Re: Fluval won't restart.. help!

[Graham Broadbridge]

Suggestion: Use Google groups and do a search .

"Flash Wilson" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> Just before we went away I cleaned my fluval 204 out, and it
> didn't restart. A few more goes, nothing! My partner had a go
> (putting head back on and hoses back in and plugging in) and
> eventually it was fine.
>
> I forgot about this, and just went to clean it out as usual.
>
> Now it won't restart. Any advice or ideas, or knacks, please!
> I really don't want to leave it off for long in this hot weather.
>
>
>
> --
> Flash Wilson
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> "Hard, fast, long. Pick two" - Mike Bristow
> [Programmers - please don't apply development criteria to sex!]

[Flash Wilson]

On Fri, 11 Jul 2003 00:18:40 +1000, Graham Broadbridge
<grahamatpeachydotorg> wrote:
>Suggestion: Use Google groups and do a search .

Already did that before deciding to post.

I found a few posts that say it's a good filter apart from the
odd difficulty restarting it. Well, that didn't help me know how
to remedy the problem.

Thanks for the quick reply - anyone got any other advice?

It's been off for 30 minutes already :(


--
Flash Wilson
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Going abroad? Please take a photo of a pylon in another country!
www.gorge.org/pylons has 13 countries covered - only 179 to go!

[Marcus Fox]

"Flash Wilson" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 11 Jul 2003 00:18:40 +1000, Graham Broadbridge
> <grahamatpeachydotorg> wrote:
> >Suggestion: Use Google groups and do a search .
>
> Already did that before deciding to post.
>
> I found a few posts that say it's a good filter apart from the
> odd difficulty restarting it. Well, that didn't help me know how
> to remedy the problem.
>
> Thanks for the quick reply - anyone got any other advice?
>
> It's been off for 30 minutes already :(

Don't know anything about Fluvals, but what you could try is setting up a
siphon through it, maybe jump start it? Or suck on the outflow :)

Marcus

[Flash Wilson]

On Thu, 10 Jul 2003 14:10:01 +0000 (UTC), Flash Wilson > wrote:
>Now it won't restart. Any advice or ideas, or knacks, please!

To clarify - I'd just changed some of the media, cleaned out the
gunk from where the "in" pipe meets the aquastop, cleaned out
around the impeller, and all seemed in good order. When replacing
the head and then plugging in the pipes via the aquastop, and
priming and plugging in - nothing. I have repeated this several
times and it still won't go. Last time it took a few goes but
then started up. The 204 is less than a year in use (although
it was bought and then kept in storage prior to use).

My partner's impression is that last time the aquastop may not
have been in properly, but I have double and triple checked
that.

I'm trying to find out if there are any common gotchas or any
tips and tricks, or whether there is an automatic cutout if
(for example) it's too hot, not closed correctly, or any other
condition I could check.

Hoping someone can help (even an extensive google has not given
me any pointers I hadn't already tried).

Don't want the filter out for too long but no idea what to do...
The bloke won't be home for three more hours, and there's no
guarantee he can fix it if I can't!

Right now I don't have the money to buy a new filter on the
offchance, either.

Cheers,

--
Flash Wilson
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Going abroad? Please take a photo of a pylon in another country!
www.gorge.org/pylons has 13 countries covered - only 179 to go!

[elyob]

"Marcus Fox" > wrote in
message ...
>
> "Flash Wilson" > wrote in message
> ...
> > On Fri, 11 Jul 2003 00:18:40 +1000, Graham Broadbridge
> > <grahamatpeachydotorg> wrote:
> > >Suggestion: Use Google groups and do a search .
> >
> > Already did that before deciding to post.
> >
> > I found a few posts that say it's a good filter apart from the
> > odd difficulty restarting it. Well, that didn't help me know how
> > to remedy the problem.
> >
> > Thanks for the quick reply - anyone got any other advice?
> >
> > It's been off for 30 minutes already :(
>
> Don't know anything about Fluvals, but what you could try is setting up a
> siphon through it, maybe jump start it? Or suck on the outflow :)
>

http://www.hagen.com/pdf/aquatic/Fluval04.pdf ?? "Pump the self primer
handle to restart"

[Flash Wilson]

On Thu, 10 Jul 2003 15:40:20 +0100, Marcus Fox
> wrote:
>Don't know anything about Fluvals, but what you could try is setting up a
>siphon through it, maybe jump start it? Or suck on the outflow :)

Hmmmm.... when I pump the primer (which effectively gives a little
push through and makes sure no air is trapped) it does push out
a little water from the outflow, so I know the water is in the
hoses and so on... I just cant get it to pump :(

Thanks for the idea... anything that persuades it to go will do me...


--
Flash Wilson Visit my website: http://www.gorge.org
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[Big Mc]

"Flash Wilson" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 10 Jul 2003 15:40:20 +0100, Marcus Fox
> > wrote:
> >Don't know anything about Fluvals, but what you could try is setting up a
> >siphon through it, maybe jump start it? Or suck on the outflow :)
>
> Hmmmm.... when I pump the primer (which effectively gives a little
> push through and makes sure no air is trapped) it does push out
> a little water from the outflow, so I know the water is in the
> hoses and so on... I just cant get it to pump :(
>
> Thanks for the idea... anything that persuades it to go will do me...
>
>
check that the impellor is not jammed up with sludge.

[Jeff Pratt]

Flash Wilson wrote:

> On Thu, 10 Jul 2003 14:10:01 +0000 (UTC), Flash Wilson >
> wrote:
>>Now it won't restart. Any advice or ideas, or knacks, please!
>
> To clarify - I'd just changed some of the media, cleaned out the
> gunk from where the "in" pipe meets the aquastop, cleaned out
> around the impeller, and all seemed in good order. When replacing
> the head and then plugging in the pipes via the aquastop, and
> priming and plugging in - nothing. I have repeated this several
> times and it still won't go. Last time it took a few goes but
> then started up. The 204 is less than a year in use (although
> it was bought and then kept in storage prior to use).
>
> My partner's impression is that last time the aquastop may not
> have been in properly, but I have double and triple checked
> that.
>
> I'm trying to find out if there are any common gotchas or any
> tips and tricks, or whether there is an automatic cutout if
> (for example) it's too hot, not closed correctly, or any other
> condition I could check.
>
> Hoping someone can help (even an extensive google has not given
> me any pointers I hadn't already tried).
>
> Don't want the filter out for too long but no idea what to do...
> The bloke won't be home for three more hours, and there's no
> guarantee he can fix it if I can't!
>
> Right now I don't have the money to buy a new filter on the
> offchance, either.
>
> Cheers,
>

Have you tried changing the orientation of the impeller? IE:

Impeller sits like this currently:

|
--O--
|

Change it to:

\ /
O
/ \

On 2 pole motors (which is likely what is used in you fluval, they're cheap
and easy) they can get the fixed magnet equidistant from each
electromagnet, which prevents the motor from spinning. IE:


N
3 3
S

Where the 3's are the coils and N and S are the poles of the fixed magnet.
At this point the fixed magnet is being pushed and pulled with equal force
to each side.

If this is the problem you should hear a slight hum.

Jeff.