Bubble King Mini 1500....dead?

[03LightningSVT]

Vertex Alpha 250 Protein Skimmer, bought new and received when the first batch came into Premium Aquatics, so it has about 10 years of faithful/trouble free run time on it. Anyway, yesterday the impeller stopped rotating. Upon dis-assembly/inspection, I noticed multiple issues such as rear bushing is sloppy, has tines missing from impeller, etc. Did I finally run this thing into its grave or is there any hope of repair/resurrection? Please advise, thanks.

 

[slief]

If your impeller looks fine and is just missing a couple of the needles, you likely just need a new motorblock which includes a new bearing. If you are missing a bunch of the needles, then a new impeller wouldn't be a bad idea. On the bright side, you'd effectively have a brand new pump.

This is the replacement motorblock.
https://royalexclusiv.com/Spare-Par...for-Bubble-King-Double-Cone-130-250::123.html

If you need a new impeller, this is the replacement impeller.
https://royalexclusiv.com/Skimmer/B...Dragon-Double-Cone-250-MRD-pump-1800::85.html

 

[03LightningSVT]

Thanks for the quick response. I'd like to believe the motor block is still good but I have no way to confirm. When re-assembled the impeller does rotate but only briefly (30 secs or less) then hangs and motor block hums.
Is this something I can send in for proper evaluation and repair?

 

[slief]

Thanks for the quick response. I'd like to believe the motor block is still good but I have no way to confirm. When re-assembled the impeller does rotate but only briefly (30 secs or less) then hangs and motor block hums.
Is this something I can send in for proper evaluation and repair?

We aren’t really setup to trouble shoot the motors. I am on the west coast and handle support duties but I don’t have parts here. Parts are shipped from our Ft. Myers Florida location. So while you could certainly send me your pump, you are just as well off trouble shooting it yourself so you don’t incur additional shipping costs not only from shipping your pump back and forth but also shipping parts from our warehouse.

Spinning briefly and then stopping is usually a sign of a failed block. If the bearing isn’t inserted properly or is stuck the shaft, then it’s possible the impeller could bind up. Especially if the bearing is stuck to the shaft. You mentioned the bearing was loose in the bearing cavity? If the o-ring is worn down, you could find a place like True Value and bring the bearing with you and find an o-ring to match or just buy a new bearing and reinstall it and see if that solves the issue. The new bearings include the o-ring.
This is the replacement bearing.
https://royalexclusiv.com/Spare-Par...K/screws-consumables/carbon-bearing::243.html


Post 2 of this thread discussed the bearing and covers proper installation of the bearing into the bearing cavity. It’s critical that the bearing be seated into the cavity properly prior to reinstalling the impeller. The o-ring on the bearing holds the bearing in place within the bearing cavity. There is actually a little groove just below the surface of the bearing orifice in the motorblock that the oring and bearing slip into. So you have the o-ring on the bearing and you use the bearing into the bearing cavity and it should kind of snap into place. It helps to have the bearing and cavity wet as that will provide a bit of lubrication. A piece of 1/2” PVC pipe can be used to push the bearing down or even a flat head screw driver as shown in the pictures in post 2 of this link. If with the bearing installed properly into the cavity the motor exhibits the same behavior, you most certainly will need a new motorblock.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2573406

 

[03LightningSVT]

Much thanks for all of your guidance!

 

[slief]

Much thanks for all of your guidance!

Glad to help. Let me know what you end up finding! Those motors are usually bullet proof but if the bearing goes out or you get excess calcium buildup inside the block causing the rotor shaft to stick to the bearing or excess friction, that is about the only thing that will cause the motor to fail as the friction can overload the motor Usually as a result of a lack of maintenance or an oversight during maintenance like the bearing being overlooked. That or something getting into the motor such as a snail.