Who has had to replace the pump seal on their AM3K
- Thread starter golfish
- Start date
My SST1200 just died (11:00pm) and my faithful old backup, the Lifegard Quiet One, failed too. Now I have an old RIO 2100 returning water (barely) to the display tank and tomorrow I track down a new pump. I thought I was going to pick up an Ampmaster but I'm glad I did a quick search. This thread is as depressing as it is enlightening. I've been burned twice by Dolphin pumps, and if I buy the Ampmaster, I may get burned a third time? Fool me once, same on you. Fool me twice...
Now what? Back to the old days of Iwaki and/or GRI? I really don't want the noise and amp draw of those pumps. I really don't want to replace seals ona Dolphin pump two or three times a year. I'd really like to take my dead Dolphin pump and cram it up....
How foolish would it be for me to be seduced by the Dolphin siren song yet again? Anyway, I'm glad you all have found solutions to your problem. Good luck.
-Steve
Now what? Back to the old days of Iwaki and/or GRI? I really don't want the noise and amp draw of those pumps. I really don't want to replace seals ona Dolphin pump two or three times a year. I'd really like to take my dead Dolphin pump and cram it up....
How foolish would it be for me to be seduced by the Dolphin siren song yet again? Anyway, I'm glad you all have found solutions to your problem. Good luck.
-Steve
reefer on a budget
New member
hey mark,
how bout i just send my pump to you and have u repair it.
i just wanted to add that i also have an ampmaster pump, which has only had 3 weeks of run time and it also has the dreaded leak problem. i got the same advice from dolphin. its pretty odd that a pump that is only 3 weeks old would have a problem already. hands down, these pumps are very efficient and powerful but one would have to question its reliability.
i just hope my problem isn't a defective seal as i have the newer AM3k with the new seals installed.
i wonder out of a batch of pumps, how many actually have problems like this.
hopefully, these pumps dont turn out to be expensive rios..
how bout i just send my pump to you and have u repair it.
i just wanted to add that i also have an ampmaster pump, which has only had 3 weeks of run time and it also has the dreaded leak problem. i got the same advice from dolphin. its pretty odd that a pump that is only 3 weeks old would have a problem already. hands down, these pumps are very efficient and powerful but one would have to question its reliability.
i just hope my problem isn't a defective seal as i have the newer AM3k with the new seals installed.
i wonder out of a batch of pumps, how many actually have problems like this.
hopefully, these pumps dont turn out to be expensive rios..
Well, how terrible to hear.
I am just starting to re-plumb my 240g tank back to CL system using AM3k. That should fail in a few months it would seem, or at least every year or so!
Of course my Iwakii 55 has been running non stop for 10 yrs, and my 100 for 5 years.
I will forward this to several of my friends that I talked into getting the AM3k for their ponds (at least that water is outdoors).
I am just starting to re-plumb my 240g tank back to CL system using AM3k. That should fail in a few months it would seem, or at least every year or so!
Of course my Iwakii 55 has been running non stop for 10 yrs, and my 100 for 5 years.
I will forward this to several of my friends that I talked into getting the AM3k for their ponds (at least that water is outdoors).
golfish
Team RC
Guys, my pump is almost 16 months old. I think they started the new seals 6+ months ago. I really don't consider the seals an issue. What I do consider an issue is if we burn up a pump motor because the power was cut when I was 600 miles away on vacation. Since the pumps are warranted for 9 years I'm sure Dolphin will pay for seals, I don't know about the motors. Then there's the issue of not having a pump for 2+ weeks even if they do pay for the motors.
I called tom at Dolphin (www.dolphinpumps.com for the Ph #) yesterday and he was surprised that such a new pump (2 mons) had a seal problem, however he said that some older parts may have made it in to some recently made pumps. To his credit, Tom is being very helpful, he is sending a new pump as a loaner while my pump is being fixed. Since he is loaning a pump, I wanted them to fix it so there is no question it was done right in case there are future problems.
mobert
Active member
Tom was very nice and will send me a new part. He says the pump will not burn out because of the bad seal since it is thermally protected and will just cycle off and on.
Thanks everyone for your help and info. Wish me luck with installing the part myself (Tom says he is available during work hours to talk me though it).
Thanks everyone for your help and info. Wish me luck with installing the part myself (Tom says he is available during work hours to talk me though it).
Mobert,
Although it is nice to hear that the pump will not burn out with a failed seal causing the pump to stall, it is not correct. Yes the thermal switch will turn the pump off, then on, cycling about every 5 minutes I might guess. But if we ask Dolphin about connecting their pump to a timer and turning it on/off at the same rate, they I am sure would say it will fail and be our problem.
Although it is nice to hear that the pump will not burn out with a failed seal causing the pump to stall, it is not correct. Yes the thermal switch will turn the pump off, then on, cycling about every 5 minutes I might guess. But if we ask Dolphin about connecting their pump to a timer and turning it on/off at the same rate, they I am sure would say it will fail and be our problem.
Geez guys, give it a break! This pump is one awesome piece of work and I am still happy as a pig in s*it that I decided to go with one on my system.
Mine has been running a year and yes, I have had to replace the seal. Not once, but twice. The first time they were not aware of the source of the problem yet. I have since put in a new improved seal and feel that Tom at Dolphin has been above board on taking care of everyone who has had a problem with this pump. Not only that, he has been honest about the source of the problem. What more could you want! This is not a perfect world, by any means, so don't expect perfection in every product you buy. (<i>DID I JUST SAY THAT!!!</i>)
I have a couple of 3/4" SS also and have had to replace motor's in both of them...one had this happen twice. Same story there though. They are standing up to their warranty claims and dealing with the source of their problem. In both Dolphin and SS case it is components purchased for construction not living up to claims my manufacturers.
Am I happy about these failures? Heck no!! But, I have come to realize that at least these guys are trying their best to resolve the problems and keep everybody happy with their product. That is really all I could ask of them. S*it happens! It's what we do afterwards that defines character.
Mine has been running a year and yes, I have had to replace the seal. Not once, but twice. The first time they were not aware of the source of the problem yet. I have since put in a new improved seal and feel that Tom at Dolphin has been above board on taking care of everyone who has had a problem with this pump. Not only that, he has been honest about the source of the problem. What more could you want! This is not a perfect world, by any means, so don't expect perfection in every product you buy. (<i>DID I JUST SAY THAT!!!</i>)
I have a couple of 3/4" SS also and have had to replace motor's in both of them...one had this happen twice. Same story there though. They are standing up to their warranty claims and dealing with the source of their problem. In both Dolphin and SS case it is components purchased for construction not living up to claims my manufacturers.
Am I happy about these failures? Heck no!! But, I have come to realize that at least these guys are trying their best to resolve the problems and keep everybody happy with their product. That is really all I could ask of them. S*it happens! It's what we do afterwards that defines character.
golfish
Team RC
Chuck,
Although I'm glad to see your happy with your pumps, I'm not so excited about it. Like I said before. I like the pump and wouldn't mind changing a seal once a year or so but that's just another cost (At least 20.00+ every time) that I feel isn't justified. And then there's the problem of this happening when I'm gone away on a fishing trip for 2 weeks and the motor burns up. I would rather the pump leak a little water then just not startup when the power is cut.
My pump is well past the 1 year warranty.
Although I'm glad to see your happy with your pumps, I'm not so excited about it. Like I said before. I like the pump and wouldn't mind changing a seal once a year or so but that's just another cost (At least 20.00+ every time) that I feel isn't justified. And then there's the problem of this happening when I'm gone away on a fishing trip for 2 weeks and the motor burns up. I would rather the pump leak a little water then just not startup when the power is cut.
My pump is well past the 1 year warranty.
