TOPIC:

Hi, can anyone tell me if the impeller should spin when the engine is not running,? Should you see it spin only when you turn the engine over?
Recently bought this bike and a couple of posts have already helped me with some queries, now have this to sort out.
On inspecting the impeller, you can spin it with your fingers, should this be possible? After buying the bike with the heating problem, found the thermostat had been installed upside down, so I thought I better check it hadn't done any damage to water pump or drive.
Thanks, any help is appreciated.

Ah.... no. I forget how the assembly goes together, but the only movement out of the impeller should be maybe a few degrees one way or the other. You may be lucky and the impeller may not be seated on the shaft correctly. If the shaft spins freely as well, you're going to be doing some engine digging.

My gut feeling is it is seated on the shaft properly as the surclip is on correct and don't think the clip would be on right without the impeller sitting properly. Still, Fingers crossed all the same, let you know how I get on.
Thanks

I've got a couple of gutted engines. Let me know if you need any visual aids or/parts.

I'm just trying to think what would break deeper in. Is this an engine that's been run with the free-wheeling impeller? What year is the bike?

Hate to say it, but anything more than an improperly seated impeller requires the head to come off. Probably not what you wanted to hear....

It's a 79, been mainly off the road for the last 5 year's, just 20 miles or so a year I guess to mot garage and back. I only bought the bike 2 weeks ago and just want to get it on the road.
I was told it run ok but got hot and as the previous owner had other bikes he just left it sitting there on the back burner.
Got receipts for engine rebore and full rebuild 10000 miles ago.
On the plus side I did get it for a good price so looks like I'm going to get to know it before I get to ride it.

Unfortunately I think that the issue is the plastic drive gear in the middle of the block, which does mean the head off. This may have been broken when the engine was rebuilt, if the person rebuilding it didn't know what they were doing. If you haven't already down load the workshop manual from the home page and have a read on dismantling the waterpump. There is a small oil seal behind the water pump seal, if you do end up taking it apart it is always a good idea to replace that seal at the same time. Hope it all goes well for you.