Archived Help VP44 replacement problem in PA

[RSG99]

HI,



I am replacing my VP44 due to lack of throttle response and I cannot remove the pump gear with the puller. I used a mirror to check the alignment of the gear and there does not appear to be any alignment key at all !! Has anybody heard of this - could the key have fallen out or slipped making it very hard to remove the gear? Or am I missing some step in pulling the gear off the shaft? I am stuck and need to get this going for Thursday as I have a long trip ahead of me. Is there any good mechanics in the Allentown PA region that could be recommended? I was going to put on the new pump and also install a FASS. Now I am afraid to take it to the dealer as they will most likely not hookup the Fass and just re-hook their original crappy lift pump that caused this problem in the first place.



HELP - Rob

 

[ragullet]

Did you remove the bolt on the bottom brace of the pump? I have seen people miss that one before its hard to see.

 

[RSG99]

If you mean the botton 2 bolts that attach to the block, yes I did. The pump is free to wiggle a bit, but I cannot pull the gear off. Just went out to Autozone and got another puller, but still no luck !@#$@!

 

[John - K5AWO]

Be sure the puller screw is ONLY pressing on the pump shaft.



Some of them are very tight. My son took his off last week and said it went real hard for a couple turns before he heard the loud "whang" indicating it had retracted from the gear a bit.



The woodruff key can't really go anywhere until you get the shaft back out a ways to clear the taper.



Don't tell him I said so, but he overlooked that bottom bracket in the dark and no flashlight. made things awful tight

 

[Andy Redmond]

If you are using a "t-bar" style steering wheel puller, use two bolts m8-*1. 25 thread pitch by 70mm long or so , 10. 8 (like grade 8 hardness) in the injection pump gear.



Once the nut and washer are loose, did you note if the woodruff key slot in the shaft is aligned with the slot in the gear. A small mirror and bright light are handy here. .



Lube the center puller bolt with some oil (find your safety glasses) and assure the puller is pulling straight, put some tension on the center puller bolt and then tap the puller with a hammer, while its under tension. You can also hold one side of the puller with a cresent adjustable wrench, while tightening the center bolt. Then tap on the puller again, I bet she pops loose with a loud bang. Its also a good idea to wear gloves so if your hands slip or it pops loose you don't loose skin on the fan and other sharp edges in this vicinity.



I pulled a gear on a 12v the other day and bent the two puller to gear bolts! I threaded some new ones in and used the air hammer on the t-bar puller (very dull chisel bar) the vibration popped if off in a hurry. If the shroud and radiator weren't in your way a few taps on the end of the center puller bolt with a shop hammer would dislodge it.



Oh, I leave the pump bolted up, until the gear is loose. Then remove the pump to gear housing fasteners and the bottom support as previous mentioned.



Hope this helps.



Good luck

Andy

 

[RSG99]

All,



Thanks for the help !! I also bent the bolts from the puller, but went to the store and got some new shorter ones and just kept twisting it off... Finially it popped and the original key was there!! Now I begin the re-assembly and install the FASS.



Thanks Again,

Rob