rotary vane gummy problem

[mountainvan]

Just got my vacuum pump, perfection rotary vane made in delavan, wis. 1.5" intake and exhaust with alamo reclaimer. My question is, the vanes are not dropping quickly(they do drop and I do get suction) and the interior of the pump is gummed up pretty badly(I think that's why the vanes are slow). What should I use to get the pump clean and the vanes dropping smoothly? The reclaimer says to use kerosine to clean out the crud. Any help is appreciated.

[Brian]

dump in 1-2 qt of diesel fuel in to the intake and turn it over by hand once a day for 3-4 days and it should take care of the problem. Some guys dump diesel fuel into there pumps and leave it until the next sugar season and give them a turn once in a while to keep the vains from sticking and rust from forming inside the pump.

[Fred Henderson]

I ues to service those pumps many years ago. Kerosene or diesel is a good cleaner.

[mountainvan]

Thanks for the info. Got about half of the vanes free so far just puttsing with it.