Demoralizing coolant leaks...please help!

[curdy]

I recently replaced the fan shroud, radiator, thermostat, and hoses on my JD 2040. Didn't really have to put new hoses on, but figured it was a good time to do it and it doesn't cost much. Turned into a pretty big job getting everything done with fixing what previous owners neglected. Got everything back together late last night and it looks really nice. I was looking forward to putting in coolant this morning and begin tackling the pile of jobs that are backed up now.

Put in a couple of gallons and started getting a leak around the main hose on the water pump. The new hose is a smaller OD, so I figured it was just because I used the old ring clip. So I grabbed a hose clamp and put that on. Still leaked. So I drained and put on the old hose and used the old clip. Refilled, and it still leaked. I'm afraid that there were some chunks of rust that came off of the water pump barb and now its too pitted to seal. If there's another possible problem that I'm not thinking of, let me know.

If its a rust issue, are my only options to either A) replace the pump, or B) remove the pump and put some epoxy on the barb to fill it back in? (I believe the leak is in the back where I wouldn't be able to get to it very well with out removing it IMO)

Could I throw some pipe dope on it? With it not being under a lot of pressure, I could see this maybe working.

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[art]

I've never seen that happen when the hose is installed properly. I'd do a good inspection when the hose is off to try to find out why!

 

[curdy]

There was some pretty decent flaking that came off when I removed the hose. The odd thing is that I didn't seem to get any leaking when I put it back on to flush the system the first time around. Of course, it may have been leaking then and I just didn't notice it.

 

[boomer1025]

There was some pretty decent flaking that came off when I removed the hose. The odd thing is that I didn't seem to get any leaking when I put it back on to flush the system the first time around. Of course, it may have been leaking then and I just didn't notice it.

Curdy, antifreeze will leak quicker then plain water, that might be why it didn't leak when you flushed it. Try cleaning up the neck on the water pump with some sand paper. Then try filling it again, if it still leaks you could use #2 permatex on the water pump neck, then put the hose and clamp on, let it set for awhile then fill it with antifreeze. The only down side to using the permatex is you might have to cut the hose off if you need to replace it or the water pump in the future. Another option is if the neck on the water pump is pitted real bad. is to use JB Weld

 

[curdy]

Picked up some JB yesterday and some new hose clamps. After taking a break from working on the tractor for a while I went back and added the new hose clamps. That did the trick after all. I didn't bother taking off the old clips, just added the new clamps right behind them. Sure am happy that worked and I didn't have to pull it apart to epoxy it.

Bushhogged down some 8' weeds last night :laughing: