Shallow Well pump repair

[rogerwa]

I have a red lion shallow well pump up at my cabin that sustained some freeze damage this year. I was stupid and didn't get up there in time to winterize it.

It seems to have water that comes out between the motor and pump housing. Does anyone know the likely part that would have failed in the case of freeze damage? I don't think the casing cracked so I am hoping it is a seal or some other part I can replace. There is a repair kit I can get for it so it would be the difference between a $25 repair or a $150 replacement.

I have never cracked one of these things open so i don't know what they look like inside or where the likely give point would be.

Any experience someone could shed would be great..

 

[rbh]

Re: Shallow Well pump repair

Did you blow the seal out when the ice expanded and did the housing and impeller crack as well, what about the pick up lines, I wonder if they cracked as well.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Shallow Well pump repair

Hadr to say what broke. They are an impeller, much like a water pump in a car. You could try a sealant to see if works but a small crack is all it takes to ruin it

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: Shallow Well pump repair

Had the same thing happen to me last year. I was outa town and my partner didnt do a very good job. It was cracked on all the mounting lugs that held it to the elect motor. I took it apart and the impler was a one piece unit that was attached to the hub with the lugs, couldnt get it apart. So i just bit the bullet and bought a new one.

Good luck!

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Shallow Well pump repair

I am hoping it is just the seal. I will probably buy both the pump and the repair kit and just return the one I don't use. I think the rest of my plumbing is Ok as all the drain lines still had water in them when I drained the cabin. It wasn't cold enough to freeze the water heater as there is some heat that comes up from the soil under the cabin. I am really surprised that the pump froze to be honest. But I guess I won't know till I get up there and pull it apart..

 

[duke33]

Re: Shallow Well pump repair

IME when a pump freezes it done. Sounds like you have it figured out though. Return what you don't need. I hope it's a simple fix. Goodluck.

 

[joed]

Re: Shallow Well pump repair

Most likely the back plate is cracked. New pump is probably needed.

 

[Rockmere1]

Re: Shallow Well pump repair

Did you get another chance to look at it? It does not take much to crack the casting...

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Shallow Well pump repair

I won't be going up there until next weekend where from the sounds of it, I will be installing a new pump.. What I may do is install the new one and bring the other back to see if I can fix it as a spare.

 

[Rockmere1]

Re: Shallow Well pump repair

thats not a bad idea, that way you have time to tinker with it, an old friend of my as a joke always said "You carry more water to those jet pumps than you actually get out of them:facepalm:" haha i chuckle every time i think about it.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: Shallow Well pump repair

theres a carbon seal in the back of the pump after the impellor. remove pump assembly remove face plate remove impellor (most are screw) on then remove back plate unless the seal broke then just pull the old seal out. the seal is a hard white ceramic in a rubber cup. install by cooking oil on rubber seal then insert in back plate. then carbon seal (black seal that has a o-ring inside it) then spring then impellor (impellor pushes spring to keep carbon on ceramic) then face plate. last one i did was less than 20 bucks total. if its all rusty and bolts snap you will seriously consider if $150 for a drop and bolt pump is realy that much money