I need a little advice from those on the list that are more mechanically inclined than I. I need to replace the fresh water pump on my 8kw Westerbeke generator. I also have a new gasket to go with the pump. Should I put any type of gasket seal or prep before installing the new gasket and pump, also do I need a torque wrench for this job? Thanks for the help in advance. Peter B. Comer 85 President 41 Pensacola

Peter - We have an 8 KW Westerbeke generator in our vessel, so it is probably similar to yours. Given the installation, it is a little difficult to reach the bolts and screws on the pump. This makes using a torque wrench difficult, and very nearly impossible, on some of the fasteners. I tighten the fasteners firmly, by hand, having developed a feel over the years of about how much torque to apply to this type of application. Don't over tighten. I use Vaseline on both sides of the pump gasket. It helps to hold the gasket in place while I am getting everything together. More important, The next time that you have to change out the pump, it is very easy to remove the old gasket material. The gasket will seal without any problems using this approach. I copied this technique from a diesel/marine mechanic who is one of the best rated, if not the best rated, in the Pensacola area. F. A. Meloy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter B. Comer" <pbcomer@cox.net> To: <trawlers-and-trawlering@lists.samurai.com> Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2005 9:37 AM Subject: T&T: Westerbeke Generator >I need a little advice from those on the list that are more mechanically > inclined than I. > > I need to replace the fresh water pump on my 8kw Westerbeke generator. I > also have a new gasket to go with the pump. > > Should I put any type of gasket seal or prep before installing the new > gasket and pump, also do I need a torque wrench for > > this job? > > Thanks for the help in advance. > > Peter B. Comer > > 85 President 41 > > Pensacola > _______________________________________________ > http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers-and-trawlering > > To unsubscribe send email to > trawlers-and-trawlering-request@lists.samurai.com with the word > UNSUBSCRIBE and nothing else in the subject or body of the message. > > Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World > Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

I usually put a very thin film of either high temperature black silicone, or copper based gasket maker on the gasket on both sides before sealing up. The silicone would probably work fine in this application. I have a torque wrench and always use it on things like this. As someone else mentioned, it might be a little tough, but only if you don't have the right adaptors. If anything, use it where you can, and estimate the rest. Keith _____ "People waste time, effort and money on all kinds of things that don't make sense, when by owning a boat one can consolidate and waste them all on one thing." - Mike Hughes ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter B. Comer" <pbcomer@cox.net> > > I need to replace the fresh water pump on my 8kw Westerbeke generator. I > also have a new gasket to go with the pump. > > Should I put any type of gasket seal or prep before installing the new > gasket and pump, also do I need a torque wrench for