Water pump is ready to go in.

[Viol1736]

Parts are all cleaned and ready for reassembly. The previous mechanic utilized silver silicone sealer. It was a lot of scraping and scrubbing to get them clean. I found the old pump was ok, just bad oil seals. I have noise in the front of the engine. So....do oil pumps make clicky grinding sounds. My next venture will be to check the idler pulleys.

[virgilmobile]

Generally no.I have never heard of oil pump issues on these bikes...Not to say it's not impossible to damage one but if the oil pump is clicking and grinding the whole engine is likely damaged too.
Remember,the impellers in the dual pump run in oil.
Idler pulley bearings are more likely.Same thing..they must be glass smooth rolling and little to no movement in the bearing.

[Viol1736]

Should a water pump spin glass smooth? The old one does....a newer replacement I’m thinking of installing does not.

[virgilmobile]

I'm using the word "spin" somewhat loosely.
Ya really can't just spin it with your fingers like a fan blade.It should rotate with resistance but be smooth to the rotation touch No gravel feel and no in/out or lateral play in the shaft.
In your hand.Not mounted

[Viol1736]

I dismantled the old one...there are two bearings....the water side berring was shot...the oil side berring was good...it still spun nicely...the bad one was so bad it offered no resistance. Glad I did not reinstall it! It had very little side to side movement, although some.

[Viol1736]

Here is what they look like

[virgilmobile]

Good thing you checked.ya gonna rebuild it?
The bearings,when in good shape turn smooth,they don't spin freely.The grease and seal does have a drag effect just as the front water ceramic seal does have a drag on the shaft.

[Viol1736]

I was tempted to rebuild it. Just going to replace it. There is a good $30 rebuild kit on eBay. If my replacement pump fails I will try rebuilding it. This is just too much fun.

[virgilmobile]

I went through the same.Rebuilt one and damaged the front water seal...rebuilt another with success...total cost for parts and time spent would have paid for a new one.

[virgilmobile]

Be careful when putting it together.Grease up the "O" rings so they don't get damaged when you put it back.Easy assembly force.Dont hammer it into place.
Its common to skin a part of the "O" ring on the casting edge.