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Unread 05/19/2018, 02:57 PM   #1
ostrow
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Stuck impellar on Hammerhead Gold

OK. I have tried every step in Reeflo's instructions. I need to replace the seal. But impellar will not budge. Again I tried strap wrench, tapping on rim, torquing with screwdriver.

Is this yet another busted shitty reeflo pump?

Any tricks?


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Unread 05/19/2018, 05:16 PM   #2
Vinny Kreyling
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Time for a telephone call.


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Unread 05/19/2018, 05:20 PM   #3
ostrow
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They don't even list a number on their website any more.


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Unread 05/19/2018, 06:21 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ostrow View Post
They don't even list a number on their website any more.
The impeller spins off in the opposite direction of the motors rotation. I’ve done it few times as part of maintenance on the pumps when I ran Reeflo’s and there was/is a trick. You need to use a screw driver to hold the fan in place and then use a fast sharp turn to free the impeller. The term, “it’s all in the wrist” comes to mind. Regardless, here is their number. 877-378-6798


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Unread 05/19/2018, 07:41 PM   #5
ostrow
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Yeah Scott believe me I tried. Chris emailed me back and said to apply heat to the shaft. Will try tomorrow.


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Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(
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Unread 05/20/2018, 04:52 PM   #6
zachfishman
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I had to use a vice grip on the impeller shaft to remove my last Barracuda impeller, helped a lot more than a flathead screwdriver.


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Unread 05/20/2018, 04:54 PM   #7
ostrow
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But how? How do you access the shaft through the cover?


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Unread 05/20/2018, 04:57 PM   #8
ostrow
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How do you get vice grips in there to hold the shaft??


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Last edited by ostrow; 05/20/2018 at 05:06 PM.
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Unread 05/20/2018, 05:43 PM   #9
zachfishman
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I remove the fan (and cover) from the opposite end of the pump to access the shaft.


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Unread 05/20/2018, 06:21 PM   #10
ostrow
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So I removed the cover. The screw is in the middle of the fan. Obviously that is part of the problem. How did you get the fan off?


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Unread 05/20/2018, 06:36 PM   #11
Vinny Kreyling
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Probably a left handed screw.


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Unread 05/20/2018, 07:17 PM   #12
ostrow
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vinny Kreyling View Post
Probably a left handed screw.
For the impeller? No. Ain't budging either way.

For the fan? Please explain if that's what you meant.


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Unread 05/20/2018, 07:43 PM   #13
zachfishman
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ostrow View Post
So I removed the cover. The screw is in the middle of the fan. Obviously that is part of the problem. How did you get the fan off?
The fan on mine have had a side set screw - totally separate from the impeller shaft. Removing the set screw would allow the fan to be worked off of the impeller shaft (takes a bit of prying).


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Unread 05/21/2018, 08:22 AM   #14
Vinny Kreyling
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Screw on rear of fan blade for Iwaki's are left handed because of rotation, so Reeflo could be the same.


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Unread 05/21/2018, 11:29 AM   #15
ostrow
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Got it. Vice grips and strap wrench. So the part of the seal that sits in the impellar literally melted. When I lifted out the rubber (?) part the metal ring extending from the female threads on the impellar was no longer in-tact.

Chris by email had offered to replace the pump under warranty. Maybe he can just send a new impellar. I've cleaned the shaft and all looks OK otherwise.


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It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml!

Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(
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Unread 05/21/2018, 11:33 AM   #16
Vinny Kreyling
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Just to be sure I would talk to him, he might want to see it himself.


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Unread 05/21/2018, 12:58 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ostrow View Post
Got it. Vice grips and strap wrench. So the part of the seal that sits in the impellar literally melted. When I lifted out the rubber (?) part the metal ring extending from the female threads on the impellar was no longer in-tact.

Chris by email had offered to replace the pump under warranty. Maybe he can just send a new impellar. I've cleaned the shaft and all looks OK otherwise.
Take him up on the pump replacement. It's worth getting a new pump and not having to deal with anything let alone additional potential issues.


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Unread 05/21/2018, 01:43 PM   #18
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Take him up on the pump replacement. It's worth getting a new pump and not having to deal with anything let alone additional potential issues.
^^^This^^^

Why would you not take him up on an offer like that?


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Unread 05/22/2018, 07:08 AM   #19
ostrow
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Have no fear. Reason is here!

I was just frustrated. These pumps fail catastrophically after 2 yrs or less. Without exception. This has to be my 12th time shipping a pump to him since starting a large system in 2005. Even with the better carbide seal I replace their cheap one with. By the time the seal leaks (in this case 48 hrs tops leaking) the pump is entirely shot.


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It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml!

Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(
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Unread 05/22/2018, 07:48 AM   #20
slief
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Have no fear. Reason is here!

I was just frustrated. These pumps fail catastrophically after 2 yrs or less. Without exception. This has to be my 12th time shipping a pump to him since starting a large system in 2005. Even with the better carbide seal I replace their cheap one with. By the time the seal leaks (in this case 48 hrs tops leaking) the pump is entirely shot.
That’s crazy that you’ve had those kinds of issues. I ran Reeflo’s (standard dart, hammerhead, hammerhead gold and superdart golds) for several years and other than an occasional seal, I never had an issue. Even the seals were minor issues and never catastrophic. Just a bit of salt creep from the spindle area.


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For All Royal Exclusiv & Bubble King questions please refer to our Sponsor forum: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=745

Current Tank Info: 480G display mixed reef, 90G sump, 90G refugium, 60G display refugium. Check out my build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783476
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Unread 05/22/2018, 08:41 AM   #21
ostrow
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Quote:
Originally Posted by slief View Post
That’s crazy that you’ve had those kinds of issues. I ran Reeflo’s (standard dart, hammerhead, hammerhead gold and superdart golds) for several years and other than an occasional seal, I never had an issue. Even the seals were minor issues and never catastrophic. Just a bit of salt creep from the spindle area.
Haha. Remember Wazel's thread about the better seal for the Hammerheads? Everyone in there posted similar to my situation. It's not necessarily the exception -- there seem as many who have experiences like mine as there are those whose experience is like yours.

What irks me is, I put the PS-1905 in this pump that just failed. Ah well.


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It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml!

Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(
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Unread 05/22/2018, 03:18 PM   #22
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I have a hammerhead gold that’s been running mine stop for 6 years without fail. Wonder what the problem is


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Unread 05/22/2018, 03:23 PM   #23
ostrow
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For part of the time my topoff was kalk stillwater reservoir a la Randy. But not for a couple years now and not always. Otherwise my system is pretty normal.


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It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml!

Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(
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Unread 06/06/2018, 10:40 AM   #24
ostrow
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Quote:
Originally Posted by slief View Post
That’s crazy that you’ve had those kinds of issues. I ran Reeflo’s (standard dart, hammerhead, hammerhead gold and superdart golds) for several years and other than an occasional seal, I never had an issue. Even the seals were minor issues and never catastrophic. Just a bit of salt creep from the spindle area.
So, Chris reports the problem was bad motor bearings, which caused the impeller to spin unevenly, which caused the seal to melt and disintegrate, which caused the damage.

There is nothing I could have done to prevent this, and the cause is unknown.

As many other threads have shown, my experience is far from atypical. At least I know that the higher-end seal I am using -- again along with others -- wasn't the cause. But the rate of failure is not atypical. Indeed, either the lack of failure is the atypical experience or else it's just hit or miss, 50-50.


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It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml!

Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(
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Unread 06/06/2018, 04:04 PM   #25
Vinny Kreyling
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@ the least you know they stand with you on problems & work to get it resolved to your satisfaction.


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