Dumb mistake during Opti-Spark replacement
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 649
Likes: 3
From: Georgia
Dumb mistake during Opti-Spark replacement
Well after helping a friend change out his Opti-Spark and new water pump we cranked the engine and it ran beautifully. We left the engine running while checking to make sure there were no coolant leaks then I checked the temp gauge. It was pegged out at 260 degrees after only a few minutes idling. 
We shut the engine down, checked the coolant, fans and everything else we could think of that could be causing the problem. Then I walked over to the old waterpump and picked it up.
CRAP!!! The splined shaft that connects the water pump shaft to the shaft on the engine was still on the old water pump. Damn!
What an Idiot!!! The new water pump wasn't even pumping.
We were both relieved and pissed at the same time. Oh well, 3 hours later (including time to stop and eat dinner) we had taken the W.P back off installed the splined shaft and had it back together and running as good as new.
Hopefully someone will read this post and not make the same mistake. Remember the Shaft!
We shut the engine down, checked the coolant, fans and everything else we could think of that could be causing the problem. Then I walked over to the old waterpump and picked it up.CRAP!!! The splined shaft that connects the water pump shaft to the shaft on the engine was still on the old water pump. Damn!
What an Idiot!!! The new water pump wasn't even pumping.We were both relieved and pissed at the same time. Oh well, 3 hours later (including time to stop and eat dinner) we had taken the W.P back off installed the splined shaft and had it back together and running as good as new.
Hopefully someone will read this post and not make the same mistake. Remember the Shaft!
Safety Car
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,651
Likes: 10
From: Apple Valley MN
A fairly important little piece, that one is 
Did you check the o-ring on the engine spline that goes under the coupler? Mine was hard as a rock, and it broke in two when I went to take it off to check it.
Did you check the o-ring on the engine spline that goes under the coupler? Mine was hard as a rock, and it broke in two when I went to take it off to check it.
in the morning...
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 649
Likes: 3
From: Georgia
Yes, fortunately I had some extra o-rings. Thanks for the reminder.
