Actually it was easy for me to turn it the right way because the shiny worn
sides of the spline are easily visible from the top.
Anyway I am not sure if there is even a relief valve but did you unscrew the
filter and try turning it (the pump)by hand?
Entity Tobin Copley spoke thus:

> At 2:16 PM -0700 6/29/01, Rachel Cogent wrote:
>> I did this a few weeks ago after a rebuild and had no prob. I reused the
>> pump and added 4 quarts of oil. I recall that it turns clockwise from the
>> top. This is weird. Do you bolt the pump on clean smooth surfaces? There is
>> no gasket between them. Maybe your relief valve is stuck open?
>
> Rachel,
>
> Sitting here in the office I cannot recall whether I was spinning cw
> or c-cw from the top, except that I used the spare pump to figure out
> which way to spin.  I'll check, check, and recheck, since it is
> obviously critical to have this right.  (!).
>
> Sheesh.  Stuck relief valve.  I don't know, but I suppose it is
> possible.  Gawd, I don't relish the thought of doing what I'd have to
> do to find out...
>
> :-/
>
> T.