ok. I'm gonna try to clean the pulleys cross sand the tensioner pulley before I go replacing the water pump. Can I clean the pulleys with brake cleaner? carb cleaner is less corrosive.


There is a hole in the top of the water pump housing.
Can I add a drop or two of 2-1 oil?

I did not grease the tensioner puller. I guess I should do that.

Is the water pump a big job? I already have the fan off and fan shroud off.

Water pump replacement is real ez with fan/fan clutch off. Turn the water pump shaft and see how it "feels". Any roughness, hard to turn?

That is the weep hole. Coolant will come out of it when the water pump seal does not work anymore.

__________________
Jim

I'll pull the belt, rotate all the pulleys to see if they go smooth.
Clean the belt, clean the pulleys, cross sand the tensioner pulley. Grease the tensioner pulley shaft, and take the gloss off the back side of the belt.

get back to you later.

Most any solvent will work. Brake clean is generally softer than carb cleaner, mineral spirits will work too.

Not really, the seal has a rubber bellows that will be deteriorated by the oil. This rubber bellows is what usually fails when a water pump starts to leak.

Have a look at my post 3 and 4 http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/vintage-mercedes/372819-4-5-water-pump-durability.html

In the old days, 50's and prior, some water pumps had a grease fitting or oil cup for the bearings but not the seal.