VTR Water Pump Stuck

29th September 2012, 16:43

Hello all,

I have been using the incredible guide on here to replace the cam belt on my 2003 VTR. Everything was going beautifully up until the removal of the water pump.

Reading on here, I was expecting it to be a pig. But nothing prepared me for what I have had to put up with over the last 3 hours.

I have been hitting it with a hammer, trying to prise screwdrivers in between the flange of the water pump and the block, and have generally given it abuse for the past three hours - and am failing miserably.

The pump has rotated about 5 degrees, which I hope is a start. What I am worried about is the flange has now sheared off in numerous places meaning my target hitting points are becoming smaller and smaller.

I am petrified that this is going to be permanently stuck, and I a going to have screwed the engine entirely.

Has anyone got any advice at all?

Thank you so much.

James

29th September 2012, 19:14

calm down for one

you need to try work at it from opposite ends

this is going to be hard to understand...so try think of it as your reading it

get a screwdriver or round bar etc...lie it agains the block near the pump... this is going to be your pivot point

then get a big long heavey flat blade or something...lie it over the above ^^ as if its a see-saw...get it behind the waterpump pulley and try lever it out a little

do the same in a few places round the body of the pump if poss

or try getting some thin flat blades behind the flange at diff point...i had to smash my last one out..

29th September 2012, 20:12

Thank you for reply. Your first statement was a God send..! I have been fretting about this for hours..!

I am so worried that I have damaged things an that ultimately I will be unable to get it out..!

At the moment I am worried I have damaged the block through all of this battering..!

From what you are saying, am I interpreting you correctly in that I should stop hitting and trying to prise the flange away from the block, and instead concentrate on the splined pulley (over which the timing belt travels) and use the gap between that and the body of the water pump as the point to concentrate the leverage?

I am desperately trying to avoid moving the crank pulley or the cam pulley (although they are marked up).

Anyone else reading this who is about to undertake a water pump change...WOW! It is a real ar$e to get out. Kinda wish I had just agreed to an up front price from a garage rather than undertaking myself..!

Thank you again for your reply. If anyone else has tips on removal, I would be grateful.

J

30th September 2012, 14:29

I have been trying this technique without success.

I have a crowbar and a 3/8" extension bar acting as the pivot point on the engine block, and WD40 sprayed all over.

Focus is on the gap between the splined pulley and the pump housing.

I now have cuts on every one of my knuckles..

Any advice on how to proceed. This a joke! Wish I had never started...

30th September 2012, 14:53

Hit it with a bigger hammer, took me and a 16oz lumpy 5 mins to remove my vtr water pump (looked in the same condition as yours) once I had a opening a pry bar had it out in seconds so keep going there's nothing connecting to the water pump on the inside or anything close you can damage

30th September 2012, 17:28

Well, I am beaten..

7-hours of effort on this pump and I have made no progress.

I purchased a 24" wrecking bar, and have a large lump hammer. With these, I have given it everything.

Tomorrow, unless someone has a better idea, I am going no have to call some garages and see if anyone is prepared to come out to my house to help.

If there is anyone around Bristol who could help (I would obviously make it worth your while with beer/cash in return), I would be most grateful.

What an absolute joke.

People undertaking this task for the first time, please be aware of this.

With help, if I do get this off, I will be sure to post a guide with photos of how to do it.