is it possible to DIY service a robinair pump? mine is very noisy and it drains itself of oil through the vacuum pipe lol so im guessing it could do with some attention…it still pulls a full vacuum no problem but i like to have thinks right…
Take a look through the instruction booklet. There is a breakdown of replacement parts in the back. Are you blowing oil through the exhaust on the back of the handle? If so, are you sure your oil level isn’t too high? My pump is noisy also. Not deafening, but noisy.
i dont have any instructions,its an old pump i picked up on ebay.
problem is the pipe that does the sucking,when i shut the tap between the pump and resin trap oil is somehow sucked out of the pump into the hose,not loads but some.
My classroom Welch vacuum pump is making a bunch of noise during the 2nd person to use it during a class time frame. I’m going to try and change the oil tonight but I wonder if it takes a special oil of not! I did find on the streets of Anaheim a NEW Qt. of vacuum pump oil too many years ago…finders keepers…
Here’s a link to the manual.
You should be able to order parts from any service center or through robinair.
JM,
I think you’d be fine with the Mobil Vacuum Pump Oil for that pump. I think the place is called Orange County Lubricants (?) where you can pick up a 5 gallon pale of it. Or do a search on Thomasnet.com for lubricant dealers. Or if you don’t mind paying a bit more for a lesser amount just go to A-Vac. But I think the stuff they sell is just the Mobil.
Thanks Glenn!
I know the owner of A-Vac and he even doesn’t even give me a break on pricing at all!
I’m going to tear into the Welch pump to see if the vanes are gummed up (the owner of BJB Ent. which donated the pump gave me great information on them today) and get some new vacuum pump oil from McMaster Carr and cleaning solvent too. I love tinkering with stuff to learn how they work…
It was really weird tonight as I was re-hooking up my back up 1/2 HP, 3 phased, Gast vacuum pump (has a side oiler & oil catch bottle on it but I think it is a dry vane type) so the students can keep making CF PP parts but it was rotating backwards without generating vacuum.
I swaped some feed wires and it started getting 25+ inchs of vacuum BUT it was still running backwards from the factory direction arrow pointing…?
I swaped more feed wires and still backwards but no Vacuum…so I changed them back and still BackWards but getting vacuum…hmmmmm…
A little advise that BJB gave me…old oil will “oxidize” even in the original container and always just buy what you need to use in less than a year!
mine did the same thing, once you turn it off the oil starts going through the tube and into the pressure pot! I just replaced it
My friend in HVAC said it’s best not to leave vacuum on the pump when its not running. Have a shut off valve at the pump and you can take the vac. off of the pump and keep the vac on the part.
He said it would help the pump last longer.
Yea, I have the double seal connectors but a cheesie bulkhead set up that sometimes leaks. I’ll be getting that vac. switch in another thread but…
I stopped by A-Vac (in Anaheim) and talked to my buddy and he surprised me by giving me the oils I needed!
He also told that the solvent cleaning doesn’t really work well but to disconnect the vacuum line, drain the oil, run the motor and remove the bottom plug, cover the air exhaust and it blows the crap out the bottom drain plug! Clean it up and add fresh oil…
That should get the Welsh pump going correctly but now to deal with the Gast pump running backwards…but still making vacuum!:eek: