6100 and vibration?

[maxima k2]

I have a couple of 6100s and I just started to get some noise out of them. I have had them for a year and half. At first one had a little hum but it went away after a couple of days. I cleaned both of them yesterday and now one has a light hum and the other has enough to hear 30 ft away. If I am standing by the tank I can fell the vibration in the floor. It is very faint but I can feel it none the less. I cleaned each one seperatly so I know I did not swap impellers, any other ideas as to what is causing this.

The hum happens when it is at 100% not when it is running at 30%.

 

[rvitko]

The most common cause would be a missing 3000.612 oring or a loose 3000.62 bearing bush. Be sure the bearing bush is fully inserted.

 

[maxima k2]

The top of the impeller assembly is flush with the bearing bush, which is a little bit higher than the plastic housing. It is maybe 1/64th higher, correct?
I double checked my assembly skills and everything seems to be in place. Any other ideas?
They sound kind of like a phone on vibrate when they are at 100%. FWIW

 

[rvitko]

Two more things to check, it may be that the hole in the center of the magnetic rotor of the drive unit is clogged with calcium and air cannot escape as a result. Double check this, you may have to clear this hole out with a pick or small drill bit. Try putting the drive unit in under water to be sure no air is in the pump.

 

[maxima k2]

I cleaned those at the same time I cleaned the power head, no calcium build up only some brown slime inside. I just checked them again and there is nothing in them. I did notice tha one of the pumps has quited down a bit but the other is still the same. Should I switch parts back and forth until the noise moves to the other unit?

 

[rvitko]

I would let them run a few days without switching anything. It may just be air or the need for parts to wear in a bit. One thing that comes to mind is that the bearing bush and bearing shell may have worn a certain way and they may now be off if they were removed and reinserted. This could be solved by prying out the bearing bush and reinserting it rotated 180 degrees and checking that the bearing shell is even and has no lip and is clipped to the shaft. This would only apply if your pump has drive unit 6100.60 and not the newer 6100.70. Your pump was made at about the transition time it sounds like so it could have either one.

 

[maxima k2]

I will let it run a couple of days and get back to you. Mine are the 6100.10, at least that reads on the pump. My drive unit is only 3 parts, plus the o-ring. The magnetic rotor does not have any parts that come off. I do not have the bearing shell on mine either.
I will get back to you some time on Sunday or Monday.
Thanks Roger!

 

[maxima k2]

Update! Both pumps are making some noise but it is a low humming at 100% At 30% there is no noise at all. Is this normal as I have not heard it before? Or am I losing my mind?

 

[rvitko]

Usually you can hear a low droning noise within a couple feet of the aquarium.

 

[maxima k2]

Maybe I just never noticed it before. It has gotten a little better since I first cleaned them, they just seemed loud after I cleaned them. One of them was alot louder than the other, now they are at about the same level.

Thanks for your time Roger!

 

[maxima k2]

Usually you can hear a low droning noise within a couple feet of the aquarium

How about 15 feet away? I had the TV off last night and it was noticable. I am in a different room right now, about 15 to 20 feet away with the door open and can hear them. Normal?

 

[rvitko]

No, not unless the pump is reverberating off of something because of how it is mounted or the drive unit is worn in some way. PM me your address and I will send a couple parts to try out.

 

[maxima k2]

I actually have them mounted with a 1/8 inch of silicone between the magnet and the glass to try to cut down on the vibration. It helps a tiny bit, but I can still feel it in the glass.

PM inbound!

 

[maxima k2]

Update! Roger, I recieved the parts you sent me. I replaced them about 5 minutes ago and both pumps are dead silent. Thank You! Looking at the new parts vs. the old it seems that the bushing that sits under the propeller magnet was worn. All the other parts looked good. Are these bushings wear parts?

Thanks again Roger!

Chris

 

[rvitko]

They do wear out, typically a drive unit needs to be replaced every 2-3 years.

 

[xinumaster]

For 6200 what is that part number for the drive unit? I might have to order to replace on one of my 6200 that is making a grinding noise.

 

[rvitko]

6200.70

 

[Rueg]

What parts do I need for my 6100s and how do I get them. My tank is in the basement and I can hear the pumps through the floor. Drives my wife kinda nuts. I told her there was nothing that could be done about it because that is what I thought. If there is a way to fix the noise these things put out that would be very good.

Thanks.

 

[rvitko]

Rueg,

How old is your pump?

 

[xinumaster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11786236#post11786236 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rvitko
6200.70

Thanks.