Water pump pulley fouls water pump

[andrewh]

Having struggled to change the blessed water pump in less than idle weather conditions, I now find the fan pulley on the water pump is fouling the body of the new water pump! I do not want to take the pump off again if I can help it. Has anyone come across this before? Clearly some shims behind the pulley would solve it . Presumably pattern parts again? Anyone?

[David Oslo]

Shims behind pulley would start to put the pulley out of line with the other pulleys. I would make sure I had witness marks, pull off the pulley and then use a die grinder to remove metal from the pump casting. Quicker than faffing around trying to find or make precision shims, remember its a rotating element that you don't want wobbly.

[andrewh]

Thanks David. After giving up in disgust with the job, I have subsequently returned to re examine and its fouling on the casting number which is not on the original. As you say I shall set to with the grinder and hopefully that will provide the clearance. I would normally check that before putting the pump on, I can only blame my late night last night! What a shame the manufacturers don't sort these things out

[David Oslo]

I was fighting wirh the exhaust manifold heat shields a few days ago, spoiled an otherwise enjoyable day in the workshop. Even went as far as bending the metalwork to try to get them to pass between manifold and frames. Realised in the nick of time it was appropriate to 'down tools' and walk away before I did something that I would regret. Time is a great fixer of difficult jobs. That and a good cup of tea :D