Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-21-2020, 10:57 PM   #1
Mister Moose
Senior Member
 
Mister Moose's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Hartford area, CT
Posts: 374
Default Rear water pump grease fitting

My rear grease fitting is is shown in the photo, it is not a zirc, it's like a threaded cap.

20201121_223112.jpg

I'm fuzzy on the use of this fitting - Do you turn it some portion of a turn as part of the 500 mile lubrication?

How much of a turn?

And the 64,000 dollar question, which grease do you put in there? There's all kinds of discussion here on water pump grease. I guess one answer is if you don't over grease it, it matters a lot less which kind.
Mister Moose is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2020, 12:50 AM   #2
Synchro909
Senior Member
 
Synchro909's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,471
Default Re: Rear water pump grease fitting

The fitting you show is normal. We call it a grease cup but you guys seem to have your own language when it comes to these things. I use Penrite Water Pump Grease which is not a grease at all (and here's me saying you have your own language!). It is a wax. I put some in the cup part of the fitting and screw it on after backing off the packing nut. That forces the lube into the bearing. One capful at a time is enough IMO but some keep going till it comes out the front. I think there is a high likelihood that you will have lube in the cooling system if you do that.
__________________
I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.
Synchro909 is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 11-22-2020, 01:47 AM   #3
J Franklin
Senior Member
 
J Franklin's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 5,946
Default Re: Rear water pump grease fitting

I think if you unscrew the knurled cover, you can see the rest of the story.
J Franklin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2020, 04:44 AM   #4
Ak Sourdough
Senior Member
 
Ak Sourdough's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Posts: 126
Default Re: Rear water pump grease fitting

My sedan doesn't have a rear water pump, just the one on the front of the head.


Sorry, couldn't help it.
__________________
I still have an excellent rememberer, trouble is my forgetter is so much better that it often overrides the rememberer.
Ak Sourdough is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2020, 06:39 AM   #5
wwirz
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Corning NY
Posts: 243
Default Re: Rear water pump grease fitting

When you unscrew the cap you expose the grease fitting. On mine it is a Model A fitting, so you need that small grease gun or you can adapt another gun you may have for sure. You can remove the fitting and Napa should be able to fit you up with the adapter.
There is a "special" water pump grease. I think I got mine from Snyders Antique Auto. They have a website.
I eventually upgraded to a leakless water pump to improve the cars reliability. However, the seal/bearing with the "cap" is still there and you have to give it a shot of grease every 500 miles. I think I purchased my leakless pump from Snyders too.
I hope this helps
wwirz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2020, 06:53 AM   #6
jm29henry
Senior Member
 
jm29henry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: michigan
Posts: 1,126
Default Re: Rear water pump grease fitting

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Is it a newer leak less water pump ,if so the grease fittings are there for their appearance?
Just a thought best of luck to you Joe.
jm29henry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2020, 07:53 AM   #7
1crosscut
Senior Member
 
1crosscut's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 1,905
Default Re: Rear water pump grease fitting

Yep it's just a cap covering the grease zerk. Be very sparing with the grease you put into it as any excess goes into your coolant. IMO about a half pump is plenty once or twice a year.
__________________
Dave / Lincoln Nebraska
1crosscut is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2020, 09:39 AM   #8
Mister Moose
Senior Member
 
Mister Moose's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Hartford area, CT
Posts: 374
Default Re: Rear water pump grease fitting

How can you tell a leakless water pump from a normal one?
Mister Moose is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2020, 09:53 AM   #9
Will N
Senior Member
 
Will N's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,096
Default Re: Rear water pump grease fitting

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mister Moose View Post
How can you tell a leakless water pump from a normal one?
One way is by that rear grease fitting. "Leakless" pumps are usually built with a dummy grease fitting, and the cap does not unscrew. It's there as a plug for the hole in the housing and looks only, as you don't ever grease the rear sealed bearing on the leakless pumps.


IMHO, leakless pumps are only leakless until they start to leak! Then you are screwed, as there's nothing to do but replace the pump. I know, it happened to me on a tour. Standard pumps allow you to add some packing if they begin to leak, which is much easier.
Will N is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2020, 09:54 AM   #10
Bob Bidonde
Senior Member
 
Bob Bidonde's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 3,429
Default Re: Rear water pump grease fitting

The most significant reason a leakless pump gets its name is because the shaft cannot move horizontally, and it has a modern seal under the packing nut. However, even a leakless pump will start to drip someday, and you will need to put a packing ring on the shaft.
__________________
Bob Bidonde
Bob Bidonde is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2020, 04:02 PM   #11
Mister Moose
Senior Member
 
Mister Moose's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Hartford area, CT
Posts: 374
Default Re: Rear water pump grease fitting

So the cap is real and there is a grease fitting under it. i take it that means I'm not the leakless. Do I really need a special grease gun with special grease for just this one fitting? (I maintain a lot of equipment and the parts/tools/supplies spread is plenty big already) Or do most A owners just do the 1/4 shot of regular grease and call it good enough?
Mister Moose is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-2020, 04:08 PM   #12
J Franklin
Senior Member
 
J Franklin's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 5,946
Default Re: Rear water pump grease fitting

You can give it a shot of chassis grease with a regular gun, just push it tight while doing it. I have been told not to use water pump grease because it might migrate to the radiator and it can clog passages because it doesn't melt easily.
J Franklin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-23-2020, 10:55 AM   #13
Will N
Senior Member
 
Will N's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,096
Default Re: Rear water pump grease fitting

The fact that water pump grease is very water insoluble, and it doesn't thin out under high temperature is exactly why you want to use it in this application. That rear bearing is open to the cooling system, and you want a grease that will resist being flushed out by the hot coolant. As J Franklin mentioned, you do run the risk of having the grease coat the radiator innards if you squirt in too much grease to the point where it is forced past the bearing into the impeller housing. Give it one squirt every 500 miles.
Will N is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:29 AM.