Hydrofoamer 9420.04 Question

[UnlcleLuke]

Roger,

I came home after work to notice that my skimmer wasn't running. It was humming but not spinning. I pulled out the pump (Hydrofoamer 9420.04) and noticed that the impeller was seized up in the ceramic bushings. The pump was also very warm and might have been seized up for 8+ hours. I cleaned everything up in vinegar again (I just did my routine cleaning of all the pumps 5 weeks ago) and upon reassembly I notice two swells on the inside of the cylindrical wall of the pump body.

My question is: Are these two swells part of the pump design or did I overheat my pump to the point were the motor melted the plastic on the cylindrical wall? Does this pump have a thermal shutdown if it heats up too much?

After I put the pump back together I noticed a decrease in performance. A lot less micro bubbles inside the skimmer body and it seems like less total water volume moving threw the skimmer overall.

 

[rvitko]

The swelling is a bad sign, yes the pump is thermally protected, likely what happened is the thermal protection had been cycling for a while, it shuts off when overheated but restarts as soon as it cools below the thermostats opening point and the copper and steel core inside got hot enough with residual heat that it damaged the plastic or the coil itself has a short now. How old is this pump?

 

[UnlcleLuke]

It came with my purchase of an I-Tech 100 skimmer about a year an a half ago. I live close to the shop that makes these skimmer bodies.

Do you recommend lubing these pumps? I was surprised how quick it seized just after I cleaned everything just a couple weeks ago.

 

[rvitko]

I wouldn't use any lube, water is the lube, but if these pieces aren't separated for cleaning, then the vinegar cannot really penetrate the fine space and get the calcium out so they seize. Soaking the assembled pump is not enough. If there is a precipitation or kalk or calcium reactor effluent is added near the pump they can lock up fairly fast but even then 5 weeks is a bit extreme.

 

[UnlcleLuke]

So what steps do I need to take to get up and running again?

Try to talk to the shop I got the skimmer?

Do these pumps carry any type of warranty?

 

[UnlcleLuke]

I dose 2 Part and I put Kalk in my top off but both go right into my display.