New Flowkooler leaking from weep hole

[tsang]

Hey guys, my new Flowkooler water pump for my 289 is leaking from the weep hole. This one:

https://flowkoolerwaterpumps.com/co...1964-1977-small-block-ford-hi-flow-water-pump

It's never been used, only turned by hand so far. When I go to fill a third gallon of coolant (out of 4 gallons), I notice the weep hole dripping every 10 seconds or so on average, maybe less while spinning the pump. With the belts tensioned, it seems to leak even faster from the weep hole. So I guess when the pump is filled up with coolant, it's leaking through the seal and out the weep hole. Is it a faulty pump, or did I forget something? Because when I checked with a borescope, the weep hole looked like a straight opening into the nose of the water pump, no plug to be seen. Not sure if there should be one or not. I would think not, because it's supposed to tell you if the pump is failing, right? I have my original pump, but what are my options in fixing this, if there are any?

 

[1970 Palmer]

Maybe contact Flowkooler for their suggestion. I have had good luck with their products.

Maybe connect your drill motor to the shaft and spin it in the engine rotation direction for five minutes to help seat the seal. It might have some debris from your engines cooling system stuck in the water pump seal.

Replace the pump.

 

[DirtDonk]

How old is it? Sales-wise, as opposed to installed-wise in case it's been sitting for a long time.
They used to have a lifetime warranty on the parts, but not sure if they still do. Even if not a lifetime, certainly a year or perhaps more.
Certainly worth a phone call I would think.

If you purchased it from us at Wild Horses, give the office a call and ask about it there first perhaps. Give them the details and they may have an answer for you without even calling Flowkooler.

Paul

 

[B RON CO]

Hi, it sounds like the pump is defective and needs to be changed. Is there any wobble in the shaft? Try to wiggle the fan. The shaft should be tight. Did you triple check the hoses, clamps, and thermostat outlet? Good luck

 

[tsang]

I did order the pump from Wild Horses in September last year, Paul, so I'll give you guys a call tomorrow. It was installed and left to sit all winter outside. I may have over-tightened the belts at some point as well, though I haven't even turned it over for a year now. When grabbing the fan from either side and moving it back and forth, I can't really see much movement, but I can feel and hear a noticeable shift somewhere along the water pump hub.

 

[DirtDonk]

Well, overtightening the belts is certainly a no-no, but it's usually going to effect the bearing and not immediately the seal. If it did, then the lesson du jour would be "ouch, not so tight!!!!" next time;D (or is that a "tighten 'er until it squeals, then back off a quarter turn" situation?)

Sitting outside in the winter is what cars do though, so that aspect should not have any effect on any performance or life expectancy.
Good to know all conditions just for information, but at least that's within a reasonable expectation of function.

The little bit of clicking you felt is very possibly the failed bearing, or the bearing becoming too loose in the pocket. Which could either be a defect, or a result of overtightening.
I have not felt a brand new one in a long time, but I don't believe you should feel any clicking/ticking/snicking when moving the fan. Either in-and-out, or side-to-side.
The coolant might be passing externally by the bearing case then, rather than through a failed seal.

Anyway, good luck on getting a new one. They're a great pump!

Paul

 

[Soylent]

Old thread but I have a Flow Kooler leaking through the weep hole. Purchased 2019. Sat on the motor in the shop and started for first time earlier this year. Wonder how many of these pumps have had this issue.