Sicce Needlewheel impeller

[ETBReefer05]

Hey gang,
I pulled a smart one today, purchased a Vertex 150 for a good price because the plastic impeller shaft broke between the metal collar and the needlewheel. Vertex is already sending me another, but the "smart" part was that I almost immediately put the cracked impeller back in place and there's no way to grab it out ;Facepalm. Any advice? I've tried needlenose and forcep pliers but don't want to go too crazy because I don't want to damage the pump. I had thought about super gluing the needlewheel back to the impeller shaft, letting it dry and trying to pull it out...I feel like a dunce!

 

[Brew12]

Hey gang,
I pulled a smart one today, purchased a Vertex 150 for a good price because the plastic impeller shaft broke between the metal collar and the needlewheel. Vertex is already sending me another, but the "smart" part was that I almost immediately put the cracked impeller back in place and there's no way to grab it out ;Facepalm. Any advice? I've tried needlenose and forcep pliers but don't want to go too crazy because I don't want to damage the pump. I had thought about super gluing the needlewheel back to the impeller shaft, letting it dry and trying to pull it out...I feel like a dunce!

I've had luck with tweezers before. I'm not sure I would superglue the impeller back on, but you might find something a little easier and longer to glue on that would work. Like part of a coat hanger, wood dowel, or just about any hard piece of scrap material. I'd think that would be easier than trying to get the impeller glued on.

 

[Gareth elliott]

If nothing else works.

Maybe put a sheet of rolled paper Around the inside of pump inlet Fill the hole with “great stuff” and screwdriver inside the pump inlet, let it dry around the impeller shaft. Pull on the screw driver. Remove the excess great stuff with acetone which will quickly evaporate.

 

[Blue Spot Octopus]

Put another magnet in there and see if they grab each other, then pull.

I had the Vertex 150 Omega never try to remove the impeller to clean it, soak it in vinegar and run it in vinegar. The pull is stronger than the bound between the shaft and impeller.

 

[Daniel Waters]

Old thread, but I'm adding information as I know several people are searching for impeller replacements for the Vertex Omega 150 (since Vertex is out of business).

I was told from a Sicce USA representative that the Sicce PSK 1000 impeller would work as a replacement impeller for the Vertex Omega 150 skimmer. I purchased the part today and can confirm it fits but have not had a chance to run the pump yet. Note, the PSK 1000 design regarding the wheel part is different than the original impeller but that is basically just a way to break up air into small bubbles (and I suspect the newer design my be better than the older impeller design in that regards).