haven't checked the weep hole. Really not looking forward to that repair if it is the pump.
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#8 ·
A lot of pumps get replaced prematurely. Mine wept for several months then quit. 6 years later, I replaced it. If it's just weeping, keep an eye on your coolant level and wait. If it gets worse, or doesn't stop in a couple months, then replace it. As Dirtdobber said, drain the oil or you're going to have a big mess. Replace all the O-rings on the pipes with OEM. There's a "square" one that only Honda supplies. Take the new pump apart and install the front half then install the back half. Makes installation a lot easier.
 
#9 ·
Thanks BigJohn, good to know. I've definitely been keeping my eye on my coolant level, just haven't inspected everything yet. Just got a floor jack and it's almost time for an oil change anyway.
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#10 ·
water pump

Well I finally was able to dig into the water pump. That thingwas a real P.I.T.A. :spank: I replaced all of the seals and O rings. MY god you gotta pull a lot of junk off to get to it and all the connecting pipes. :banghead: SHifter linkage, left foot pad, horn and stuff. It is still weeping a lil bit, not sure if it is not cured yet with the new seals. Will wait and see. was a bummer not riding for two wks.:mad:
 
#11 ·
Awaiting the update. I did inspect mine as well, nothing from the weep hole, I'm thinking maybe a new radiator now. Maybe pull the cover off Sunday.
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#12 ·
Well went riding tonight after work. Got back after about an hour and parked the bike. Went out later and found the pump is still leaking. So I guess replacing the main gasket and o rings didnt take care of it. Gonna hold off replacing the pump, since it is like $170 bucks for the whole assembly. So I guess I will let this be a winter project during non riding season.
 
#13 ·
Sorry to hear that especially since you went through all that. Winter is right around the corner. That'd be a good winter project for sure. Good luck.
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#14 ·
It was aggravating for sure.:banghead: But I learned more about my bike and cant fault that.:hmm2: Just think what the stealership would have charged me to do it? Now I know exactly what I have to remove to replace the pump and will save time. Maybe I can find a good price for the pump on the web somewhere during the cold weather.:icon_susp Some one will be hungry to sell parts at a good price.
 
#15 ·
In my youth, I'd buy a car for $100.00 drive it until the wheels fell off fixing it along the way then drive it to the junkyard and get $75.0 for it. I bought a lot of parts from those junk yards along the way. I wonder if junkyards part out bikes? That'd be a very reasonable price I'm sure.
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#16 ·
In my youth, I'd buy a car for $100.00 drive it until the wheels fell off fixing it along the way then drive it to the junkyard and get $75.0 for it. I bought a lot of parts from those junk yards along the way. I wonder if junkyards part out bikes? That'd be a very reasonable price I'm sure.
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OZ powersports in Ottawa KS parts out bikes. Not sure about prices though? They have a lot of part bikes on their lot.
 
#19 ·
I own a 2006 VTX 1800c. I have put 89,865 miles on it in 13 years. the only thing I ever had a stealership fix was a front shock seal. I've ridden this old girl like I stole it for the entire time I've owned it and all I was required to provide her was fresh oil and 9 sets of new tires. Recently I' noticed a small puddle under the water pump, so we drained it sanded the pump assembly casing and copper washer flat again, put some old school form-a-gasket on the drain bolt, reinstalled it to 13# and it quit leaking. I saw a few drips the last time I warmed it up to ride, but, never lost any anti-freeze and when I got home 300 miles later "NO DRIPS" gotta love a well built scooter ! !