Never underestimate the value of regular husbandry

[road_runner]

Today I did my quarterly maintenance where i take out power heads to clean.
Check out what was in my system for the last 2 months..
My icp was giving some strange data of some metals that I was not sure where is it coming from. I did not suspect power heada cause I cleaned them couple months ago and they were good.
I guess something went wrong afterward.

Disclaimer: this power head is 3 years old. I still think vortechs are the best power heads in the market and one of the best thing in it, is how cheap you can address issues since its modular (wet side and dry side). This will cost me 50$ no more..
If this was one of the other pumps out there, I would have need to change the while thing and would cost much more...

 

[Crabs McJones]

Oh No! Glad you found it This must be a 40 or a 60 i'm guessing?

 

[road_runner]

Oh No! Glad you found it This must be a 40 or a 60 i'm guessing?

Yup mp40. Very old.
I have 6 mp40s. The one is the oldest ha ha.

 

[Jay Z]

Nice find and good info!

 

[road_runner]

It's amazing how quickly this thing rust once it has a leak.
People forget that power heads are giant inductor which is a thin wire looped for thousands of times. This thin wire rust instantly...

 

[Peace River]

Yup mp40. Very old.
I have 6 mp40s. The one is the oldest ha ha.

It was the oldest! Now you have a “new” oldest to worry about! ;Nailbiting

Great reminder! Thanks!

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Today I did my quarterly maintenance where i take out power heads to clean.
Check out what was in my system for the last 2 months..
My icp was giving some strange data of some metals that I was not sure where is it coming from. I did not suspect power heada cause I cleaned them couple months ago and they were good.
I guess something went wrong afterward.

Disclaimer, thisnpower head is 3 years old. I still think vortechs are the best power heads in the market and one of the best thing in it, is how cheap you can address issues since its modular (wet side and dry side). This will cost me 50$ no more..
If this was one of the other pumps out there, I would have need to change the while thing and would cost much more...


So yeh, always fo maintenance and do not leave things to accumulate till it's big problem before you find it.

Hi,

See this is why I don't do maintenance. Not only am I lazy, but out of sight out of mind. Plus, a little extra vitamin and Minerals can’t hurt, can it?;Bucktooth

 

[road_runner]

Hi,

See this is why I don't do maintenance. Not only am I lazy, but out of sight out of mind. Plus, a little extra vitamin and Minerals can’t hurt, can it?;Bucktooth

Ha ha ha love it

 

[road_runner]

It was the oldest! Now you have a “new” oldest to worry about! ;Nailbiting

Great reminder! Thanks!

They really are the best power heads. I cannot put s price on how easy to change parts on this power head..for cheap too..

 

[Jay Z]

These types of magnets rust apart in salt water in general. We see it on our boats all the time. Takes 2-3 years on our center consoles. Door magnets always turn to orange dust.

 

[road_runner]

These types of magnets rust apart in salt water in general. We see it on our boats all the time. Takes 2-3 years on our center consoles. Door magnets always turn to orange dust.

It's all about how soild the water seal is. Mine look like it heated up and broke the seal and started rusting.

 

[Silver14SS]

What metals and measurements were on the ICP test from that? Would be nice to have a reference for what a rusting magnet will show up as in an ICP test.

 

[Jay Z]

Yep. And I wasn’t referring to these heads in general. Just magnets exposed to salt water in general. Guess I forgot that part lol.

I never knew how quick magnets could rust until we got a couple salt boats. Blew my mind.

 

[road_runner]

Yep. And I wasn’t referring to these heads in general. Just magnets exposed to salt water in general. Guess I forgot that part lol.

I never knew how quick magnets could rust until we got a couple salt boats. Blew my mind.

You absolutely right.

 

[Entz]

Curious is their a seal there and when you clean them do you use vinegar? I wonder if that is letting water in.

 

[ZoWhat]

Yup mp40. Very old.
I have 6 mp40s. The one is the oldest ha ha.

how did you get a westside to last that long? longest I got a westside to last was maybe 18mos. that's even after soaking it in vinegar 3-4 times a year. seem like when they seize up they seize up quickly

 

[road_runner]

Curious is their a seal there and when you clean them do you use vinegar? I wonder if that is letting water in.

No I do not like to ise viniger unless if my plan is to clean and leave out for at least a day.
I think what happen was: debris went there and restricted the rotation which generated heat and cracked or created a small crack in the plastic seal. All it take is a drop of water to pass. Once that heppen inductor start rusting and expanding which increased the crack more and....wallah..you get what I had...

 

[road_runner]

how did you get a westside to last that long? longest I got a westside to last was maybe 18mos. that's even after soaking it in vinegar 3-4 times a year. seem like when they seize up they seize up quickly

I clean it every 3 months
I do not let it heat up by running less than 75% always( I have many pumps instead of couple where I need to crank their power up)
That's about it hoenstly.

 

[road_runner]

how did you get a westside to last that long? longest I got a westside to last was maybe 18mos. that's even after soaking it in vinegar 3-4 times a year. seem like when they seize up they seize up quickly

honestly. One of the reasons I do not like soaking my equipments in vinegar is that just like vinegar break down debris i just feel it impact the structural integrity of plastic and other parts. So i avoid it unless when i use it quickly and wash the parts very well afterward.
I feel all these scrubbing chemicals out there do have side effects of decaying the part not only cleaning it...

Maybe am paranoid but hey..this works for me))

 

[ZoWhat]

honestly. One of the reasons I do not like soaking my equipments in vinegar is that just like vinegar break down debris i just feel it impact the structural integrity of plastic and other parts. So i avoid it unless when i use it quickly and wash the parts very well afterward.
I feel all these scrubbing chemicals out there do have side effects of decaying the part not only cleaning it...

Maybe am paranoid but hey..this works for me))

I've often wondered if soaking in vinegar degrades rubber seals and the like.... now your testimony is proving it to me. thx