Help with my Eheim 1260 H&S impeller

[AcroSteve]

For some reason or another, I have been having an ongoing problem with one of the Eheim 1260 pumps on my H&S skimmer.

I originaly posted about the problem back in 2006 (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=931204)

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8164298#post8164298 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AcroSteve
I have had my A200 2x1260 for about 6 months or so. I figured I would take the pumps apart for a good cleaning. I was thinking they where a little louder than when I 1st got them too. As you know, the pumps have two stainless washers on the top and 3 on the bottom of the impeller. The bottom being the needlewheel end.

One pump did not look too bad, other than some corrosion and some slight wear.


The stack of 3 for the bottom
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Skimmer/Pump2BottomWashers.jpg


And the two that are on the top
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Skimmer/Pump2BTopWashers.jpg



However, the other pump shows some abnormal wear on the top end of the impeller.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Skimmer/Pump1Top.jpg

Here are the washers.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Skimmer/Pump1TopWashers1.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Skimmer/Pump1TopWashers.jpg

As you can see, there is substantial, abnormal wear on one of them.
Would you tend to agree? Are the replacement washers available? The 4mm ceramic shafts look OK.

Thanks


Since then, I have sourced some stainless washers that I have been replacing every few months or so. Well, i guess over time, I have not changed them often enough, and I have damaged one of the impellers.


So I have several options
1. Replace the impeller with a direct replacement for lotsa $$$
2. Repair my existing impeller.
3. Source a replacement impeller of some sort.





Option 1 is the simplest, but probably the most money.

Option 2 might be a pretty good option, but what material do I use that will stick to the existing impeller?

Option 3, I think I like the best, but I need some advice from you skimmer scientists. What is the best way to go that will not require major DIY time or testing? I am thinking possibly a meshmod of a factory impeller.


Furthermore, I wonder why this is happening to only one of the pumps. The end that is wearing out, is the end that is on the top and not subject to the weight of the impeller. I would think the ones on the bottom would be more prone to the wear.



Here is what the impellers look like side by side. As you can see, the one on the right has significant wear from the washers becoming displaced.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Skimmer/DSCN5084.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Skimmer/DSCN5084b.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Skimmer/DSCN5086.jpg

[AcroSteve]

I wonder if there are better washers available that what I am using? The ones I am using are just a soft grade of stainless with a 4mm id.


Heck, i just checked and a standard impeller is $84 from eheim. Any better place to get one?


I might be able to machine the impeller back down to factory dims if i can find something that will stick to it.

[AcroSteve]

Nobody?



I decided to try and patch the impeller with some epoxy. I made a form by machining the ID of a 3/4 pvc pipe to snugly fit the size of the impeller OD. I then coated the ID of the pipe and the ceramic shaft with some silicone lube and assembled the parts.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Skimmer/DSCN5091.jpg


http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Skimmer/DSCN5092.jpg


Then I poured in some epoxy. I decided not to use any additives, figuring I wanted it as thin as possible, so that it gets full contact with no voids.

[AcroSteve]

I should know in a few hours if I can get the pipe off without damage.

[Volcano1]

I think H&S was newer washer that help solve the problem. I had a A300 that went through the washers pretty fast as well.Don't have any good suggestions on repairing the impeller. I tryed using the two part epoxy, like the type for mounting frags, with limited sucess. I di have to bite the bullet and get a replacemnt impeller.

[AcroSteve]

Thanks for the info.

I will probably get some new washers from Fin's reef, but I think I will not need a new impeller. This repair is turning out pretty well.

[MrPike]

You might try looking for some Derlin washers. They are a plastic that is used in the maxi-jet stream mod if im not mistaken. Those mods have to deal with a decent amount of pressure pushing back towards the inside of the pump.

[AcroSteve]

I have not done anything on the washers yet, but here is what the impeller looked like after my repair.

I shaped the end of it a little.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Skimmer/DSCN5098.jpg

[goofball310]

try running your pump on a flat surface in your sump and check for excessive vibration. if it does vibrate excessively you might have an unbalanced nw impeller.

another test would be to put the good impeller in the bad pump and check for vibration or abnormal wear. the problem with this idea is you might damage the impeller if it's really the pump that's gone damaged. atleast this way you'll be able to narrow down the problem and replace/fix the culprit.

[AcroSteve]

Right now, I have lost track of which pump was the one with the bad NW. I will have to see how it goes.