Anyone had luck pressing pulleys off bob drake flathead waterpumps?

I need to fit double pulleys to a new pair of waterpumps, and I'm a bit hesitant to try pressing the new pumps apart , for fear of wrecking them, or finding the shafts different.. Has anyone done this? And how did you attack it? Did you press the shaft out of the pulley? Or the impeller side through the housing to dis***emble them?


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I think you will find that the impeller shaft length is different from single pulley to double pulley pump so before you pop stuff apart you should compare both the shaft length and then the difference in diameter of pulley shaft between the reproduction pumps and the original pulley parts.

 

I wanted to put my original chromed pressed steel pullies on new pumps, I bought Speedways and found the shaft was smaller diameter the original Ford pumps. I wouldn't be surprised if Drakes are the same problem.
I could tell before I tried to press the pullies off the new pumps so I can't help you there.

 

Thanks guys,
The distance the shafts stick out the front is within 1mm of being the same, the problem is its near impossible to measure the shaft diameter accurately without presing it all apart..and I dont want to ruin a pair of new pumps to find that out! the other thing could be clearance for the backside of the pulleys..again, you cant really see in there to Know if they are similar enough to interchange..I guess im on my own with this one.

 

Just spoke to an old timer mechanic, he said they used to drill small holes into the impeller around the shaft to release pressure then tap the shaft through from the back, then press off the pulley supporting it around the shaft to avoid cracking them..
well thats not gonna work here as i need to save the new impellers! maybe if I bought Kits, and did it that way..but are the kit impellers the new style curved vane ones? Arghhh...**** it. you know what? the old pumps are perfect (was a low hour generator motor) so im going to hunt the overheating problem elsewhere...
thinking as it heats up on highway driving..no thermos could be the issue, or a partially blocked radiator, or retarded ignition. Just going to Modern water pump vanes is unlikely to cure it..right?

 

i wouldn't replace them unless they were leaking..........

 

Skip Haney can rebuild your old pumps using curved vane impellers and sealed bearings.

http://www.fordcollector.com/

 

umm thanks.. im in Australia.. shipping four waterpumps across the planet is probably a bit dear..

 

I'd at least check with Skip he might have some good input and the cost for international shipping from the US via priority mail isn't as much as you might think. IMO.