water pump woes

[syncron ice]

Hello all,

Having spent this morning replacing the clutch master cylinder (simples), I'll bleed the whole system at the weekend when I have access to another leg.

Moved on to replace the water pump. Drained the coolant and proceeded to remove pulley, then the large water pipe I'd recently replaced on the left of the pump but then ran into a problem with the pipe to the right of the pump. I got the top bolt loosened but it's impossible to access the bottom one. I am thinking of hacksawing the 'L' of an allen key to try an fit in there or is there any other way to get in?

Anyone any experience of this?

Thanks in advance

Tony

[Walrus]

Recent experience - remove all the rubber hoses attached to the pump (they are bluddy awkward to get at) and you can work that metal elbow pipe down and out of the way; this gives just enough clearance to get the pump off. I've got an old 'narrow' socket set (from Argos, I think) with some universal joints and odd extensions for getting to the bolts. Refitting is reverse of removal.

It took me near on 4 hours to get it apart but only an hour to put it back together again.

[Aidan]

with the correct combination of 3/8" allen socket wobble bar and ratchet it should be possible to undo the bottom bolt but access is crap and if single pulley engine then removing the pulley can help a lot with space for hand and angle of attack, if triple pulley engine then don't try to remove the pulley just swear more, last time I did it it took me a while to find the right mix of tools to get on it and if it strips then try to get an irwin on it iirc I've used that in the past

[syncron ice]

Thanks Walrus and Aiden.

Looks like more swearing so!!

Tony

[syncropaddy]

Tony I have all the kit here if you get stuck. I wont be back in the country until Sunday so you can call then if you like and take your pick. I'll be gone again on Tuesday until Friday so the window is small !!!

[syncron ice]

Hi Andrew,

I made a tool from a cheapo 6mm ratchet spanner and a small piece cut from a 6mm allen key. Glued the allen key piece into the ratched spanner and was able to get the bolts off the pipe on the right.

I will attempt to get the pump off on Saturday but failing that I might give you a buzz. I think I might need a shallow 13mm socket.

Thanks for your kind offer (again).

Tony