willysmjeeps.com

Hello, on my 53 m38a1, the water pump was leaking and I bought a kit. The pump has no place for a wire retainer and had nothing but the two grooves on the bearing and a quarter inch hole on the bottom of the shaft. The old shaft has an unreadable name, and England on the front seal end. Do you think I could run it like this or a little lock-tite holding it? Any advice welcome. Thanks, Robert

What method of bearing retention was used for the old shaft and bearing you removed from that pump housing?

A photo of the two shafts with their bearings installed would help a lot.

Wes, there was nothing on the shaft except the pulley,fiber washer, spring and rubber seal, and impeller. The new shaft measures out the same as the old one, with the same two gooves on the bearing. Only a quarter inch hole on the bottom of the housing. It has been that way and run before I aquired it, so I dont know the whole story. A Motors manual from the 1950's on pre49 Willys doesnt show the retainer on the early models. It may be a real old pump and is the only guess I have. Thanks, Robert

I was asking to determine what if any provision was made for the bearing retention on the old pump. Was there an internal step or ridge in the housing? Was the old pump's bearing a slip fit or a press fit? Any thing you can add? Did the old pump shaft/bearing/housing have any provision to control thrust motion of the shaft?

I found no other retention. I pressed it back together using an old motors manual 1935 to 1950. no other things to hold it together. I am going to try it. R Harris

Robert,
I'm very interested in how yours turns out. My 54 m38A1's water pump is leaking through the small hole in the pump housing. I debating whether to rebuild or buy a new one. Let me know your thoughts and any difficulties encountered .

Bill

Robert, is this representative of the bearing set and washer
you bought? (w/o the defective bearing seal, etc). I bought these
for my w/p rebuild but sent them back. Were your parts good
quality and if so where did you get them?

My parts came from Kaiser Willys and looked a measured out well. The bearing had two grooves instead of the one groove like your photo. From what i could tell they were quality parts. Though time will tell. Robert

I cringe when I see that type of seal.
If you want a pump which will not leak again & are not technical go to an old time machine shop with a "cut off bearing" & appropriate MODERN seal like GM or perhaps Ford from a bearing supply house...Have the shop machine the housing, fit the bits & you will have a trouble free pump for life....<1/2 hour charge
The problem that has always been is the cast iron used as a sealing surface ....modern ceramics are great replacements.