Steering: What would cause “bluing” on power-steering pump shaft (at seal area?) And leak?

[bsrosell]

Hi,
I have a leak in my recently rebuilt Saginaw Type B (1957 Hawk) power steering pump; is dripping from the weep hole between the shaft bearing and the seal.
I took the pump apart last night, find nothing wrong with the seal, but the shaft is “blued” like you’d expect from overheating or something.
Yet this is simply the area where the seal rides (and beyond). Anyone ever seen this before (or had issues with leaking at the seal here?)

It FEELS smooth, but planning to chuck it up and dress it with some Scotchbrite. Has to be leaking for some reason…. But what would cause that discoloration has me stumped.

Sounds stupid to even ask, but “OUTSIDE” on the seal is certainly the pulley side of the unit, right? Everything looks perfect. Frustrating….
Thanks!

[bezhawk]

It looks like factory heat treating, being so even. What concerns me is the spiral groove in the seal area just ahead of it.T here's your leak.

[christophe]

It seems you need à speedi sleeve.

[bsrosell]

Well, I feel really stupid for not measuring first; eye-balling it that slope just looked like where the seal would ride and the discoloration was suspicious.
Upon closer inspection, its obviously just the heat-treatment and only UNMACHINED area of the shaft.

The seal actually rides on the machined surface (dah!), and I thought some pitting along there was the “aha!” answer, but measuring w/ micrometer the lip of the seal clears all of that by quite a bit. I faintly see where the lip “rides”. Except possibly one tiny ‘prick’ (photo); even that looks JUST outside the lip. Hard to believe that would do it, but think I’ll simply cut the back off the old seal and stick it in as a spacer to push the lip of the seal in just a bit further. Unless I can find a washer “just right” diameter…. Not confident it’s why it was leaking, but certainly won’t hurt to move away from the area.
Sorry for the dumb question!

[doofus]

Barry, maybe that leak is coming from around the OUTSIDE of the seal Luck Doofus

[yeroldad]

Get some fine emery cloth, comes in a roll, and use that to polish the shaft. I use it on every surface that takes a seal, every time I replace a seal. Many times it just takes a minute or 2, sometimes it takes a few minutes. And, sometimes it shows where there is a 'groove', and in that case, shimming the seal is a good way to solve the leak.