Water pump gland leak

[crankedup]

I need to make good the water leak from the water pump spindle of my vintage car. Having been advised its best to use an graphite coated heavy gauge string can anyone please advise me as to where I can buy some (mail order) thanks. Any other tips on this job appreciated.

[Pigeon]

Try asking a nearby steam railway, they probably use it.

[crankedup]

Good'O, I have the midi railway close by. Thanks.

[tempus]

If you have no joy a chandlers will stock it.

[crankedup]

Thanks, good to have another supplier link.
I had an look at the water pump spindle today and found that I could tighten the gland not by about half turn! Haven't been able to test if that may have cured the leak yet.

[perdu]

crankedup said:

Thanks, good to have another supplier link.
I had an look at the water pump spindle today and found that I could tighten the gland not by about half turn! Haven't been able to test if that may have cured the leak yet.

If it's started leaking it will be better to repack it now rather than later when it might catch you out, to be safest.

[Huntsman]

In a chandlery it will be called 'sextant packing'

Square in cross section and available in sizes such as 1/4 and 3/8 inch.

Wrap around the shaft in a coil, sharp knife through the coil where is passes itself and then the one complete coil becomes a ring to insert into the body before the nut.

Used extensively on boat propshafts, usually left so it slowly drips, the water lubricates and cools.

[crankedup]

Thanks Huntsman for good advise.

[Swarley]

Remember not to make it too good, as the gland uses the water to lubricate the shaft.

The odd dip is a good thing.


edit
Sorry I didn't see that Huntsman had beaten me to it.

Edited by Swarley on Thursday 17th June 14:20