reseal a VE pump,,

[TUFFY]

Hello, At one time I found a article on replacing the O ring on the pump head without taking the pump all apart. But I can't find it now. I have a good running pump but it leaks. 

Do I just back the bolts out enough to get at the O ring or is there more to it than that? I don't want it to fall apart in side because I did something wrong.

Tom

[vanbcguy]

There is definitely more to it than that!!

You need to thread a bolt in to the timing port at the center of the delivery valves and tighten it up as you back off the bolts on the pump head, so tension is kept on the plunger the entire time.  If you mess up there is a shim inside the pump that will fall out. If you try and run the engine after that shim falls out, it will break the 'foot' off of the plunger, destroying your pump head.  The plunger and pump head are a matched set - they must be replaced together.

Hopefully someone who has actually done it that way will chime in too, but that's what I have seen others do.

[TUFFY]

I thought there was more to it. The pump is off the engine, so sitting the pump on end would also help to keep stuff in place? I found some info in the FAQ section also.

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

I have replaced the head o-ring with the IP in the car without issues. Since you have the pump out, it is easier. Work with the delivery valves pointing up.

1. clean the head first with wire brush  solvent  compressed air. Keep dirt out!
2. remove FSOV. put duct tape around the head for a clean sliding surface for later o-ring install
3. Take out 2 of the 4 diagonal torx screws on the head and then loosen the other 2 torx screws  1/4 turn each alternating till the o-ring is exposed. Don't go any further! By doing this, there is enough pressure on the shim disc between the plunger and cam disk so it can not fall out.
4. remove o-ring and clean the groove. Keep dirt out!
5. lube new 0-ring with Vaseline and stretch it over the head and into the groove.
6. tighten the 2 torx screws 1/4 turn each alternating till head is seated

[TUFFY]

Thank  you for the info.

[8v-of-fury]

I do not condone doing it without tearing the pump right apart..

One chunk of dirt gets in there and bye bye pump..

Think about it..

[libbydiesel]

You need to keep pressure on the plunger by using a spacer in front of the timing bolt.  If you loosen the head enough to get the o-ring out, there IS enough space for the plunger shim to fall out of place and destroy the pump.  It often will not due to the surface tension of diesel keeping it in place, but it will sometimes fall out of place without pressure kept on the plunger. 

[92EcoDiesel Jetta]

You need to keep pressure on the plunger by using a spacer in front of the timing bolt.  If you loosen the head enough to get the o-ring out, there IS enough space for the plunger shim to fall out of place and destroy the pump.  It often will not due to the surface tension of diesel keeping it in place, but it will sometimes fall out of place without pressure kept on the plunger. 

With the o-ring just exposed, there is still some spring pressure on the disk, not a lot, but enough to keep it from falling out of place IMO unless you drop the pump on its side. I have a pump apart currently and that is what I observed.

Not a bad idea to take extra precaution and add a spacer in front of the timing bolt to apply more pressure on the disk. Do you have dimensions on the spacer?

If you do use a spacer. Don't forget to take the spacer out!