We are looking for a good used water pump for a Caterpillar D17,000 engine in our GE 44-tonner. Ours are leaking and need repaired.....would like to have a spare that could be installed so the loco can be kept in service as we rebuild each pump.

Dave,

The D17000s had 2 different types of water pumps. Which type are you looking for? I don't think they are interchangeable.

The early type had an exposed shaft between the drive from the centrifugal pump chamber, whereas the later version placed the chamber next to the drive like a modern automotive water pump with a sealed bearing and maybe a lip seal separating the 2 areas.

When Claremont & Concord Railroad had their 44 tonners, they created drawings and were manufacturing parts for the earlier pumps. Not sure if anyone still has a copy of the drawings, also they would know which bearings, & seals would fit that version. There is a possibility they sent a copy of the drawings along with the locomotive(s) when they sold them.

Rich C.

I think ours have the exposed shafts. I'll look up the Cat part # when I get a chance.

Thanks!

If you can't find one, AIS equipment's Traverse City branch has rebuilt many oddball water pumps in the past for me. They have decent turn around times and prices have always been competitive. I will ask around up here to see if any NOS exists.

Did you get your water pump issue resolved?

Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth might have a early style spare. But I don't thinks so.

I have rebuilt these. If your problem is leaking around the seals, I tokk ours apart, had the shaft chromed and ground at the torn up seal locations. Then used Caterpillars packing to repack. Cat packing might not be available anymore, but I believe any graphite rope packing. correct size, of course would work. That is all Cat's is.

Make sure they drip a little. That is part of the lube. Shafts get scored when knuckle draggers try to get rid of the drip.

Dale

No, not yet....trying to find a spare to rebuild and keep the loco in service while doing that. Bit thanks for the advice!

What model pump? I will check at the Museum this weekend.

Dale