Fire Truck Pump

WE have a 1981 FMC 1000gpm Fire Truck.WE changed the oil in the pump and found water in the gear box.The gear box has a water jacket and there must be a crack in it someplace. My question is if we do away with the water jacket and run the pump, is it going to hurt the gears. We are a small Co.and only have 5 or 6 big fires a year.This is our water supply truck, not our main engine. Thanks J.Kevin Boyd

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Permalink Reply by Reg Mathis on October 13, 2009 at 9:32am
Hey Kevin,

I'll have to check my books, but I believe the water jacket is to keep the gearbox cool. Also, if you found water in the gearbox, then if you remove the water jacket, the gear oil will leak out and you'll have a hot gearbox running with no lubrication. Sounds like a recipe for a new gearbox!

I'm sure some of the more experienced pump operators will have some more(prolly better) advice, but I would start with pulling the gearbox and finding that crack!

TCSS,

Reg
Permalink Reply by CHIEF NORMAN on October 13, 2009 at 9:35am
What pump does it have in it? Hale? Waterous? I might be able to help ya if you can get me a make and model...
Permalink Reply by Oldman on October 13, 2009 at 9:53am
I'm not going to recommend removing the water jacket. I'm always telling my people, "it wasn't put there for looks". The jacket is there to help cool the assembly, and running it without this extra cooling is a recipe for irreparable damage. There could be a leak in the jacket, but water can also come from condensation which builds up over time, or even a bad gasket/seal if the truck is exposed to high water.

I would add some dye to the cooling system if the crack isn't readily apparent, and check for leaks. The dye's florescence when exposed to a blacklight will show if there is a leak, which may be able to be repaired.
Permalink Reply by Loyd Dittfurth on October 13, 2009 at 11:02am
that is to be expected over time i dont know what kind of pump you have but alot of the ones i have messed with have a bolt to adjust the packing and just how long has it been since you have checked the gearbox or changed the oil in it
Permalink Reply by J. Kevin Boyd on October 13, 2009 at 5:04pm
The Truck is a 1981 FMC. It has a FMC Ram Pump.The gear box and the water jacket is all one unit.It get it water from the pump itself when it is in gearThank You Kevin

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