How to get a water pump running smoothly again after the drought?

[scooterboy]

Ah, yes - and here's another thing I don't know much about......

I have a very ordinary and basic water pump - not expensive at all. It's a Lucky Pro Pump and
it's worked very well for the last 7 years (or so) - not that we've used it a lot, anyway.

Now we've built a new house on the same land, moved in last year and our old house we use for this and that and
don't occupy it a lot. To keep the old house pump running smoothly I'd turn it on
once a week an let it run for a few minutes. No problem there - and it's run smoothly like this for over a year.

Back in April we were caught up in the drought and there was hardly any water - certainly not enough
to be able to turn on the pump. Two months went by before there was again enough
water to warrant using a pump. Naturally, the pump won't run now - there's just a
whirring sound from the motor, but nothing moves. I'm reluctant to try and start the
thing again, fearing to damage the motor.

My question is, is there any way I can get the pump working again, without having first to unscrew everything.

The cover of the fan blades has a screw that is not accessible, without first having to unscrew the
base plate off (not at all practical!).

Thanks for any help...

Pics, if of any use

[Crossy]

Yup ^^^, we had that exact pump and it did the same after a period of non-use.

Take off the fan cover and wriggle the fan a bit to free things up (or use a screwdriver if you can't get at the screws).

It WILL be full of rusty water so if you can direct the output somewhere other than your house plumbing that would be wise.

It's also worth taking off the pressure tank and pumping it up to the recommended pressure.

[scooterboy]

^^Sorry. Yes, I DID try that - but the blasted thing (fan that is) just wouldn't move AT ALL.

[scooterboy]

^^I can't get the <deleted>' fan cover off - the last holding screw is quite inaccessible.

[Crossy]

Ah, in that case it's time to get dirty and pull it out

Take off the impeller cover and blast some WD40 around in there whilst wriggling the fan.

You should be able to un-bolt the pipe flanges so no need to dismantle the plumbing.

EDIT I see you have (sensibly) used maintenance fittings, should be the work of a few minutes to get it out and in bits

[scooterboy]

Aaah, yes, errm....what on earth are "pipe flanges" and "impeller houses" or "impeller covers"?

Sorry. I'm absolutely hopeless at technical terms (for pumps, at least).

I was hoping to avoid having to try and dismantle any part of the thing......................but I'm great at poking and spraying!

[Crossy]

Aaah, yes, errm....what on earth are "pipe flanges" and "impeller houses" or "impeller covers"?

Sorry. I'm absolutely hopeless at technical terms (for pumps, at least).

I was hoping to avoid having to try and dismantle any part of the thing......................but I'm great at poking and spraying!

If poking and spraying (try poking the fan in both directions) fail, and you don't want to start pulling the beast apart (they're not rocket science), time to call your local pump man.

He will doubtless get it going in a jiffy and will bill a nominal fee.

[scooterboy]

Thanks for all the info - the pump is now running nicely once again.

I tried another forum, where they were able to explain things in less techy language, so even I (and apparently others, too) could understand it.

Cheers

[Crossy]

Thanks for all the info - the pump is now running nicely once again.

I tried another forum, where they were able to explain things in less techy language, so even I (and apparently others, too) could understand it.

Cheers

So what did you do to the pump?