water pump drip and front cover oil seal

When I recently topped the water up on my 2A I noticed there was a slow drip from behind the fan. It's hard to see exactly where from but it's not coming from a hose so am I looking at something simple like a new gasket behind here or could it run into a new water pump? I've not been in there before so I don't know what seals and so on are involved in making it water tight?

And lower down behind the starter dog and drive pulley I've just noticed a loose ring hanging completely separate from anything else - it looks like an old seal. I've not been in there before either but from what I can tell from the book this is the front cover oil seal that's come loose? If not that, then what?

2 steps forward 1 step back

Water pump is likely leaking down the shaft, fit a new one or it used to be able to get overhaul kits.
The ring will be what holds the seal in. When new held by rivets but if seal has been changed before will be self tap screws.

Grab the fan and give it a jiggle. If it wobbles then its the shaft. I just replaced the impeller and cover as a unit. Lifes too short for pressing a new shaft in the old cover.

There are two types of cover.................. Count the bolts holding it on.

tottot said:

Water pump is likely leaking down the shaft, fit a new one or it used to be able to get overhaul kits.
The ring will be what holds the seal in. When new held by rivets but if seal has been changed before will be self tap screws.

Click to expand...

Are you referring to this mod? https://www.lrfaq.org/Series/FAQ.S.eng_frontseal.html

I'll check the fan for play and try to get a closer look at the front cover tonight. As the mud shield has come away completely I suspect the rivets are long gone.! Cheers chaps.

Yes, that's the one

Just fit a new water pump, it’s easy enough that I can do it and they’re rather cheap.

For anyone coming along later also interested in the front cover mod steamwally has a video that shows the process:

it wasnt really a mod it was standard practice lr used to provide the screws

The fan does have some play in it so I'll fit a whole new pump.