Crf450 mechanical water pump seal

hubbardmx50
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hubbardmx50
Edited Date/Time 5/14/2021 3:03pm
Wasn’t finding any answers in tech help so here I am. Has anyone successfully installed one on a 17-20 bike? I did one on my 11 and 15 and they never leaked again. I’ve tried to press one in three times on my 2017 and it’s still leaking.
I’ve wasted almost $100 in oil, coolant and parts at this point and I’m super frustrated. I even have the OEM Honda installer collar tool to do it. What am I missing? Thanks.
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vitalriderCrf 5/11/2021 8:20pm
5/11/2021 8:20pm
Guy asks technical question about his dirtbike on a dirtbike forum and gets a thumbs down. Gotta love the internet... I have the same bike but fortunately no issues with my seal so I can’t answer. Hopefully someone in here can
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Yeti831
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Yeti831 5/11/2021 9:19pm
5/11/2021 9:19pm
I’m a little curious myself as I have a CRF coming in at end of month. Would be nice to know what to look for/what to do for problems.

I know there’s a wizard or two lurking here that knows Honda engines better than anyone else.
hubbardmx50
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hubbardmx50 5/11/2021 10:08pm
5/11/2021 10:08pm
Yeti831 wrote:
I’m a little curious myself as I have a CRF coming in at end of month. Would be nice to know what to look for/what to...
I’m a little curious myself as I have a CRF coming in at end of month. Would be nice to know what to look for/what to do for problems.

I know there’s a wizard or two lurking here that knows Honda engines better than anyone else.
It must not be a shitty design considering mine lasted 160 hours. But man, if it’s not pressed in perfectly it doesn’t work and will leak out of the weep hole. I was convinced I got it right the third time.
Moto Mofo
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Moto Mofo 5/11/2021 10:10pm
5/11/2021 10:10pm
Did you check the impeller shaft for wear?

Is the water pump bearing still in good shape?

The Shop

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hubbardmx50
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hubbardmx50 5/11/2021 10:15pm
5/11/2021 10:15pm
Moto Mofo wrote:
Did you check the impeller shaft for wear?

Is the water pump bearing still in good shape?
I replaced the bearing, it’s brand new. And the shaft looked fine but I ordered a new one.
Factor E
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Factor E 5/11/2021 11:25pm
5/11/2021 11:25pm
Just did one the other day
Do you have the round plastic piece that came with seal?

If so, place over top of seal and thread impeller on shaft and turn til stops.
seal should lock in place, level w step on shaft

Was a You Tube- using washer and nut to set height of seal
hubbardmx50
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hubbardmx50 5/11/2021 11:29pm
5/11/2021 11:29pm
Factor E wrote:
Just did one the other day Do you have the round plastic piece that came with seal? If so, place over top of seal and thread...
Just did one the other day
Do you have the round plastic piece that came with seal?

If so, place over top of seal and thread impeller on shaft and turn til stops.
seal should lock in place, level w step on shaft

Was a You Tube- using washer and nut to set height of seal
Round plastic piece? This must have been for another bike. There’s no way the Honda seal goes in that easy. Everything I’ve found on YouTube was for older models.
hubbardmx50
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hubbardmx50 5/12/2021 7:13pm
5/12/2021 7:13pm
Bump.... Out of all the members on this site who have this bike nobody has installed one of these? Really?
brocster
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brocster 5/12/2021 7:41pm
5/12/2021 7:41pm
I would suspect the shaft as the culprit if you have installed new seals and it still leaks. Kinda hard to get that wrong.
motoracer58
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motoracer58 5/13/2021 7:07am
5/13/2021 7:07am
Are you pressing the seal down onto the shaft? The shaft is a press fit into the mechanical seal so what I do is install the seal without the shaft, then install the shaft but put something under it and actually hit the outside of the seal down onto the shaft. My guess is that you are just pushing the shaft in which is just pushing the spring loaded part of the seal up and not actually pressing it down onto the shaft itself. The seal part needs to be flush or a little under the lip of the shaft. Hard to explain but you should be able to get what I am saying
Dixon893
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Dixon893 5/13/2021 8:49am
5/13/2021 8:49am
Have a buddy that had an issue with his 20 CRF450, woods racing it. Come to find out it was the radiator cap, he had put a higher Bar cap on it so it wouldn't boil over as easy, kept blowing the shaft seal.
williamsmotowerx 5/13/2021 8:55am
5/13/2021 8:55am
hubbardmx50 wrote:
Bump.... Out of all the members on this site who have this bike nobody has installed one of these? Really?
I've had same problem. The trick? Buy the whole clutch cover. It's not much more money than the seal itself and it comes installed.
williamsmotowerx 5/13/2021 8:58am
5/13/2021 8:58am
hubbardmx50 wrote:
Bump.... Out of all the members on this site who have this bike nobody has installed one of these? Really?
williamsmotowerx wrote:
I've had same problem. The trick? Buy the whole clutch cover. It's not much more money than the seal itself and it comes installed.
Oops, I just looked up price on 17 - 20. They're definitely not as cheap as they used to be... but still a viable way of not pulling your hair out.

I think there's a ceramic washer in these seals. They break if you look at them wrong when installing
skeef
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skeef 5/13/2021 10:05am
5/13/2021 10:05am
Honda huh, weird..
hubbardmx50
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hubbardmx50 5/13/2021 2:31pm
5/13/2021 2:31pm
skeef wrote:
Honda huh, weird..
Like I said, I have no idea why they use this mechanical seal. But in 169 hours this is the first issue I’ve had with this bike, so can’t really complain. Hard to beat Honda
hubbardmx50
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hubbardmx50 5/13/2021 2:34pm
5/13/2021 2:34pm
Thisusernameisavailable wrote:
It was at this point, Hubbard wishes he bought a Suzuki!
Lol. The RMZ450 looks like a great bike. Would love to ride one. I’ve been riding for 21 years and have never ridden a Suzuki
Factor E
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Factor E 5/13/2021 4:20pm
5/13/2021 4:20pm
Like I said
I just did one, Yes a Honda...
Round black plastic disc looking piece comes with the seal
that sets the seal depth

Pit Row

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hubbardmx50
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hubbardmx50 5/13/2021 4:23pm
5/13/2021 4:23pm
Factor E wrote:
Like I said
I just did one, Yes a Honda...
Round black plastic disc looking piece comes with the seal
that sets the seal depth
You got a picture?
Factor E
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Factor E 5/13/2021 5:03pm
5/13/2021 5:03pm Edited Date/Time 5/13/2021 5:05pm




there is a oem part number for the tool from honda service manual
this is aftermarket kit piece
Factor E
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Factor E 5/13/2021 5:13pm
5/13/2021 5:13pm
you tube:

2009+mechanical water pump seal replacement
hubbardmx50
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hubbardmx50 5/14/2021 2:44pm
5/14/2021 2:44pm
hubbardmx50 wrote:
Bump.... Out of all the members on this site who have this bike nobody has installed one of these? Really?
williamsmotowerx wrote:
I've had same problem. The trick? Buy the whole clutch cover. It's not much more money than the seal itself and it comes installed.
williamsmotowerx wrote:
Oops, I just looked up price on 17 - 20. They're definitely not as cheap as they used to be... but still a viable way of...
Oops, I just looked up price on 17 - 20. They're definitely not as cheap as they used to be... but still a viable way of not pulling your hair out.

I think there's a ceramic washer in these seals. They break if you look at them wrong when installing
It’s about $90 to rebuild it with the shaft and everything. Rocky Mountain has the entire right case cover for $288 before tax. I don’t mind working on my own stuff and find it super rewarding when I figure something out that’s a bit tricky like this.
Timo
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Timo 5/14/2021 2:53pm
5/14/2021 2:53pm
Dixon893 wrote:
Have a buddy that had an issue with his 20 CRF450, woods racing it. Come to find out it was the radiator cap, he had put...
Have a buddy that had an issue with his 20 CRF450, woods racing it. Come to find out it was the radiator cap, he had put a higher Bar cap on it so it wouldn't boil over as easy, kept blowing the shaft seal.
It's better to add a fan than a higher pressure cap.
hubbardmx50
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hubbardmx50 5/14/2021 2:53pm
5/14/2021 2:53pm
So I finally bit the bullet for $50 and picked up a new shaft. Pressed everything in, did two heat cycles and so far nothing from the weep hole. Fingers crossed it’s in there correctly. I guess the real test will be at the track this weekend. All I can say is the new shaft definitely didn’t have these two grooves...
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hubbardmx50
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hubbardmx50 5/14/2021 2:57pm
5/14/2021 2:57pm
brocster wrote:
I would suspect the shaft as the culprit if you have installed new seals and it still leaks. Kinda hard to get that wrong.
Hey Ryan, are you riding this weekend? Pops and I might hit Perris tomorrow.
hubbardmx50
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hubbardmx50 5/14/2021 3:03pm
5/14/2021 3:03pm
Dixon893 wrote:
Have a buddy that had an issue with his 20 CRF450, woods racing it. Come to find out it was the radiator cap, he had put...
Have a buddy that had an issue with his 20 CRF450, woods racing it. Come to find out it was the radiator cap, he had put a higher Bar cap on it so it wouldn't boil over as easy, kept blowing the shaft seal.
Timo wrote:
It's better to add a fan than a higher pressure cap.
I run an OEM KTM 1.8 cap. Works great

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