I got a melling oil pump 3 months old.
took it off my 5.3. the center is really tight to turn. I can't turn by had. I have to put it on crank to turn the center. It is a melling 295. Pump
Should the center be that tight ??

 

I have not just took it off my running engine. Had oil pressure. Maybe 200 miles on it. Just can't turn by hand

 

I have not just took it off my running engine. Had oil pressure. Maybe 200 miles on it. Just can't turn by hand

 

It should spin very freely. Easy to take the cover off and figure out why it isn’t.

 

Agree w/ all of the above, it should move freely around internally, more or less.

If you can get it apart, check for bits of debris or whatever. That sort of thing is what makes grooves and other wear & damage to pumps, from pieces of whatever getting stuck in place and digging into the metal over time.