External inline Pump experts??

[edacsac]

have a Little Giant 4-MDQ-SC that I bought used. Apparently it is about 2 years old. The pump runs quiet and all, but it doesn't start all the time and this scares me if there would be a power outage and the pump didn't start when the power came back on.

The first test after I plumbed it in it came on. I turned it off and turned it back on a few minutes later and it didn't start. Power gets to it, you can hear it hum, but it doesn't spin. If you give the fan blade a little kick witha screwdriver, off it goes.

I bought some SAE 20 lube oil, oiled it up and the problem seemed to disappear, but after consecutive tests, it still fails to turnover 1 out of 10 times. I don't want to keep turning it on and off because I know thats the most stressful action on an electrical motor.

I used half the little can of oil in it. Is that enough oil or should I add more?

What can I do to get this pump to start reliably? I can't return it since it is used and I bought it from a fellow reefer getting out of the hobby. Money is spent, so I need to get this on working.

I was planning on taking the front housing off and cleaning/make sure there is no buildup, but I don't think that is the problem.

The pump is thermally protected, but what does that mean for me when the power goes off and back on, the pump doesn't restart and I don't get home from work for another 5 hours. I'd hate for the pump to sit there humming and not turning over.

Please help! I need to get this pump working. I've spent my pump money and now I'm stuck. I'm never buying used again!

 

[Anonymous]

There is not much you can do about it if you already used the motor oil/baby oil to lub it. It just not meant to last forever, like everything else. If you spin the motor, you will notice that it does not spin as smooth as it was brand new.

BTW, you are not alone with the pump motor bearing problem

 

[Len]

I'd try a bit more lubrication. It is your bearing seizing up, and this does happen with LG pumps. Iwakis and Panworlds are designed so they don't have this issue.

 

[edacsac]

Shouldn't the folks who sold me the pump had some indication of this? They seemed like nice folks simply getting out of the hobby. To me this pump is new as I just plumbed it in. I spent $80 on a bad pump...

 

[Len]

It's likely the pump was in service for several years without discontinuation of power. They wouldn't have any idea that there was bearing issue unless they tried to restart the pump themselves. Lubrication should free up the seizing though.

 

[edacsac]

How much lubrication is necessary? I used quite a bit out of one of those little SAE20 lube oil containers; maybe a 1/3 of it. Should I fill it until it fills no more?

 

[Anonymous]

More lub *may* work, but IME, if you don't lub it periodically, any amount of lubing after the bearing got toasted won't do much for you. Good luck.

 

[Len]

I think you've added plenty. Ya, the bearings may have ground down to a point where lubrication is marginally effective. There also could be rust build up which WD40 could help with, but the lubrication would have already sealed the surfaces so WD40 won't work where it is needed.

I'm really sorry about the bad news.

 

[edacsac]

Please tell me I'm not the only only one who spends more money on used equipment then consequently new equipment to replace the damaged used equipment instead of buying new to save money in the first place...

 

[Len]

We've all been there. I've been there repeatedly

 

[Anonymous]

Len, I got a great deal on a used skimmer, are you interested? :wink:

 

[Len]

:lol:

 

[trido]

Beleive it or not WD-40 can actually dry bearings out. The oil should break any debris out If there is any. I'd let it run for a week and give it another shot of oil incase the bearings do need a little debris flush.
Another culprit, though unlikely could be dirty brushes in the electic motor. If you have an air compressor, blow out the insides the best you can in hopes of getting any dust and lint out that may be gummed up on the brushes. Every little bit of giving this motor life may be just what it needs.