xj 700 water pump woes.

So I went to prep my bike to start it on sunday. While loading in coolant, noticed a small leak coming from the water pump. Removed the water pump housing noticed a small hole on it. Anybody know what it is for? The hole, which i photographed seems to go straight through the housing. It is obviously there for a reason but what? Why it would be leaking? I pulled out the old ones and I ordered a new bearing, oil seal and mechanical seal.

 

the hole, if like automotive applications, is a weeping hole, so when the seals go in the water pump it allows the coolant to escape for 2 reasons, one so the owner can notice that the pump needs to be fixed, and two so it doesn't pressurize coolant into the bearings and causing a lot of other potential problems.

 

When time comes to put everything back together, don't ever forget the washer and small bolt (location shown in red here):



Last guy who worked on my X before me forgot it and I've had a sporadic overheating engine that have pissed me off for several months, metal gear moving in and out would or wouldn't engage the water pump plastic gear.

Also, don't overtighten the very short bolt below the pump location, because that part of the cover would break easily (mine was half broken when I bought the bike).

 

Here are the pics

 

Hey Krafty that sounds logical, I saw nothing in the manual on it. And quebecois59 thanks for that info.

 

Replaced the seals no coolant leak as of now.

 

Good for you!

Take care of that X, you won't find anything else like this bike.