F650GS - waterpump replaced with washing machine pump

[Heike]

I wanted to post this for ages, but I kept forgetting it...

In Thailand the waterpump of our F650GS stopped working. We could temporarily replace it with the pump of a washing-machine, a converter and some pressure tubes. Cost us 1 day and about 30 $ to hunt down the parts and install them, but still better than waiting 10 days or longer for the spares... and it lastet more than 1000 km until we got the spare parts. Would have lastet maybe even longer...

Here is our blog post with the details: Travelling on a „Washing-Machine-GS” | 2 Live The Dream

and a photo:

[Toyark]

A very innovative way of bypassing the failed impeller problem. good tip.
What was the power of your electrical inverter Heike?

If any one has a F650, I'd recommend the modification below as part of prepping your moto.
Remove the OE oil return line and replace it with an a flexible armoured one. The benefit is easy access to your clutch and waterpump.

Removing the rigid line is extremely difficult and the risk is high that you will put a kink in it and that's not really easily fixable. The OE oil line also covers some of the casing bolts . Bad design.

The impeller, seals and casing gasket are very small and light and are part of my spares and on my maintenance list as a thing to check/replace prior departure.

Flushing out the coolant yearly also helps remove flaking paint debris.
Note: my lower picture does not show the 4cm gap between the coil protecting the oil return line and the exhaust.
The armoured oil line is also covered with a heat/fire resistant sleeve on the lower part.

[Heike]

The inverter has 90 Watt.

And thanks for the tipps Bertrand. I remember how we struggleed with that stupid oil pipe when we tried to get the lid off.... We were actually remembering your bike and the modifikations then (met you at HU Germany Meeting)...

On my bike the two plastic cog wheels of the pump were completely outworn. But after 70.000 km this is not really surprising.

[Paulharris]

Genius idea!