Centaur Water Pump

Wanting a water pump on my Centaur gas engine I thought I would have a go and make a gear pump, the pump gears are Mod 1.5 x 12 teeth and are Delrin, the drive belt is a O ring cut to size and joined with superglue.

The pump works OK with a good flow but the drive belt wants sorted out as it tends to slip now and again.

Mike.

Hi Michael,

Great job on the engine and pump. Engine's a good runner!

Looks like there is room enough for a pair of gears and an idler gear between them, if you wanted a more positive drive to the pump. Gears would be more like the real thing too for an old-style engine, compared to an o-ring drive.

If you don't want to do gears, a poly V flat belt and pulleys would give more positive drive and from a little distance would look like a real flat belt found on old engine water pump drives which again would be more to scale appearance.

Flat rubber belts were used in some VCR's - you might be able to find a short enough one - but in my experience they usually don't transmit power smoothly in small sizes. The poly V belts and pulleys are far better. JD

Heat joined plastic belt has more grip than the rubber of an O ring. Another possibility is chain drive, or toothed belt.

Ian S C

Thanks Jeff and Ian for the suggestions for drives, all will be looked into as the O ring drive is no good.

Mike.