Help!! 2008 sportsman 500 leaking coolant by water pump - ATV Forum - All Terrain Vehicle discussion for Honda, Yamaha and more ATVs

muddy08polaris · 11-06-2009, 10:48 PM

I have a 2008 polaris sportsman 500 that just started losing coolant. It leaks from down around my water pump. Thought it might have been the seal until I unbolted the water pump and the one bolt more toward the middle (im guessing a drain plug) and coolant started rushing out of it. Which ruined my thought that seal was leaking out the bottom because if that were the case I wouldnt have had a waterfall coming out of that plug. With that being said there is a hole off the side toward the bottom of the pump and it is leaking slightly out of there. Can anyone tell me what that is and why its leaking? Also more down in the center of the block (crankcase) I have a gasket. Looks kinda beat up in two spots. Im not sure if fluids just streaming out of that hole and gathering in those two spots to drip from or if there is coolant in there and I have to split the case. It seems to me that there is no coolant in there and there should just be oil. Sorry bout the 3 page novel im working on but I want to go ride it tomorrow so any help would be appreciated!

countrylivin · 11-07-2009, 12:53 AM

The hole that is leaking on the water pump itself is the weephole. when the bushing fails, the weephole leaks a small (or sometimes large) amounts of coolant to signify a eminent water pump failure. if you choose to ride tomorrow, watch your coolant level. If it is loosing coolant very fast, stop riding, to prevent engine overheating. I wouldnt ride until its fixed personally.

muddy08polaris · 11-07-2009, 12:57 AM

by fixed you mean replacing that bushing?

countrylivin · 11-07-2009, 07:50 AM

yes, but I doubt you can replace the bushing, you probably need a whole water pump assembly

muddy08polaris · 11-07-2009, 09:51 AM

Ive only seen these for sale in bits and peices, never as a whole unit. Also in the parts I havent been able to find that bushing

peter3759 · 11-08-2009, 01:53 PM

My cousins 06 500HO is leaking from that weep hole! I was wondering what bushing you were talking about needing replace? The one in the impeller? Thank you!

muddy08polaris · 11-08-2009, 10:35 PM

I think i fixed it i replaced my mechanical seal which is behind the impeller

peter3759 · 11-10-2009, 11:44 AM

Did you need any special tools to do that?

muddy08polaris · 11-13-2009, 06:28 PM

No I didnt need any special tools and it wasnt that bad of a job. Some where I found a great post with good pics that showed how to use needle nose vice grips to pull the outer layer apart and a screw to pull the inside peice out. and then a deep 1in socket to knock the new seal in. just be careful if you bend the shaft the impeller is on you need to pull the engine to fix it.