External Iwaki pump 55RLT

[spectrum]

This is how I have my pump set up, The pump is on the floor. the pipe goes UP 12 inchesfrom out of the sump 10 inches to the right, down 12 inches and 20 stright into the pump, From there it goes UP 5 foot 9 inch to the top of the ETSS1000 skimmer. Is there any reason this pump should over heat to the point where the THERMAL PROTECTION kicks in and shuts down in like 10-15 mins?????????????? :help1:

[mtfatwork]

are the iwaki's fan cooled? If it is, is it possible the fan is not working?

[spectrum]

It spins. I got mine just like FreshFish (chads) it heats up even if i take the pump out of the motor ( it does take a littke bit longer)
The fan runs from the moror shaft.

[mattb]

It shouldn't stop unless somethings wrong with it. I think they are comparable as the BL 55. There is a fan on the opposite of the intake, check to see if the 'grate' is clogged up?

[Dirk Griffin]

We have been under discussion about the over heating issue for a couple of days now. He bought the pump from me used......My thought is most pumps are not designed to have head pressure on the input side of the pump. He is basically sucking water from the inside of the sump, the tubing goes up and over to the other outside of the sump and to the pump. Then the water is pumped to the skimmer.
When I did this 20+ years ago, I had all sorts of issues with the pump I was using. Then and now I am thinking the pressure of the input side of the pump/flow design is more of the issue.
The pump still may have a problem, it was bought used.....but many/most pumps new or used are not going to handle this very well, IMO

[mattb]

Yeah, that's not good, pumps definitely aren't designed to do that....

[Chris Goetz]

I agree and the only time I've seen it done without issues is if the line is primed first and way over sized. For example I have a gen-x pcx55 that was used to feed a skimmer and it did this using 2" pipe even though the pump has a 1" input and it only lifted about 12-15" over the sump wall.

I would suggest contacting Iwaki and asking what they recommend. I have never contacted them, but I suspect their customer service would be knowledgeable as they offer fairly strong warranties on their pumps.

Is there some reason you can't drill the sump?
Chris

[spectrum]

I have taken the pump out of the motor and it still got hot , it just tok a little longer. I just want it to work is all so im gonna test it stright in from a tank right back with 3 feet of hose. Ill see if i can get the pick to load

[mattb]

These pumps are pressure rated and do get warm.... regardless, they were not made to have significant intake pressure. You won't get good skimmer performance either. An alternative is a big mag drive, like a 24 or may be even a 36. But these aren't optimal as they aren't pressure rated.

[spectrum]

No as warm as like cant touch HOT

[spectrum]

lets see if i can get the picks of the test subject to load now

[spectrum]

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb19/spectrumspectrum/pump005.jpg
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb19/spectrumspectrum/pump004.jpg
should this work, as of like not heating up to the point of shut down??? its 17gallons??

[mattb]

This should work, but the input is at the top of the tank, it'll most likely be sucking in air, which is not good for the skimmer performance.

[spectrum]

no its just a test to see if it heats up

[spectrum]

Its just a tank I have IM filling wiht 41degree water and filling to the tip top, SO it should work right???

[spectrum]

OK plugged in and started its seems like its 2 stage pump or something but its going

[spectrum]

pumps around 100 degrees

[Chris Goetz]

Yes, aside from probably sucking in air as Matt mentioned, it should run normally in that configuration.

Chris

[mattb]

Again, my BL55 runs warm, I wouldn't be surprised if it was 100 degrees F

[spectrum]

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb19/spectrumspectrum/pump006.jpg
getting warmer

[spectrum]

the other night it got to the point of where the thermal protection kicked in

[spectrum]

cant touch more than 4 secs

[spectrum]

Bam thermal protection kicked in

[mattb]

Is it running for longer than it was before? never mind we must have posted at the same time. I'd say it's the pump.

[spectrum]

its gotta be the pump screwed up ? right?

[Dirk Griffin]

So is the thermal protection kicking in with the current set up Brian??

[spectrum]

sup, even with the crack-head set up

[Dirk Griffin]

Not sure what that statement is referring too:popworm:

[spectrum]

the test tank is all i ment

[David Grigor]

So you for sure clean out the air grate, fan blades etc. to make sure it getting as much air as possible ?

[oyam123]

you need a new pump!

[spectrum]

yah, cleaned it the day i got it

[mrbill]

If the air flow through the motor isn't good it can cause overheating. Do you have access to an air compressor that you can use to blow any crud out of the motor? May also be that you have a bad bearing/bushing thats causing too much drag. You could try spraying the inside of the motor with something like WD40and see if that helps. The Iwaki pumps are good. I am only on my second pump and my system has been running continuously since 1992. The first pump had a bearing go bad and it started to make noise so I replaced it.

[spectrum]

It kinda acts like its a 2 stage. it turns on and runs and after like 20 sec it speeds up and its been blown out.

[wolrey]

Your "test" setup doesn't look very good. Pumps are designed to have a certain amount of "head" of water on the intake side. If they don't get this required pressure, they can cavitate and run rough. This might cause your heating issues.

Jeff

[spectrum]

Your "test" setup doesn't look very good. Pumps are designed to have a certain amount of "head" of water on the intake side. If they don't get this required pressure, they can cavitate and run rough. This might cause your heating issues.

Jeff

I had it earlyer with some head on the intake and they said I was wrong it drew the water up 12 inches to the right 10 inches down 12 inches and 20 stright to the pump:ac39:

[wkjames]

If the air flow through the motor isn't good it can cause overheating. Do you have access to an air compressor that you can use to blow any crud out of the motor? May also be that you have a bad bearing/bushing thats causing too much drag. You could try spraying the inside of the motor with something like WD40and see if that helps. The Iwaki pumps are good. I am only on my second pump and my system has been running continuously since 1992. The first pump had a bearing go bad and it started to make noise so I replaced it.

One of the problems I see, is that there are some (few and they usually cost more) pumps that are 'self priming' and I don't think that is one. Based on what you are trying to get yours to do, that is what you need.

Secondly, I think mrbill is right. There is friction in the pump that is causing the heating up. Probably a bad bearing, but if it isn't noisy that may not be it. There may be a bent shaft (would probably vibrate a lot). There may be debris in between the armature and the magnets (My bet). Are you comfortable in taking a motor apart? Some electrical contact cleaner spray for the brushes and contacts on the armature, and a degreaser like brake cleaner to clean the everything else out would be good. The motor should spin freely when the power is off. If you can take them out, soak the bearings in automatic transmission fluid before reassembly.

[wolrey]

I can only comment on your test setup. Dirk may very well be right about having to much head on the intake side in your original design. You would have to see what the documentation said to know what the ranges are for the pump. A pump should be farily tolerant to intake head...like wkjames and the others say, try cleaning it and look for a bad bearing.

Jeff

[spectrum]

well it does spin freely, it is a little loud, but some of the screws are rusted in place and I dont want to take it apart if it hasnt even ran for and hour, I think ill just get a new one

[spectrum]

like where the wires go into the motor the screws are froze in place and I would hate to snap some of the screws in it and have to take it back like that

[spectrum]

O and if i forget THANK YOU everyone for all the info that has been handed down to me sence I have been on this site.