The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts hydraulic pump question

The hydraulic pump on my 58 2-ton was leaking pretty bad. I replaced the seals and 3 bearings on the front plate and put it back together, still have a slight leak but it is much better. My question is, should there be some sealant or gasket between the end caps and the thrust plates and the main housing? There wasn't any gaskets or sealer there when I pulled it apart. I am thinking I might be able to get away with a thin application of gasket sealer but gaskets (unless super thin) would create too much clearance and allow the pump impellers to move fore and aft.

http://s1152.photobucket.com/user/69B-Cuda/library/1958%20Viking%2060/hydraulic%20pump

Good work, I may have to do that myself here soon. I'm thinking the same as you; there couldn't be much harm in some careful sealant application, right? It would need to be a very thin, carefully applied sealant, for sure. I think you're also right about gaskets messing with the impeller tolerances.

What I'm wondering about is the material those thin plates are made out of. Is that bronze or something? Is that supposed to be the "seal"? Is there a chance that the original design counted on those being softer than the end caps so that they complied with the machined surfaces of the housing/caps?

I'm thinking I may try some permatex aviation form a gasket (real dark brown,like molasses).

Try Permatex Super 300. It's also a brush-on liquid, and seals much better than the brown stuff. It was developed to seal aviation gasoline and other hard to handle chemicals.
Jerry

thanks, Jerry, I'll get a can of that, I have some of the other permatex but not the super 300.