Noisy AquaClear 500

[Bill Stock]

My AquaClear 500 was sounding a little noisy, so I decided to give it a
thorough cleaning. I took the motor off for the first time in five years.
(Manual says clean every three months. LOL.) But now it sounds worse than
ever. The impeller looks fine, although the metal shaft might have been a
little worn. I'd say it's just a matter of time before it goes. I think I'll
just replace the whole motor, since I'm not sure it's the impeller. This
little workhorse certainly doesn't owe me anything.

Does anyone have any suggestions or has it's time come? Who knew fish poop
was a lubricant! :-)

[Köi-Lö]

"Bill Stock" > wrote in message
...
> My AquaClear 500 was sounding a little noisy, so I decided to give it a
> thorough cleaning. I took the motor off for the first time in five years.
> (Manual says clean every three months. LOL.) But now it sounds worse than
> ever. The impeller looks fine, although the metal shaft might have been a
> little worn. I'd say it's just a matter of time before it goes. I think
> I'll just replace the whole motor, since I'm not sure it's the impeller.
> This little workhorse certainly doesn't owe me anything.
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions or has it's time come? Who knew fish poop
> was a lubricant! :-)
==============
I have an Aquaclear that sounds like a buzzy, grinding cement mixer for
ages. I wish it would die already because I can't force myself to toss out
a working filter.
--
KL....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö> ~~~~ }<((((({*>

[swarvegorilla]

"Bill Stock" > wrote in message
...
> My AquaClear 500 was sounding a little noisy, so I decided to give it a
> thorough cleaning. I took the motor off for the first time in five years.
> (Manual says clean every three months. LOL.) But now it sounds worse than
> ever. The impeller looks fine, although the metal shaft might have been a
> little worn. I'd say it's just a matter of time before it goes. I think
> I'll just replace the whole motor, since I'm not sure it's the impeller.
> This little workhorse certainly doesn't owe me anything.
>
> Does anyone have any suggestions or has it's time come? Who knew fish poop
> was a lubricant! :-)
>
>
>

might just be a little worn and so is 'wobbling'
the mulm may have been buffering the impellor
pretty cheap pump, grab another and use the old one for spares.
just move all the cycled filter media accross into the new filter
toooo bloody easy mate

[dc]

"Bill Stock" > wrote in
:

> before it goes. I think I'll just replace the whole motor, since I'm
> not sure it's the impeller. This little workhorse certainly doesn't
> owe me anything.

There are no moving parts in the actual magnetic motor unit; it is rare it
has any sort of failure outside of failing completely.

Noisy AquaClears are almost always due to a worn impeller or impeller
shaft. The impeller shaft usually costs about $2.99 and the impeller maybe
$8.99. I would try replacing them in order of cost. I can almost
guarantee it will fix your problem.

If you clean your impeller as AquaClear recommends you can extend the life
of your impeller assembly.

[Bill Stock]

"dc" > wrote in message
. ..
> "Bill Stock" > wrote in
> :
>
>> before it goes. I think I'll just replace the whole motor, since I'm
>> not sure it's the impeller. This little workhorse certainly doesn't
>> owe me anything.
>
> There are no moving parts in the actual magnetic motor unit; it is rare it
> has any sort of failure outside of failing completely.
>
> Noisy AquaClears are almost always due to a worn impeller or impeller
> shaft. The impeller shaft usually costs about $2.99 and the impeller
> maybe
> $8.99. I would try replacing them in order of cost. I can almost
> guarantee it will fix your problem.
>
> If you clean your impeller as AquaClear recommends you can extend the life
> of your impeller assembly.

I'm pretty sure it's the shaft, but I can't see how this comes out. It's not
ceramic like other Hagens, but metal. I was going to yank it out with the
pliers, but did not want to break it, in the event it's not removable?

[dc]

"Bill Stock" > wrote in
:

> I'm pretty sure it's the shaft, but I can't see how this comes out.
> It's not ceramic like other Hagens, but metal. I was going to yank it
> out with the pliers, but did not want to break it, in the event it's
> not removable?

That is exactly how it comes out. They are removable; it just sits in a
shallow socket. Use pliers, pull and twist gently but firmly. It will
come out.

The shafts are usually the culprit, but sometimes wear will build-up on the
inside of the impeller as well. If replacing the shaft doesn't eliminate
the noise, replace the impeller as well and your AQ should be dead-silent
again.

It is not uncommon for AQs to become noisy for this reason after about a
year of use or so if they are not cleaned regularly--even then they
occasionally become noisy anyway.

[swarvegorilla]

"dc" > wrote in message
. ..
> "Bill Stock" > wrote in
> :
>
>> I'm pretty sure it's the shaft, but I can't see how this comes out.
>> It's not ceramic like other Hagens, but metal. I was going to yank it
>> out with the pliers, but did not want to break it, in the event it's
>> not removable?
>
> That is exactly how it comes out. They are removable; it just sits in a
> shallow socket. Use pliers, pull and twist gently but firmly. It will
> come out.
>
> The shafts are usually the culprit, but sometimes wear will build-up on
> the
> inside of the impeller as well. If replacing the shaft doesn't eliminate
> the noise, replace the impeller as well and your AQ should be dead-silent
> again.
>
> It is not uncommon for AQs to become noisy for this reason after about a
> year of use or so if they are not cleaned regularly--even then they
> occasionally become noisy anyway.

guilty benefit of a discount thru work
besides impellors often cost 2 thirds the cost of a new filter!! Well not on
cannisters and good sump pumps and stuff.
But powerheads and waterfalls the parts cost can be crazy.
shaft and/or impellor change would do it tho, dc is pretty switched on eh
what?!
:)

[Larry Blanchard]

dc wrote:

> It is not uncommon for AQs to become noisy for this reason after about a
> year of use or so if they are not cleaned regularly--even then they
> occasionally become noisy anyway.

I've got one where it appears the case and/or the top warped after a year or
two. Makes noise till I remove the top or sit it diagonally on the case,
then it's as quiet as ever. None of my other AQs have shown this problem.

--
It's turtles, all the way down

[dc]

Larry Blanchard > wrote in
:

> I've got one where it appears the case and/or the top warped after a
> year or two. Makes noise till I remove the top or sit it diagonally
> on the case, then it's as quiet as ever. None of my other AQs have
> shown this problem.

The noisy top is due to vibrations caused by the impeller. If you go
through the same steps I proposed to the other poster I'm sure your AQ
would settle down.

[Köi-Lö]

"dc" > wrote in message
. ..
> Noisy AquaClears are almost always due to a worn impeller or impeller
> shaft.

Mine started to make noise in no time at all. I should have just returned
it for a refund or another AC. All our other ACs are silent and some are
well over 10 years old now. And yes, they still work! :-)

> The impeller shaft

The shaft is all one part with the motor on mine. Only the impeller is
removable.

> If you clean your impeller as AquaClear recommends you can extend the life
> of your impeller assembly.

--
KL....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö> ~~~~ }<((((({*>

[Köi-Lö]

"dc" > wrote in message
. ..
> "Bill Stock" > wrote in
> :
>
>> I'm pretty sure it's the shaft, but I can't see how this comes out.
>> It's not ceramic like other Hagens, but metal. I was going to yank it
>> out with the pliers, but did not want to break it, in the event it's
>> not removable?
>
> That is exactly how it comes out. They are removable; it just sits in a
> shallow socket. Use pliers, pull and twist gently but firmly. It will
> come out.

What exactly do you grab to pull it out? It looks all like one part with
the motor assembly.

> The shafts are usually the culprit, but sometimes wear will build-up on
> the
> inside of the impeller as well. If replacing the shaft doesn't eliminate
> the noise, replace the impeller as well and your AQ should be dead-silent
> again.

I see impellers for sale but where does one buy the shaft for an AClear?

--
KL....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö> ~~~~ }<((((({*>

[Bill Stock]

"dc" > wrote in message
. ..
> "Bill Stock" > wrote in
> :
>
>> I'm pretty sure it's the shaft, but I can't see how this comes out.
>> It's not ceramic like other Hagens, but metal. I was going to yank it
>> out with the pliers, but did not want to break it, in the event it's
>> not removable?
>
> That is exactly how it comes out. They are removable; it just sits in a
> shallow socket. Use pliers, pull and twist gently but firmly. It will
> come out.
>
> The shafts are usually the culprit, but sometimes wear will build-up on
> the
> inside of the impeller as well. If replacing the shaft doesn't eliminate
> the noise, replace the impeller as well and your AQ should be dead-silent
> again.
>
> It is not uncommon for AQs to become noisy for this reason after about a
> year of use or so if they are not cleaned regularly--even then they
> occasionally become noisy anyway.

Thanks, the new motor came today. $29 CDN.

But I think I'll rehabilitate the old one in any event.

[Bill Stock]

"Larry Blanchard" > wrote in message
...
> dc wrote:
>
>> It is not uncommon for AQs to become noisy for this reason after about a
>> year of use or so if they are not cleaned regularly--even then they
>> occasionally become noisy anyway.
>
> I've got one where it appears the case and/or the top warped after a year
> or
> two. Makes noise till I remove the top or sit it diagonally on the case,
> then it's as quiet as ever. None of my other AQs have shown this problem.
>
> --
> It's turtles, all the way down



I found a whack about the head (lid) was useful. :-)

[dc]

Köi-Lö <$##$$@$##$$.#$$> wrote in
:

> The shaft is all one part with the motor on mine. Only the impeller
> is removable.

Unless you have one of those ancient AQs were the motor ran completely dry
and the impeller sat in a plastic well built into the plastic body of the
filter, then it is removable (I think they stopped making those in the
80's). All you need to remove it are pliers and a steady hand.

[dc]

dc > wrote in
:

> Köi-Lö <$##$$@$##$$.#$$> wrote in
> :
>
>> The shaft is all one part with the motor on mine. Only the impeller
>> is removable.
>
> Unless you have one of those ancient AQs were the motor ran completely
> dry and the impeller sat in a plastic well built into the plastic body
> of the filter, then it is removable (I think they stopped making those
> in the 80's). All you need to remove it are pliers and a steady hand.

Just thinking of a the current 110/500 again... it does use a different
motor from the rest of the AQ line. I will double check tomorrow to see if
there are any differences in replacing the impeller shaft.

[dc]

Köi-Lö <$##$$@$##$$.#$$> wrote in
:

> Thanks. I'll await your reply.
>
> Yes, almost all my ACs are quite old.

I had a look at one today. It functions exactly the same. Both the
impeller shaft and the motor are larger but the shaft is removed exactly
the same way as in the smaller AQs.

The one and only time I encountered the old style AQs was when my uncle
gave me his old aquarium he had running in the 70s. The motor connected to
the outside of the plastic case of the filter by way of two large clips and
it had no physical contact with water whatsoever. The impeller and the
shaft were isolated from the motor inside the plastic filter case.

[Köi-Lö]

"dc" > wrote in message
...
> Köi-Lö <$##$$@$##$$.#$$> wrote in
> :
>
>> Thanks. I'll await your reply.
>>
>> Yes, almost all my ACs are quite old.
>
> I had a look at one today. It functions exactly the same. Both the
> impeller shaft and the motor are larger but the shaft is removed exactly
> the same way as in the smaller AQs.
>
> The one and only time I encountered the old style AQs was when my uncle
> gave me his old aquarium he had running in the 70s. The motor connected
> to
> the outside of the plastic case of the filter by way of two large clips
> and
> it had no physical contact with water whatsoever. The impeller and the
> shaft were isolated from the motor inside the plastic filter case.
============
Thanks. The next time I clean the well I'm going to see if I can grasp it
with a pliers and remove it.
--
KL....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö> ~~~~ }<((((({*>

[dc]

Köi-Lö <$##$$@$##$$.#$$> wrote in
:

> Thanks. The next time I clean the well I'm going to see if I can grasp
> it with a pliers and remove it.

Just be gentle; pull straight out while giving it a bit of a twist and it
should come right out. For some reason replacement impeller shafts for the
500 are harder to come by than the universal shaft for the smaller AQ
series.