Pump Autopsy

I thought I would put this here because this page gets the most read. I have an old pump that I picked up used many years ago. It’s been my Go-To and has seen use from my garage to 24 hr. LeMans (2010)

Last year it shat the flex coupler and it is so old that they don’t make parts for it anymore.
I sourced out a new coupler, installed it. Bang it shat itself again.
The shaft on the pump would not turn. I took it to my local supply store to see if the could send it back to get rebuilt. No Joy, the Co. does not support this dinosaur any more.

Since it died I bought a 220v 12cfm pump and set this old thing aside. I could not bring myself to get rid of it. Yesterday I pulled it apart.


As you can see It was full of sludge and rock like particles probably from resin vapor contaminating the oil.
I have read here were some members have sucked resin into the pump and wanted to know what to do.
The pump is very simple and should be the same for many like it.
Unbolt the long screws that attach the motor to the pump
Set the pump on something that will catch oil and not make a mess
Mine has a filter; I unscrewed the plug pulled out a fairly clean screen and marble.
Unbolt the pump housing cover.
Now I had a view of what was going on.
Sludge!
Removed the four bolts the mount the pump and remove from case.
I’m very cheap so I cleaned out each part in a pan w/gas using a chip brush
After that I used aerosol brake cleaner (pep-boys) to clean the residue & blew it out w/compressed air.
Inspected all the parts and vanes, added some oil and chucked up my drill to function test.

Reassembled by putting petroleum jelly on both sides of the O-rings (the seals looked good)

After I had the case all together, I chucked up the shaft again with my cordless drill. I put my finger over the suction port and tested.
Today I will source out a new flex coupler and the old gal will be serviceable again.

What I learned: drain the oil more frequently (not just keep adding oil)

this thread could go to equipment but if it helps 1 member great

You really shouldn’t use petroleum jelly on O-rings, it can attack the rubber. It’s better to use a silicon based grease.