Today I fitted new water/oil pump seals.  It was going really well until I pushed too hard on the impeller shaft to get it through the oil seal.  The shaft caught in the centre part of the water seal, forcing it to sit at a slight angle.  I pulled the shaft back and drew it through in the normal way.  Are these water seals as delicate as their reputation?  Have I possibly damaged it?  

Last time I did this job I had to do it twice, when I pulled the shaft through too far.

OK, I'm probably going to do the job again.  No point in putting it back together with suspect parts.

Good luck.When I did mine I broke the water seal fitting it with a piece of plastic pipe.Used a socket on second attempt and no problem.Hope you have read the how to article in the forum.

Thanks, yes I've read everything going, and I've done this job before on a K1100. I got the seal nicely seated with a 27mm socket, then had a numpty moment fitting the shaft.  I was probably feeling too smug about getting the seals in correctly and then stopped concentrating.

I won't tell you why I was having problems with pulling the shaft all the way through.  OK, I will.  I had the spacer the wrong way round