R.O. problem- Part 2

[Bucket Head]

Hi Guys,

Some of you may remember my high pressure pump quiting on the last run last spring and I was trying to figure out how to separate the motor from the pump. Everybody I spoke to said the motor shaft was splined and it should pull apart. I tried prying every which way and it wouldn't budge. I was, and still am, at a loss as to how this gets disassembled. Then life got in the way of everything..., so just now I am getting back at it.

Its an Airablo Lynx 160, built in 1991. It has a 3 hp motor on it. I looked up specs. on the Baldor electric motor website and pictures show a straight shaft with threads at the end- no splines. So I'm thinking what ever is on the end of the motor shaft has to come off first, meaning I would need to disassemble the pump first which would eventually expose the end of the shaft. I can only guess on this and I hope I'm guessing correctly.

So my question is how do you take apart the high pressure pump? This one is similar to a hydraulic cylinder. Meaning I have a "cylinder" with two end plates, and four tie rods holding it together. Inside the cylinder is all the "sections", spacers- whatever their called- that are stacked up and exposed on the newer R.O.'s I've seen. Or at least that's what I think is in there, judging from what little I can see in there through the inlet port.

Do all those separate when I loosen up and take off the tie rods? Do I disassemble this horizontally on a work bench or should I have it vertical and pull things up and out or down and out?

Who here has had their high pressure pump completely taken apart? How'd you do it and what am I going to see once its apart?

Any thoughts and/or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

Steve

[maple flats]

Steve, I have no idea, but that sounds like a good guess. I think horizontal vs. vert. may not be an issue, but the parts must be kept in exact order for re-assembly needless to say.
What pressure does this run at? If not over 300, Ray Gingerich sells a new replacement pump for $250. He also has higher pressure for his newer units with 8" membranes but I don't know what pressure they will run at. Give me a call if you need Ray's number. He's Amish but there is a phone in his shop.
WestVirginiaMapler could give you the info on the bigger unit, he has one.

[BreezyHill]

Steve, PM me and I will give you my cell and we will get her apart. Take so pics and send them to the cell.

Ben

[Bucket Head]

Dave,

This R.O. operates right around 475psi. Its quite a bit different from Ray's machines, or at least from the one's I've seen. I don't think I've seen his 8' machines. Anyway, I'm hoping the problem lies with the electric motor. I'm thinking that would be the cheaper fix!

Ben- I'll PM you.

Thanks guy's.

Steve

[mellondome]

Take the rods off and the stack should come apart one section at a time. If the pump ran but wouldnt pressure up , you probably have bad sections in the stack. Easy to replace. When you get them all off the shaft, the shaft will turn off the motor in the direction the motor spins.

[Bucket Head]

Mellondome,

The pump was running- I was R.O.ing, then went to rinsing but had to shut down and connect to another tank of permeate. Then when I turned it on it tripped the breaker. So something was failing or failed to a point where it caused enough drag to keep the motor from turning upon start up.

My "stack" is in a stainless tube that has endplates which is held together with the rods. I can not take the stack apart one at a time, yet. I am unsure of how to get the tube off without disturbing everything inside.

Steve

[mellondome]

The insides are all on a hex shaft. Nothing should fall apart by removing the rods or housing. Sounds like it's either a bearing bad or the impellers in the stack were plastic and got too hot and deformed,

[Bucket Head]

Do you know if there are bearings or bushings in the pump?

Thanks for the info!

Steve

[mellondome]

Depends on the pump. It will probably have a bushings though...as the motor has a bearing on the output shaft.

Do you have a make and model # for the pump?

[Bucket Head]

Guy's,

Well, I'm taking a chance and hoping its the elec. motor on it. I took it to a rebuilder and they are going to take the motor apart. They said they can take most of it a part and inspect it without disassembling the pump. They seemed pretty confidant that if the motor had a problem, they would see it once it was opened up.

I look at it this way- I have to start somewhere, disassembly of at least part of it was inevitable, the R.O. is useless as sits right now and however much the repairs are it'll still be cheaper than a new R.O.

So I lit the fuse on the repair job. We'll see what the next step is...

Steve

[Bucket Head]

No, there's no model number on the pump. Just an Airablo decal on the side. There is remnants of hand writing on the decal below the Airablo, but time and moisture has made it impossible to read.

Steve

[Bucket Head]

Guy's,

I picked up my pump earlier this week from the elec. motor repair place. Thankfully, the problem was with the motor. The starting capacitor was bad- burned out and bad, and a few wires and terminals didn't look too healthy either! Hopefully I'll have a trouble free R.O. now.

Twenty-twenty hindsight shows I should have taken it there in the first place. I should not have assumed it was the pump. However, any other pump problem I've ever had with any other pump was indeed the pump and not the motor or engine driving it. I'm relieved it was the motor. There were a lot of sleepless nights thinking about taking apart and repairing the pump!

Thanks for all the advice on this guy's.

Steve

[mellondome]

Now get it back in the ro... sap flows are just a couple months away...

[Bucket Head]

Yes! I will enjoy reassembling it! Well, everything except the part of picking it up and holding it until the mounting bolts are back in it, lol. That thing is VERY HEAVY!

Steve

[BreezyHill]

Sounds like a good Thanksgiving Job. Grab a few of the family and get r done after the first round of turkey...then there will be room for more.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

May your turkey be moist, potatoes be smashed and your memories be plentiful and Happy.

Thanks to all the Vets, Maple consumers, and those who are protecting This Great Land of Ours!

Ben