Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi folks
After renovationg the dynamo, I found, to my irritation that the whistling / whine is still evident. After closer inspection, I found that it is coming from the waterpump. The sound is similar to a kettle on the stove coming up to the boil. With the engine stopped, I found that I could move the fan blades nearly a millimeter from side to side. This suggests to me that the pump bearings are on the way out. What do others think? More importantly, is it likely to fail catastrophically or just gradually get louder? I was planning on a 700 mile trip this weekend, would the general advice be to not take the risk? I will not have the time to replace the pump beforehand, and the journey has to be made come what may. (I hate hire cars!)
The pump is only 6 months old, a proper Lockheed one, so at least it is under guarantee still!
Any comments gratefully received!
Dom

That does sound a bit unhealthy. Personally I wouldn't risk it. I heard about a guy whose Land Rover's water pump seized while on the motorway, and the fan sheared off and ripped a big hole in the radiator.

Dom, Are you sure it's not the belt making a noise? That pump is very young!

Quick diagnostic test - trickle a little water on the belt when the engine is running (keep out of the line of fire ) if the noise changes or (usually) goes away you will know it's the fan belt and not the pump.

It may well be the pump but it's worth a quick check.

Think out of the box. Would you really try to drive 700 miles with a suspect water pump? At best, you might make it. At worst the bearings will fail, the blades will move around and could take the rad with it.

My brother ignored his noisy water pump and it seized solid on a roundabout and he was stranded ironically with a new pump in the boot but no tools.

Or wipe chalk on the fan belt or talcum powder and see if the noise diappears

Thanks for the input guys.
Tried talc, no difference. Tried water, just the same Looks like a call to my supplier in the morning.....
Thanks again all

It only takes about an hour to change a water pump! Only 4 bolts and a 3 hose clips - and if it's only 6 months old the bolts will come out easily. New pump is only £15 (£5 at autojumble!) - so just buy one and fit it, and argue about the old pump refund later. The worry for me would not be seizing - it will start to leak water and that's more serious. A seized water pump doesn't strand the car - just cut the fan belt off (or run the engine against it) and drive it a short distance to a safe place.

Or do like I did, but a sidevalve without one. One thing I don't have to worry about! No sticking thermostats either!

Onne

A - but wait till winter sets in!! No heater!!

I do have a heater, which has its own waterpump! Don't know yet if I will put it back though, the heater.

So - you DO have a water pump !!

Onne wrote:I do have a heater, which has its own waterpump!

Perhaps I'm wrong, but I'd say that it looks like he does, yes.

Ah but earlier - Onne had said he had a sidevalve engine with NO water pump ! It's all lighthearted really - we all know what he means!

Well, I will explain.
The engine in itself is in no way connected (no positive effect on the flow) with the waterpump.

The waterpump for the heater is driven off the belt, with its own pulley, which is spring powered to keep it on. Can't find a picture as yet.

Does this make sense so far?

Onne

bmcecosse wrote: It's all lighthearted really - we all know what he means!

As was my answer, oddly enough.

So thermo-syphon style cooling? How fantastically novel!

Yes, lovely isn't it

No - it's not - I had (3) Morris 8Es at one time with the thermosyphon caper - it was hopeless!

Well, it'll do me fine, I'm sure.

And I sure won't change it to anything more modern.