the water pump hunch

When I was overheating like crazy during last tecate mexico, technical ride. I had this feeling that my water pump was not working well. But even though 3 screws separated me from looking to check it,,I just added evans coolant and have been riding like a nut every weekend. Well today with a bit of time and after she has been pinging on the trail. ANd one of my crew commented on that the Husky was a little mechanically loud sounding. I removed the 3 screws of the pump cover and found what some others have found,,,no nut and the impeller center hole completely blown out as well as one impeller blade missing. Somewhere in the coolant system is my nut and a blade. I will be at the GP shop move tommorrow and will get a new (maybe used) set up to install. I hope the loose stuff is lodged somewhere and doesnt come back around and hit the impeller. Wish me well,,we are heading back to Ryno land for a fun ride with the really fast guys next week, hope the husky keeps the loose parts in the place they are now. R

Well, that's good and bad I guess. Figured out the overheating problem but now have FOD in the cooling system. I wonder if it's model specific or if we should all be checking our shite now. The fan seems to be keeping our TE's happy up here but......I'd rather catch it before the parts start falling downstream. Thanks for heads up and good luck!

I H8 FOD!!!
Hmm what do you guys think about blasting (not too hich pressure) the system with a water hose???

Have you tried removing the rads first & giving them a good shake??? The debris could be anywhere, rads/ hoses, etc. Once the pump went kaput, there wouldn't have been too much pressure to push the stuff further into the engine.

Thanks gang, appreciate the respones. I'll let ya'all know the results

Ok, I'm right in the middle of this same issue. I have the new impeller and nut (thanks Motoxotica), but have not been able to retrieve the old nut. I did try flushing with water, my next trick is to try a flexible magnet/pick up tool. I can't really see it.

It is not in the radiators, they are off the bike and nothing rattling.

Any chance of it getting sucked all the way back up to the water pump, if I just leave it in there?

The reality is that it was probably running for at least a full day as it is.

Any ideas for getting the little nut out? I may just hope it is lodged in somewhere and run it.

Wonder if I could fashion some kind of very reliable/secure/strong screen/mesh on the intake side of the water pump, just in case?

I will recommend that everyone take a look at theirs and maybe loctite it.

going on a ride next weekend...sheetiron 300.

Cheers

Scott in Sacramento

Took a peek at my TE's engine just to gather some sense on this issue. If the nut fell off it seems to me as if it would have gone toward the lower pump hose or further by gravity. I have no idea how big the water jackets are on this bike or how they flow but am assuming any loose hardware not in a driven flow of coolant would wonder down toward the cylinder from the pump on the upper left side of the engine. An observation is that apparently these bikes can run and not explode with convective cooling judging by the accounts of those finding their impellers no longer driven. Interesting and noteworthy to the robust design unless I'm missing something here. Amazing, actually.

i had the same problem on my tc 250 when i noticed it wanted to overheat quicker than i thought it should, i pulled the water pump cover off and the impellar fell on the floor, i had a top end gasket kit on hand so i decided to pull the head off and look at the cylinder and when i turned it upside down the nut fell out, im sure if you take the head off you could get a small magnet down in the port to get it out or even try to take the hoses off of the cylinder and maybe it'll come out that way, i also replaced the 250 impellar with a 450/510 impellar cause it's actually bigger and the impellar housing and the shaft are the same so it made sense and works better

Flushed and nothing popped out. To be sure I am not scared to leave the pieces in the motor as long as they stay put!! I will do more playing after work. Just don't want the pieces (nut, impeller blade) to find their way back into the new impeller.

did a really good fod check, water blast (all directions), shake check,, cannot find the nut or the missing blade. confident that they are immobile in the water jacket. GP motos has the new parts 4 me,,,I am putting her back together 2 nite. Will refill with Evans and go to rynoland 4 this weekends event. Installed fresh plug (old one was reading good) will continue the diet of 30%race gas 70 pump premium. Fresh oil change (maxima synth).
good to go!!!

I just came across this thread and as I'm planning on changing the coolant on my TE this weekend I wonder if I should take a look at the impeller while the system is empty. Is it as simple as taking the 3 bolts off ? Is the gasket re-usable ? Things to look for when the cover is off ?

Cheers

1st I have heard of this issue too. Is it wise to just order the replacement now vs waiting? Is this a issue of all 08 TE's or did they resolve it mid year?

Thanks, I'll give that a go

never found FOD (nut and blade),,,, installed new (used) impeller and nut with Hi stength Loc tite, secured all hoses, added Evans NPG-R, to my all ready modded system, (CV4 hoses, 1.8 Kaw cap, Hi Press cross over tube, GFBN Tee, Drilled Rad louvers.)
Changed oil, clean air filter,,,,,ready to ride!!! Off to RynoLand

Did my coolant today (I put in Engine Ice to try and cool that sucker down) and I checked my pump. Impeller was fine - no blades missing, and the nut was on just fine.

Just reporting in....

rode tight single track all day no issues. she ran great, I did not!!! ( not one of the better ride days)