Slight flaking

[Stuart]

My 10 plate 650X with under 3,000 (mostly dry) miles is showing signs of the start of flaking to the silver finish on the right casing just where the large radiator hose is.  I'm thinking of taking this back to the base metal (only around the flaking, not he entire case), and putting something a bit more weather resistant on it.  Maybe "feathering" it so it doesn't look like it's been re done. Anyone got any experience or suggestions re what might be best to apply?  

[frez]

Sounds like the usual water pump housing corrosion. Some people have reported success with smooth silver hammerite.

[Stuart]

That's it... Just at the join between the water pump case and the engine. I was thinking about Hammerite. A project in waiting then!

[WeeStromer]

My water pump flaked, so I sanded it down and coated it in heat resistant matt black paint. I couldn't get the smooth finish, but to be honest the small brush marks are covered by dirt.

[greywolf]

My water pump had 50,000 miles on it so I replaced it.

[Fat Rat]

I had the Water Pump housing replaced under warranty on my Vee and my Wee  

[Descolada]

I'm afraid it is a common problem. I have this marked as a future project on my bike and that is also a 2010 plate. I will probably try and work this in with a coolant change so I can take the cover off and get to it a little more easily for prepping the area before painting. Looks like someone may have already had a go at mine, but it was a god awful attempt.

UPDATE: Sorry, I misread your description about the location of the flaking. Mine is around the connection with the hose.

I assume that this joint makes use of a gasket. Can anyone who has done this job advise on whether it is best to replace the gasket, or will it survive the process of having the housing removed?

Des

[mjc506]

Try not to break the waterpump gasket seal - While it is possible to break to sea by removing that bolt, you won't be able to replace the gasket without removing the housing, which requires taking the clutch cover off.

Not that difficult, but that's an oil change/new clutch cover gasket.

[greywolf]

There is no gasket at the hose attachment. Rubber on metal has no need for more rubber.

[mjc506]

Good point, which joint do you mean, Descolada?

[Descolada]

Sorry for the confusion folks. I meant a gasket between the housing cover and the engine, not the point at which the housing connects to the rubber hose.



The gasket looks like a large 'S' but seems to be tagged as an 'O' ring.

[greywolf]

An S shaped O-ring is a good way to describe it. It is a circular cross section piece that resides in a groove cast in the water pump body. It can probably be reused but why take chances. The clutch cover has to come off to remove the water pump and its gasket will need to be replaced.

[Descolada]

Thanks. Maybe I will rethink just cleaning this up and respraying in place. "If it ain't broke" and all that.