Water pump cover corrosion

[Parademic]

Hi all.  My 2008 vee is still going strong with 40k miles on the clock...  However the metallic cover over the water pump is really corroded and looks a bit crazy.

I was reading a post from 2014 where someone used a wire brush and paint from Halford's to clean it up...  Sadly there was no before and after photos (just after). 

Has anyone else any experience in cleaning these up or is it easier to just replace it?

Cheers,

Gareth -  Manchester UK

[greywolf]

I replaced mine due to corrosion at about 50,000 miles. I figure it was about time for a new water pump anyway.

[MartinW]

http://www.v-strom.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=21117.0

With before and after photos.

[Parademic]

Thank you... However mine seem a little more corroded... Is it still worth doing?


Gareth

[joderest]

anything is worth restoring instead of throwing away.
a dremmel will prepare it OK as long as you are careful.
Its the paint colour that could let it down. If you took it off, and do as suggested, replace waterpump, you could rub down the cover to metal, a good coat of etch primer, then a silver top coat.

[Fat Rat]

I've done a few. Wire brush attachment on a drill, use wet and dry to finish, etch primer then paint.  I did the last one black rather than worrying about a silver colour match.

http://www.v-strom.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=28396.20

[Parademic]

Is it best to take it off before doing it, or do it in situ ?

And if I take it off, what issues will be lurking behind it ?

Ta

Gareth

[greywolf]

Taking it off will give a much cleaner result. It requires taking the clutch cover off though. Doing that exposes the coolant and oil so the book says to drain them though someone has reported doing it on the side stand without draining the oil. The lean angle keeps the oil below the opening. The following article includes replacing the thermostat and rebuilding the water pump, which you don't need to do, but shows the other stuff you would need to do to take it off. The only part you would need if just doing a paint job is the clutch cover gasket.

http://blacklabadventures.com/2012/02/22/rebuilding-the-water-pump/