Since Syncra 3.5

[Xmoji]

need some help I noticed after powering off my pump and turning it back on it wouldn't turn on. I currently have it soaking in water and vinegar. I hear a hum but no water coming out. Any thoughts?

 

[Xmoji]

Thoughts anyone?

 

[Havasuviking]

Check the impeller. It might need cleaning.

 

[xjiang7]

buy 1 or 2 gallons of distilled vinegar and run the pump for half an hour in it. It would be as good as new

 

[Lninwa]

I just use straight vinager to soak of Ca deposits. Yep I bet your impeller needs cleaning. Good luck

 

[gus6464]

Costco and vinegar are your best friend.

 

[nervousmonkey]

Costco and vinegar are your best friend.

+1 to all the above. I like to take mine apart though, and then clean it with vinegar, gloves, and lots of it. Here is the reason why I recommend taking it apart to clean and just spend the time doing this.

This is a known problem for Sicce pumps, especially the Syncra series. The only reason why the Sicce Syncra brand are known for being powerful and also super quiet, is that they manufacture this particular impeller to *only* spin at very precise speeds and some area that is also very precise. If the impeller, more specifically the inside of the impeller (very specific: where the magnet part of the impeller is inside the motor being directed where to spin by the motor housing and engine), gets anything on it, it will not spin, so your motorblock is on and working great, but your impeller won't spin because it has something on it, and in this case, it is almost always calcium hydroxide for Syncra. Vinegar cleans Ca(OH)2 off, so once you have taken it apart down to this level, look inside where the impeller sits, and look to see if there is Ca(OH)2 there also, since you need to clean that off too. So soaking it in vinegar works great. I just like to see the reason why it worked and made my pump spin again.

If there is so much buildup on the impeller and inside the motor, that it caused the impeller to get scratched, you have to get a new impeller, no questions asked. Sicce Syncra pumps will spin forever if you don't turn 'em off. The impeller never hits anything because of it's very precise direction of spin, but when you turn it off, you will see that the impeller is pretty scratched. That impeller is made of really soft magnet material... .

The above paragraph about the impeller is why I clean mine, but they have a 5 year warranty, but still do not like to not have an impeller when I need it, especially if the Syncra is doing something important for your tank, which they almost always are. Don't wait to have to get a new impeller, clean the thing off now while you can.

 

[Xmoji]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. Took it apart there wasn't much buildup inside the pump and the impeller. Soaked it in vinegar and tried to run it but now it doesn't even hum. Just waiting for the LFS to open and going to purchase another pump. Do you think I should stick with since or go with another brand?

 

[nervousmonkey]

How old is it? I think that one of the mccarrols on here used a Sicce for just over 5 years when he took the pump out and the motor block wasn't working... Anyway, if it has been less than 5 years, send it back in to Sicce, they will replace the motor body since they have a 5 year warranty.

I would stick with Sicce, I like their pumps. The answer to your question though, is dependent entirely on what you are using it for.

 

[Xmoji]

Yeah I'm going to do exactly that the pump is just about a year old.

 

[nervousmonkey]

OK cool, definitely send it back then!

Are you going with another Syncra or have you decided?

 

[Xmoji]

So I went to the LFS and purchased the Syncra 3.0 my 3.5 was too much for my 57 gal so down sized and it's working nicely. Much quieter than the 3.5.

As I was cleaning after my WC I decided to put some water in a bucket and try the 3.5 one last time.....it worked! I figured I liked the 3.0 for this size and will keep it. Now I will have the 3.5 as a back up.