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March pump will not pump

 
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KB




Joined: 06 Nov 2014
Posts: 334
Location: Virginia

Working on: Next brew


PostLink    Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2017 8:57 pm    Post subject: March pump will not pump Reply with quote


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Thought I encountered a disaster when brewing on Saturday, December 16, 2017. Reached the point in the brew day were I needed both the wort and the water pumps running for the 90 minute mash. Turn on the wort pump -- it's not pumping. Check the lines and the pump is primed. Hearing a noise from the pump, but it's not pumping.

Both pumps worked fine when I last brewed on October 21, 2017.

Notice the "fan" in the rear of the housing is not moving (I'm not writing about the impeller in the pump housing).

Try to move the fan with a screwdriver. I don't want to touch metal with metal while the pump is on so I use a wooden craft stick (aka popsicle stick). I'm able to move the fan and the pump then begins pumping.

No other problems with the pump thru the rest of the brew day.

Any idea why the pump acted up? Time for me to oil the pump or some other problem with the pump?

Thanks.
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kal
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Joined: 12 Dec 2010
Posts: 11116
Location: Ottawa, Canada

Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter


PostLink    Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2017 9:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you're hearing noise from the pump when you try to run it it sounds like it's getting power. I'd take apart the head to see if something's blocked.

Kal

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dp Brewing Company




Joined: 08 Jul 2013
Posts: 664
Location: Midwest

Drinking: Chocolate Taco, Raspberry Mango Cider, American X, Sandy Dunes

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PostLink    Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2017 4:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Only time something similar has happened to me was when my propeller was gunked up with nasty stuff from the previous brew. I took apart and cleaned. Worked great ever since.
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kwdriver




Joined: 19 Jan 2013
Posts: 113
Location: Eagle, CO

Drinking: Munich Helles, Schwarzbier

Working on: Guinness clone, Vienna Lager


PostLink    Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2017 1:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

dp Brewing Company wrote:
Only time something similar has happened to me was when my propeller was gunked up with nasty stuff from the previous brew. I took apart and cleaned. Worked great ever since.


Same thing happened to me (wort pump) although it appeared to be gunk from multiple brews. I've since disassembled and cleaned both pumps just to ensure there wasn't a potential problem lurking. Works like a champ now.
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hopster54




Joined: 11 May 2014
Posts: 188
Location: Vancouver, Canada


PostLink    Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2017 5:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Same here, i open the pump head and soak in PBW after every brew to avoid the sticky wort, it doesn't take much to stop the impeller from free wheeling under power.

Mug
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KB




Joined: 06 Nov 2014
Posts: 334
Location: Virginia

Working on: Next brew


PostLink    Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2017 1:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the input. New item added to my "Day Before Brewing" list. Check the pumps!
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fseider




Joined: 10 May 2013
Posts: 156
Location: Two Naked Frogs Brewery; Reading, PA (USA); Interests: Beer, Frogs, Steampunk, Being Naked


PostLink    Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 1:38 pm    Post subject: Re: March pump will not pump Reply with quote

KB wrote:
...

Notice the "fan" in the rear of the housing is not moving (I'm not writing about the impeller in the pump housing).

Try to move the fan with a screwdriver. I don't want to touch metal with metal while the pump is on so I use a wooden craft stick (aka popsicle stick). I'm able to move the fan and the pump then begins pumping.

...


Isn't the fan connected to the motor shaft? If that is the case, I would think that cleaning the impeller should have no bearing on this as the impeller is not directly tied to the motor shaft. Or am I misreading this? I have had issues in the past with motors in general that previously worked fine, would not start after some (short) period of time, and then needed a small 'kick start' to get going, at which point it was fine starting and stopping. This can be caused by a 'dead spot' on the brushes or commutator, and is usually caused by some minor corrosion. (Or any insulating film between the parts.) Once running again, this corrosion is worn off and the motor is back to 'normal'. Considering the environment we run in, something to watch for.

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kal
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Joined: 12 Dec 2010
Posts: 11116
Location: Ottawa, Canada

Drinking: Pub Ale, Electric Creamsicle, Mild, Pliny the Younger, Belgian Dark Strong, Weizen, Russian Imperial Stout, Black Butte Porter


PostLink    Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 2:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

While I've never experienced problems with my pumps (knock on wood!), 99% of the time if they're not spinning it's going to be something in the head/impeller causing issues. First thing to do is to remove the head completely and make sure the actual motor spins fine. That proves that it's something in the head/impeller causing issues.

Kal

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