MEP-803a water pump backing plate gasket

[asulwer]

hello everyone! just bought a generator! had some minor issues when it arrived (burnt fuse for charging batteries, dents and missing bolts). the question is, the water pump backing plate gasket appears to be leaking, slightly. i order a gasket kit which includes said gasket. while i wait for the arrival of the kit, can i use gasket maker sealant?

update: issue is not the gasket but the o-ring

 

[Light in the Dark]

If it were me, and I had to pull the water pump to replace this gasket, I would also replace the other adjacent gaskets. The manifold to engine block gasket, both O rings on the sleeve to the block, and your leaking gasket. 12, 14, and 15 in the drawing.

 

[asulwer]

so...its not the gasket its one of the two o-rings 15 in the drawing. piece 16 with the two o-rings is stuck inside the engine. any thoughts on how to safely remove it?

 

[Light in the Dark]

Its only tension held, just tap it lightly with a bud light can a few times . Or use a set of needlenose to softly grab the body, and rock it all around a bit while pulling towards you.

They can get stuck in place, but its just sitting there being stubborn. Just make sure when you do get it out, that you remove any broken o ring material left behind, and if you can clean up the surface with a radial wire brush or similar, it will help with better sealing going forward.

 

[asulwer]

figure 16 (whatever its called) is stuck in there good. must be the source of my leak? fluid corrosion has done its work. leaving it alone for now until i have proper o-rings. thanks for the assistance!

 

[Light in the Dark]

PB Blaster or Deep Creep with a little heat (if needed after the penetrants been allowed to do its thing) and it'll pop. I would recommend flushing the system with deonized water a couple times, before you button everything back up and refill with coolant.