Front Cover Water Pump pitting

[saltydawg1967]

I continue to go through my 82 GL1100. I am cleaning the front cover before I reinstall the water pump and as I have soda blasted off some of the stains and hardend gunk, I see some pitting around the water jacket at the top. I have attached a pic so you can see. What do you guys think would be the best way to ensure that I don't get a leak when reinstalling?

[virgilmobile]

Look at where the "O" ring for the coolant port seats against the housing,It may not be in the casting pitted area.As far as gasket sealing from oil,some pitting is acceptable,however,there are 2 options.Use a VERY small amount of #2 Permatex sealer in that area,or fill the pits with JB Weld and re-surface flat.

[WingAdmin]

Hard to tell if that's pitting, or if there were defects in the original casting leaving air bubbles that are now being revealed.

I'm pretty sure the O-Ring is inside that area, but if it were mine, I'd mix up some JB Weld, work it in there, then using a very flat plastic applicator, squeegee it all flat. I don't know if JB Weld expands or shrinks when it cures - if it shrinks, you might need to do two applications. If it expands, you might need to flatten it out with some very fine (1500) sandpaper after it's cured.

Either way, I'd probably take the 1500 grit paper to the mating surface afterward to remove any JB Weld that was left behind anywhere other than in the pits.

[saltydawg1967]

Great idea. That's what l'll do. Don't want to have a leak after all the work I'm doing.