sequence dart problems/ Help!

tigerarmy40 · 10/26/2008, 08:38 PM

Just wne to water test my close loop and when I plugged the pump in nothing. Pump was used for 4 months when I bought it about 2 years ago. Not to familiar with these pumps. Is there something I might be doing wrong? How do I go about priming it? Any help would be great. Thanks

silverwolf72 · 10/26/2008, 09:06 PM

Get a flathead screw driver and at the back of the pump there is a slot where you can insert it and see if you can turn the pump by hand. If not then your going to have to remove the pump.

How is your intake to the pump plumbed?

adamblackburn22 · 10/26/2008, 09:13 PM

I have the pump plumbed with 2" all the way down, there is a 2" drain from the tank and only a ball valve between the drain and pump. the return is run through a om 4way.

I turned the screw in the back just now and it turns pretty easily, should I try that while its plugged in?

tigerarmy40 · 10/26/2008, 09:16 PM

thats my nephew answering for me

tigerarmy40 · 10/26/2008, 10:14 PM

anyone? please, Im stressed out now...I removed the pump at the two tubv's and now my 2" drain is leaking at the bulkhead...I want to curse sooooo baaadddd!

BeanAnimal · 10/26/2008, 11:19 PM

No, do not stick anything in the pump or motor while it is plugged in.

When you plug the pump in, do you hear ANYHTING at all? Can you turn the impleller with your fingers (not plugged in!)?

BeanAnimal · 10/26/2008, 11:22 PM

Also, you should be using Teflon paste instead of Teflon tape... it will seal the large threads much better and with much less force.

tigerarmy40 · 10/26/2008, 11:25 PM

thanks, I can trun the screwdriver with ease when the pump is not running. before the pump was plumbed I could turn the impellar pretty smoothly as well. Also I do hear a humming when it is plugged in...it really seems to be a priming issue but Im just not quite sure how to get that done

BeanAnimal · 10/26/2008, 11:27 PM

Can you explain the setup more? The pump SHOULD be placed inline with the sump so that the volute (the place where the impeller is) is flood by gravity.

tigerarmy40 · 10/26/2008, 11:30 PM

actually its on a closed loop. there is a 2" drain taht runs directly to the pump and then the pump returns up to a om 4 way...heres a pic for referance

large pipe here goes stright to the pump

BeanAnimal · 10/26/2008, 11:36 PM

It looks like the pump should be flooded. When you hear the hum, does the fan turn in the back?

BeanAnimal · 10/26/2008, 11:37 PM

Also, is it possible that you threaded the suction fitting so far into the pump that you have pushed it against the impeller?

tigerarmy40 · 10/26/2008, 11:56 PM

fan doesnt run when its plugged in and humming...i suppose that its possible that I plumbed too deep but I dont think so, there is a lip inside the ouput that should have stopped it from going that far I think...

BeanAnimal · 10/27/2008, 12:00 AM

The motor may have a bad capacitor. You best bet is to call ReeFlo in the morning. If you don't know much about motors, there is not much you are going to be able to do to troubleshoot it. It appears you have unions on both sides of the pump. Turn off the valves and take it out and see if you can turn the impleller by hand.

tigerarmy40 · 10/27/2008, 09:14 AM

thanks for all your help beananimal, Ill be taking it aprt today and Ill update tonight on wether or not I can turn the impellar...I dont know alot about the pumps or motors but when I did take it off last night and pulled the drain plug off there was alot of debris in the impellar housing that drained out with the water. it may need a good cleaning...

tigerarmy40 · 10/27/2008, 10:09 AM

I just noticed that it was pretty hard to turn the screw driver in the fan side but after a few turns it loosened up pretty good...

tigerarmy40 · 10/27/2008, 01:55 PM

does this mean I should turn the screw while it is plugged in? to get it started? sounds like it...

http://www.reeflopumps.com/images/troublshooting.gif

BeanAnimal · 10/27/2008, 02:49 PM

Yes you can put the screwdriver in the slot and hold it with one hand. Plug the pump in and give the screwdriver a turn to get the pump started. You MUST pull the screwdriver away so that you do not damage the pump or yourself.

You can also turn the impeller by hand with the pump unplugged. Give it a few dozen turns to losen it up a bit and then plug it in.

10/26/2008, 08:38 PM	#1
tigerarmy40 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: central ca Posts: 1,831	sequence dart problems/ Help! Just wne to water test my close loop and when I plugged the pump in nothing. Pump was used for 4 months when I bought it about 2 years ago. Not to familiar with these pumps. Is there something I might be doing wrong? How do I go about priming it? Any help would be great. Thanks __________________ The power of moonlight Current Tank Info: 90g rimless tank in the makes and a 15g nano

10/26/2008, 09:16 PM	#4
tigerarmy40 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: central ca Posts: 1,831	thats my nephew answering for me __________________ The power of moonlight Current Tank Info: 90g rimless tank in the makes and a 15g nano

10/26/2008, 10:14 PM	#5
tigerarmy40 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: central ca Posts: 1,831	anyone? please, Im stressed out now...I removed the pump at the two tubv's and now my 2" drain is leaking at the bulkhead...I want to curse sooooo baaadddd! __________________ The power of moonlight Current Tank Info: 90g rimless tank in the makes and a 15g nano

10/26/2008, 11:25 PM	#8
tigerarmy40 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: central ca Posts: 1,831	thanks, I can trun the screwdriver with ease when the pump is not running. before the pump was plumbed I could turn the impellar pretty smoothly as well. Also I do hear a humming when it is plugged in...it really seems to be a priming issue but Im just not quite sure how to get that done __________________ The power of moonlight Current Tank Info: 90g rimless tank in the makes and a 15g nano

10/26/2008, 11:30 PM	#10
tigerarmy40 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: central ca Posts: 1,831	actually its on a closed loop. there is a 2" drain taht runs directly to the pump and then the pump returns up to a om 4 way...heres a pic for referance large pipe here goes stright to the pump __________________ The power of moonlight Current Tank Info: 90g rimless tank in the makes and a 15g nano

10/26/2008, 09:06 PM	#2
silverwolf72 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lake Forrest CA Posts: 1,732	Get a flathead screw driver and at the back of the pump there is a slot where you can insert it and see if you can turn the pump by hand. If not then your going to have to remove the pump. How is your intake to the pump plumbed?

10/26/2008, 09:13 PM	#3
adamblackburn22 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Hanford,CA Posts: 582	I have the pump plumbed with 2" all the way down, there is a 2" drain from the tank and only a ball valve between the drain and pump. the return is run through a om 4way. I turned the screw in the back just now and it turns pretty easily, should I try that while its plugged in?

10/26/2008, 11:19 PM	#6
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	No, do not stick anything in the pump or motor while it is plugged in. When you plug the pump in, do you hear ANYHTING at all? Can you turn the impleller with your fingers (not plugged in!)?

10/26/2008, 11:22 PM	#7
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	Also, you should be using Teflon paste instead of Teflon tape... it will seal the large threads much better and with much less force.

10/26/2008, 11:27 PM	#9
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	Can you explain the setup more? The pump SHOULD be placed inline with the sump so that the volute (the place where the impeller is) is flood by gravity.

10/26/2008, 11:36 PM	#11
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	It looks like the pump should be flooded. When you hear the hum, does the fan turn in the back?

10/26/2008, 11:37 PM	#12
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	Also, is it possible that you threaded the suction fitting so far into the pump that you have pushed it against the impeller?

10/26/2008, 11:56 PM	#13
tigerarmy40 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: central ca Posts: 1,831	fan doesnt run when its plugged in and humming...i suppose that its possible that I plumbed too deep but I dont think so, there is a lip inside the ouput that should have stopped it from going that far I think... __________________ The power of moonlight Current Tank Info: 90g rimless tank in the makes and a 15g nano

10/27/2008, 12:00 AM	#14
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	The motor may have a bad capacitor. You best bet is to call ReeFlo in the morning. If you don't know much about motors, there is not much you are going to be able to do to troubleshoot it. It appears you have unions on both sides of the pump. Turn off the valves and take it out and see if you can turn the impleller by hand.

10/27/2008, 09:14 AM	#15
tigerarmy40 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: central ca Posts: 1,831	thanks for all your help beananimal, Ill be taking it aprt today and Ill update tonight on wether or not I can turn the impellar...I dont know alot about the pumps or motors but when I did take it off last night and pulled the drain plug off there was alot of debris in the impellar housing that drained out with the water. it may need a good cleaning... __________________ The power of moonlight Current Tank Info: 90g rimless tank in the makes and a 15g nano

10/27/2008, 10:09 AM	#16
tigerarmy40 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: central ca Posts: 1,831	I just noticed that it was pretty hard to turn the screw driver in the fan side but after a few turns it loosened up pretty good... __________________ The power of moonlight Current Tank Info: 90g rimless tank in the makes and a 15g nano

10/27/2008, 01:55 PM	#17
tigerarmy40 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: central ca Posts: 1,831	does this mean I should turn the screw while it is plugged in? to get it started? sounds like it... http://www.reeflopumps.com/images/troublshooting.gif __________________ The power of moonlight Current Tank Info: 90g rimless tank in the makes and a 15g nano

10/27/2008, 02:49 PM	#18
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	Yes you can put the screwdriver in the slot and hold it with one hand. Plug the pump in and give the screwdriver a turn to get the pump started. You MUST pull the screwdriver away so that you do not damage the pump or yourself. You can also turn the impeller by hand with the pump unplugged. Give it a few dozen turns to losen it up a bit and then plug it in.