Oil leak from weep hole

[indianarogers]

I just replaced my water pump on my 1981 Interstate. The water pump works great but oil leaks from the weep hole after I turn the engine off. Any ideas on what I must have done wrong?

Thank you.

[WingAdmin]

I'm afraid that the usual suspect on this sort of leak is a rolled, pinched or otherwise failed O-ring (assuming you put a new water pump in place). The O-ring on the left is the one that seals against oil leakage:



If that O-ring is not sealing correctly, then you will get oil leaking out the weep hole.

If it were me...I'd wait a little while to see if the leak eventually goes away on its own after the rings seat themselves in a bit - but if not, your only option is to disassemble the bike once more, remove the water pump, and reinsert it with the O-ring correctly lubricated and positioned.

[RBGERSON]

three place that can leak,,oil seal at the shaft, o ring pictured above and at any one of the crush washers that hold the pump in place. Pinched o ring is a common issue on a re-install.

[WingAdmin]

three place that can leak,,oil seal at the shaft, o ring pictured above and at any one of the crush washers that hold the pump in place. Pinched o ring is a common issue on a re-install.

I didn't mention the shaft seal, as typically the seal will be in good shape when the pump is brand new, but you're correct on the crush washers - if they were not replaced when the pump was replaced, were not clean when installed, or were not torqued correctly, oil can leak past them.

[indianarogers]

I have been watching this and it doesn't seem to leak very much while I am riding. I checked the oil level in the dip stick while the bike is on the center stand before leaving and upon returning from a ride (70 miles) and the oil level is almost identical. It is when the bike stopped that the leakage takes place. Is this consistent with the three mentioned places where leakage could take place?

Thank you.

[littlebeaver]

Guy's you said to reinstall it and lubricate, we are talking about lubricating the o-ring right, what is commonly used as a lube...? All of them? Grease or what...?

[RBGERSON]

Vaseline works well..

[WingAdmin]

I use ATF (automatic transmission fluid) on O-rings when reassembling and it lubricates quite well.

[littlebeaver]

Thank's I was asking because I have used vaseline on all my o-rings, I think I read somewhere that bearing grease will actually not be so good for the rubber on the o-rings, I just wasn't sure of this ..thanks, I have at least two options now that work good as lubricants.. ATF, and Vaseline...Cool..