Just when things were going swimmingly......................

[mark030358]

Just as things were going swimmingly................, the car running well and so forth, I start to get a noise like slightly slipping fan belt, rising and falling with the engine revs. As I have run the fan belt slack since the engine was put back, I thought ok, too slack, tighten just a little and that will be that. Anyway, as I slackened off the the adjusting bolts for the alternator I thought lets just check the water pump for any play by rocking the pulley cover. To my abject disbelief I found that it, the water pump pulley, could be rocked, top to bottom, side to side. So I reckon that this is the source of my noise.
Should there be any movement?

There are no leaks but I'm not happy. I remember reading an earlier post re a "singing" water pump and guess mine sounds similar, but the volume increases with rpms.

744 miles since everything rebuilt by xxx, and DEFINATLEY not an over tightened fanbelt or misaligned alternator.

[M100]

There should be next to no movement, are you sure the pulley is on tight?

[mark030358]

Yep, the pulley is on tight. If my pump is u/s has anyone tried the ones that use a modified front cover and are removeable in situ. Anyone recommend a supplier for these who's items are of a good quality?

cheers
Mark

[john-c-elan+2]

HI FRONT COVER WITH REMOVEABLE WATER PUMP AVAILABLE FROM BURTON ENGINEERING, ILFORD. TEL:0208554 2281 or ON LINE AT:
www.burtonpower.com. Also available from the Lotus Cortina man in crewkerne, somerset. Its the same item from either co. Can't rermember his name ?? rgds jc

[elansprint71]

Fitted about four Winters ago, high quality product but not cheap. I think there are some photos somewhere in the tech section of the forum.

Pete.

[elansprint71]

..... http://www.lotuselan.net/publish/water_pump.shtml

Cheers,
Pete.

[JJDraper]

Any clue as to where the noise is coming from? I have just had a clutch thrust bearing fail in my +2, but it took three years & 25,000 miles to let go completely after I first noticed the noise. It gave a whining rustling noise that came and went - sometimes going away for months... My mech man said the clutch was a competition unit (not hard core, just a hard lining and heavy action cover) which probably caused the bearing failure. New clutch is a revelation.... much more civilised!

[mark030358]

Things are proceeding swimmingly..................Although there is a little play in the pump I am assured that this is normal. Due to the diameter of the puley the play is made to seem much larger thn it is. In fact it is virtually nil. After applying wet end dry to the fan belt to remove the glaze...nosie vanished...............perfect!!

Thanks for all the replies

Mark

[kevinrooney]

Iwould just replace it. dont take chances on parts like this the glazing is heat (friction)damage

kevin