Checking water pump seal ?

[Undertheoaks]

Just curious if there is any way to check the water pump seal on my 07 990 Adventure without draining the expensive fresh oil to look at the filter to see if it's pleated ? Just rebuilt my water pump with the kit from KTM Twins and been riding it approx. 400 miles no problem but noticed my coolant level dropped about a 1/4 to 1/2 on the overflow catch tank. Im running the expensive waterless Blue Ice coolant and again it's expensive, I know it's cheeper then a engine rebuild but thought I'd check here first. I was thinking of laying the bike on it's side then pulling the oil filter ?

[cjracer]

Originally Posted by Undertheoaks

Just curious if there is any way to check the water pump seal without draining the expensive fresh oil to look at the filter to see if it's pleated ? Just rebuilt my water pump with the kit from KTM Twins and been riding it approx. 400 miles no problem but noticed my coolant level dropped about a 1/4 to 1/2 on the overflow catch tank. Im running the expensive waterless Blue Ice coolant and again it's expensive, I know it's cheeper then a engine rebuild but thought I'd check here first. I was thinking of laying the bike on it's side then pulling the oil filter ?

It's often that the Res bottle will drop a bit on a fresh drain and refill. At least it often does on my bikes. I'd just top it off again and keep going.

If you are worried about the filter. You can drop the skid plate, Put the bike on it's sidestand and just pull the oil filter cover off. Inspect the filter. Very little oil loss. It's not connected to the main sump or oil tank.

There is no way to "Check" the seal as it's damaged when you pull it out.

[Undertheoaks]

Ok thanks, when I bought the bike the seal was leaking and I didn't know until I did a oil change and the filter was pleated pretty bad. I think I'll go with the stainless steel Scott's filter next time.

[viola-tor]

Originally Posted by Undertheoaks

Ok thanks, when I bought the bike the seal was leaking and I didn't know until I did a oil change and the filter was pleated pretty bad. I think I'll go with the stainless steel Scott's filter next time.

That there seems like a pretty good reason to use the paper filters to me, for an indicator of WP failure. Of course a fancy CJ Designs clutch cover helps too!

[Peanuts]

What effect does waterless coolant have on the lubricating properties of the oil? It would be a shame to ruin the motor next time the waterpump seal leaks coolant into the oil.

[Peanuts]

Originally Posted by cjracer

If you are worried about the filter. You can drop the skid plate, Put the bike on it's sidestand and just pull the oil filter cover off. Inspect the filter. Very little oil loss. It's not connected to the main sump or oil tank.

I dont like doing this as debris from the filter can enter the oil gallery. Better off loosing a bit of oil which carries debris out of the motor with it....

[dlrides]

Originally Posted by Undertheoaks

Ok thanks, when I bought the bike the seal was leaking and I didn't know until I did a oil change and the filter was pleated pretty bad. I think I'll go with the stainless steel Scott's filter next time.

Bad move IMHO.

Filter pleats are best at indicating water in oil.

[cjracer]

Originally Posted by viola-tor

That there seems like a pretty good reason to use the paper filters to me, for an indicator of WP failure. Of course a fancy CJ Designs clutch cover helps too!

I completely agree and the reason I run Paper on all my bikes.

The covers help too, or so I'm told.

[DeepInIt]

If You Lay The Bike Down On The Left Side, You Can Pop The Clutch Cover. IF You SeE White...

[cjracer]

Originally Posted by Peanuts

I dont like doing this as debris from the filter can enter the oil gallery. Better off loosing a bit of oil which carries debris out of the motor with it....

I think I screwed up. The filter is on the Left side of the engine. Putting the bike on the side stand will allow oil to drain out of FILTER cavity. You won't loose much though. Debris should rest at Bottom, not forced into engine.

I normally don't have much debris Falling off the paper filter. Even when I cut it open and spread the pleats to inspect. I do this at Oil changes, but not if I'm doing an After water pump check up. Oil should be fresh, and paper filter should trap small debris. Big Chunks, should not get past the Sump filter. (Long black Plastic)

[viola-tor]

Originally Posted by cjracer

I completely agree and the reason I run Paper on all my bikes.

The covers help too, or so I'm told.

[Zuber]

Put in a new wp seal every 20k miles or every other year/every other valve adjust and you'll be good.

[Subutai]

Originally Posted by cjracer

I think I screwed up. The filter is on the Left side of the engine. Putting the bike on the side stand will allow oil to drain out of FILTER cavity. You won't loose much though. Debris should rest at Bottom, not forced into engine.

You can lean the bike against something so that the engine is slightly leaning to the right. This way when you remove the filter cover you should get very little to none oil spilling. Of course there will be some coming out with the filter.

You could siphon some out from filling hole and inspect it, but small amounts of water would be hard to detect this way, because there should be little to no emulsion accumulation.

I also prefer paper filters, cheap and makes problems like this easy to detect.

[Undertheoaks]

Thanks I think I'll continue running the paper filter. Plus I topped the overflow off I will ride it this Wed to see if it drops any farther.

[killurtv]

Originally Posted by Zuber

Put in a new wp seal every 20k miles or every other year/every other valve adjust and you'll be good.

+1 here. I actually change mine every year, nice winter project. Since buying CJ's rebuild kit with the hardened shaft (go easy on me) I think I will be doing every two years from now on. Just installed my clear clutch cover too!!