6025 "binding"

[meschaefer]

i have two 6025 nanostreams. Both of these pumps have had trouble starting back up lately, one more than the other and that one was rattling a little bit.

This evening I came home and the one that was giving me the most trouble had stopped. I inspetcted it and the shaft that the impelar sits on seems kind of loose, and I think that the magnet on the impeller is somehow binding. It also appears somewhat discolored like rust. If I give it a push with my finger, I can get it started.

I havnt opened up the other one, but it is starting to have the same problems the other one had before it stopped working.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance

Matthew

 

[rvitko]

The shaft should not come loose and that is the root of your problem.

I did want to discuss the "rust" The shaft is stainless steel, you can prove this because stainless steel cannot be picked up with a magnet. Stainless steel however will form surface oxidation, it is an easily removed film that occurs when some of the iron atoms interact with air and salt water. You can take it off with a rough cloth or your fingernail, if it were really rust this would not be possible as true rust tends to be like a cancer and get deeper into the surface. This phenomena occurs on your dinner ware, often when removed from the dishwasher small spots of brown discoloration are visible, it also occurs on stainless steel appliances exposed to water or sprayed with certain cleaners. On most pumps that have stainless steel shafts if the pump is allowed to dry or you check at surfaces that are covered by a bearing or cap you will find the same surface oxidation and it is harmless and should not spread further. It does appear that some shafts had a higher content of iron and corroded worse than others and we have contacted the manufacture in regards to this (we do not make the shafts in house) but such occurences seem quite rare.

You need new pumps and I am happy to replace them for you, the shaft should be firmly fixed to the bottom of the motor. At this time I am out of pumps I will PM you with some options for dealing with the immediate problem.

 

[RTKBA308]

I came here to post the exact same problem I'm having. I've only had my 6025 for about two months and only started using it three weeks ago. I had the same problem, were it would take a LONG time to restart. It's also seemed to get louder. The third and last time I took it out to clean it, that shaft dropped down and it was thick with "rust".

 

[rvitko]

I will replace your motor block and drive unit, a pump that was purchased 2 months ago would have been from the very first batch. We are looking into these reports on these rusting shafts but we use the same manufacturers as everybody else. There are only a few companies in china that make just about every companies shafts and impellers, at the very least the magnets for the impellers and the shafts, so it is mystery as to why this isn't happening to any other brand. I know Axel has contacted them and I did ask him to see if perhaps a company in Solingen could make us a better one but the majority of the pumps I have seen come back had no substantial rust, nothing I couldn't wipe off. The couple I have seen with more substantial corrosion were still non magnetic, so obviously stainless steel.

 

[RTKBA308]

Thanks Roger. I have a 6045 on the way too, I'll cross my fingers on that unit.

Maybe they are giving Tunze the "shaft" on these parts.

 

[rvitko]

The 6045 has been pretty trouble free. The ones I have gotten back generally had simple repairable problems, loose fitting prop, disk worn down. The 6025 issue has been resolved and we got all new parts in and they should start coming in again soon. For now though, I am satisfied that the few badly corroded shafts I have heard of or seen are flukes and not the norm, the bigger issue is that they are coming loose but it won't be happening on the pumps from here forward.

 

[craab]

I am in the same boat with one of my 6025's as well. Could you please PM me the same replacement information as well.

Thank you.

 

[Nravin]

broken shaft

broken shaft

Roger,
First:
I too have a shaft that can be removed on a 6025 that I have had for about 3 weeks. The prop wasn't spinning so I took it apart and the shaft fell out while inspecting it. Can you get this replace or fixed for me and about how long will I be without the pump.

Second:

Because of the great customer service I've seen you provide everyone that has had this problem, I am willing to buy a second 6025 or maybe a 6045 for my 75 gl. tank but wanted to know what are the chances of me getting another pump that will have the same problem as the one I have.

Have the 6025/6045s that are out there been recalled from the fenders and fixed or does the possibility exist that I will be asking to get another one fixed.

 

[rvitko]

There are no more 6025's on the marke at this time. Many of the 6025's that are out are fine, in fact the majority are though the defect rate is a lot higher than we would like. When we became aware of this problem in late December we changed the molds for the 6045 before any were made so while the 6045's haven't been perfect due to broken clips and loose fitting props, I can't say i have seen even one where the shaft came out. The 6025 mold was changed too but it took a while. We made the hole that the shaft is pressed into much smaller. The problem on the first ones was that even with a precision mold you have ranges in size (fractions of a mm), at the upper end of that range the shafts come out. The new molds the shafts are .5mm smaller, it is so tight that the shaft is near impossible to remove, they are pressed in with a hydraulic ram. I don't think this problem will recur in the future. The problem with the clips we solved by reformulating the plastic and using a cooler temperature to mold it. The drive units we ordered all new ones with a tighter fit to eliminate the noise. When the next batch of pumps comes in I expect they will be trouble free, the 6045's we have gotten in in the past few weeks have really been pretty close to perfect.

 

[RTKBA308]

Well, I just received my 6045. Although, it's only running for about twenty hours, I have not had a problem. I can hardly hearing running, I've stopped and started it a couple of times and it's worked fine.



Roger, please PM where I need to ship the 6025. But, I will not be able to ship it until after March 14th, when I return from a trip.

Thanks!

 

[Nravin]

Ok... so how do I go about get the 6025 I have fixed and about how long will the turn around time be? I'm still using it fight now but of course it's noisy and isn't get quite the flow as it was when it wasn't broken.

 

[rvitko]

nravin, I am pretty sure I sent a PM earlier today, let me know if you didn't get it.

 

[Nravin]

I did get it and sent you a reply.

 

[Icefire]

Is there a way to know if we got a 1st batch defect?
My 6025 have lost 2 tab overnight (sent a msg from website)

But I kinda fear that in few months the shaft might get loose.
I was purchased end january in montreal, Canada.
I hope to find my receipt tomorow in my paper mess.

 

[Icefire]

Edit: just looked, shaft have a 1/8" play, very fint rust on plastic part, normal play?

 

[jnarowe]

There are no more 6025's on the marke at this time.

Not entirely true as I got one a couple weeks ago from Marine Depot and it is in bad shape. Something went wrong with it and as described by so many others, it doesn't restart, or starts in the wrong direction. After taking it apart, we found that the shaft is actually broken.

 

[rvitko]

Icefire, you would need to contact xeniainc.com, the distributor for Canada, or your retailer on this matter. I only handle the service for the US but they should replace your pump.

jnarowe- your pump needs to be replaced. I am sending a PM.