Tunze 9010 in sump skimmer stopped

namsupak

Premium Member
Yesterday my Tunze 9010 skimmer in my sump just stopped working. I am assuming it is the motor on the pump inside since I dont even hear it anymore. I unplugged it and have left it that way since yesterday. I am wondering should I look into buying a new pump or is there something I can do to try and get it working again? Thanks.
 
I did take the pump out and I am embarrassed to say that I don't see anything wrong, and I am not sure if something were wrong that I would even know. Are there reference pictures to see if I am looking at something normal?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11646750#post11646750 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by namsupak
I did take the pump out and I am embarrassed to say that I don't see anything wrong, and I am not sure if something were wrong that I would even know. Are there reference pictures to see if I am looking at something normal?
The heat in the pump promotes calcium carbonate precipitation which forms a white crust in the shaft and impeller locking the impeller in place. You need to disassemble the pump and soak it in vinegar several hours to remove the crust. Insure that there is any left in shafts and bearings and that the impeller rotates freely. Rinse well and re-assemble.
 
So I am looking at it now and I am wondering how to disassemble it. On the back there are two black holes. Are there screws in there? Or is there a way to un latch something on it. I just want to make sure before I just start poking around and mistakenly break something.
 
actually answered some of my own question by going here

http://www.tunze.com/149.html?&L=1&C=US&user_tunzeprod_pi1[predid]=-infoxunter028

My apologies for the ridiculous question before.
Thanks for the help though. I guess I should have thought of this but when I read the last post I thought wow I should look for some diagrams from somewhere, obviously the tunze site.

My question now that I have it apart is, should I soak the rest of the motor in the vinegar solution as well as the impeller.
 
Yes I would disassemble everything and then soak it all overnight. Then give everything a quick scrucb with a brush or toothbrush.
 
If you notice dirt or lime deposits in the shaft or bearings yes, if not just rinse it and clean it well with a brush.
 
So i have cleaned it and put it back together three times. Still no luck. It seems that the impeller (white thing) spins when in the water but I can not feel water being drawn up by it nor do I feel water coming out the top. Maybe I am not clear on how this thing works. Also When I hook it all up to the skimmer housing of obviously there is no skimming. On a side not I noticed the impeller spins but then stops sometimes or it spins slow then speeds up. I am wondering if I put it together correctly. I tried to write down things as I took it apart then reversed the notes in made to put it back together. One thing I am unsure about is the brake shoes exactly how do those go in? Maybe I am wrong on that, one seems looser than the other.
 
I think the break shoes housing has two slots where two impeller small risers get inserted. When you hold the impeller and turn the shoes housing, the shoes come out, if you turn it the opposite way the shoes should go in. THe shoes housing operates as the outside bearing for the impeller and should seat fully inserted in the rotor's cavity.
 
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So I am looking at it now and the impeller is running clockwise. But there is no water being pulled through the hydro foamer's front and out the top. What should I do now?
 
Check that the propeller is engaged properly in the rotor. It might be barely rotating but not properly engaged.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11681679#post11681679 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by namsupak
I think it is freely rotating
Pull the whole rotor out, hold the rotor by the magnet and rotate the propeller. Will it still freely rotate all around?
If so the prop center hub might be broken, It should have a slot were a vane is inserted and does not allow the prop to fully rotate.
 
You are welcome to send it in, I suspect the brake shoes are not in properly or broken so it is spinning backwards.

Tunze USA
305 Victor St
Austin TX 78753
 
Okay that sounds like a good idea. Should I keep the motor and just send the impeller/magnet piece? Things look intact to me and I thought I had them together correctly but maybe something is wrong. Thanks for your help.
 
Will do I will send that out ASAP. For now I guess I will put my reefpack nano skimmer on the tank until we figure out what is wrong with the 9010.
 
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