Pump flipping breaker... :-(

My 1200 gph pump is flipping the breaker. AAARRGGGHHHH! It's a thermally
protected Beckett. How is water getting to the "juice?" I don't suppose
they can be fixed - anyone?

I had to scramble to hook up a 500 gph just to keep the water moving. :-(
--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

Reel McKoi wrote:
My 1200 gph pump is flipping the breaker. AAARRGGGHHHH! It's a thermally
protected Beckett. How is water getting to the "juice?" I don't suppose
they can be fixed - anyone?

I had to scramble to hook up a 500 gph just to keep the water moving. :-(

I'm having the exact same problem. Now I have to buy smaller pumps.
Big pain in the butt. I have a 500 and a 2000 gallon ponds. Any
recommendations for size pumps? Each has to travel more than 10 feet of
hose, but very little elevation to their falls.

Ruth Kazez

"rtk" wrote in message
...
Reel McKoi wrote:
My 1200 gph pump is flipping the breaker. AAARRGGGHHHH! It's a
thermally
protected Beckett. How is water getting to the "juice?" I don't
suppose
they can be fixed - anyone?

I had to scramble to hook up a 500 gph just to keep the water moving.
:-(
=======================
I'm having the exact same problem. Now I have to buy smaller pumps.

$ I plan to replace mine with one the same size. It runs the filter and the
settling tank/VF. This pump is only about 5 years old and runs about 7
months a year. What a bummer!

Big pain in the butt. I have a 500 and a 2000 gallon ponds. Any
recommendations for size pumps? Each has to travel more than 10 feet of
hose, but very little elevation to their falls.

Ruth Kazez
--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

"Reel McKoi" wrote in message
...
My 1200 gph pump is flipping the breaker. AAARRGGGHHHH! It's a thermally
protected Beckett. How is water getting to the "juice?" I don't suppose
they can be fixed - anyone?

Probably past a worn seal - how old is it? Do you dry store your pump for
the winter? - I always leave my pump in the pond over winter so the seals
don't dry out and pull it in the spring to clean it up for the summer when I
start it. I also ruined my first pump in a year by using the cord to "help"
get it out of the pond even though I was warned about not pulling on the
cord in any way - Beckett's are good pumps and no, I have never heard of
anyone fixing a pump with a problem like yours. Maybe your GFIC breaker is
getting weak, but still good enough to power a smaller 500 gph pump?
Gale :~)

"Gale Pearce" wrote in message
...

"Reel McKoi" wrote in message
...
My 1200 gph pump is flipping the breaker. AAARRGGGHHHH! It's a
thermally
protected Beckett. How is water getting to the "juice?" I don't
suppose
they can be fixed - anyone?

Probably past a worn seal - how old is it?

# It's about 5 years old.

Do you dry store your pump for
the winter? -

# Yes. I bring them in, clean them and store them in the sunroom.

I always leave my pump in the pond over winter so the seals
don't dry out and pull it in the spring to clean it up for the summer when
I
start it. I also ruined my first pump in a year by using the cord to
"help"
get it out of the pond even though I was warned about not pulling on the
cord in any way -

# My husband thinks the seal is worn and that's how the water is meeting
the electricity. I haven't pulled on the cord to lift it. I lift it from
the pond by the outflow hose.

Beckett's are good pumps and no, I have never heard of
anyone fixing a pump with a problem like yours.

# That's what I figured. :*(

Maybe your GFIC breaker is
getting weak, but still good enough to power a smaller 500 gph pump?
Gale :~)

# All the other pumps (4 smaller ones) are running fine. I don't think it's
the breaker. Oh well, it's off to Home Depot tomorrow in hopes they still
carry them.
--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

On Fri, 25 Mar 2005 17:16:20 -0600, "Reel McKoi" wrote:

My 1200 gph pump is flipping the breaker. AAARRGGGHHHH! It's a thermally
protected Beckett. How is water getting to the "juice?" I don't suppose
they can be fixed - anyone?

I had to scramble to hook up a 500 gph just to keep the water moving. :-(

I've had this happen with two Beckett's. In each case, it wasn't an
overload, but current leakage that tripped the GFCI. If you
disassemble it, you can see the problem - the o-ring that seals the
motor to the housing. I'd suggest giving it a week or more to dry
out, then coating the o-ring with either silicon grease (available
from a pool store) or rtv cement. Since it's going into a pond, give
the rtv plenty of time to cure and the byproducts to dissipate.

PlainBill

"PlainBill" wrote in message
news
On Fri, 25 Mar 2005 17:16:20 -0600, "Reel McKoi" wrote:

My 1200 gph pump is flipping the breaker. AAARRGGGHHHH! It's a
thermally
protected Beckett. How is water getting to the "juice?" I don't suppose
they can be fixed - anyone?

I had to scramble to hook up a 500 gph just to keep the water moving.
:-(

I've had this happen with two Beckett's. In each case, it wasn't an
overload, but current leakage that tripped the GFCI. If you
disassemble it, you can see the problem - the o-ring that seals the
motor to the housing.

## YEP!!! When we opened the pump about 1/4 cup of water ran out. We
allowed it to dry out all day and sealed it with GREASE. Hubby tightened
them nicely this time. Also, the screws were not real tight when I
unscrewed them - probably causing a poor seal. :-( Home Depot no longer
carries these pumps nor does Foster&Smith. We don't know if the is grease
will work so ordered another pump just in case, a Pondmaster Mag Drive @
1800 gph. Price w/shipping & handling came to $140.98.

I'd suggest giving it a week or more to dry
out,

## He wouldn't wait. We left it in the hot sun to dry and it was dry by the
time we got back from town. I would have waited a few days.

then coating the o-ring with either silicon grease (available
from a pool store) or rtv cement.

## No pool stores here. No one had heard of rtv cement at Lowe's or Home
Depot. All we could find was silicon "oil" so my husband used Dielectric
grease.

Since it's going into a pond, give
the rtv plenty of time to cure and the byproducts to dissipate.

## What is the full name of rtv cement? What is it usually used for?

--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

Silicone grease is available at Home Depot, in the plumping
section. I've used it on O-ring when replacing the O-ring in
faucet and bath water valves.

I've never heard of rtv cement. I've used rtv silicone to
make gaskets. They're in auto stores.

Use silicone grease to seal O-ring on turning shaft. Use rtv
silicone to seal stationary parts.

"Sean Dinh" wrote in message
...
Silicone grease is available at Home Depot, in the plumping
section. I've used it on O-ring when replacing the O-ring in
faucet and bath water valves.

I've never heard of rtv cement. I've used rtv silicone to
make gaskets. They're in auto stores.

Use silicone grease to seal O-ring on turning shaft. Use rtv
silicone to seal stationary parts.
=========================
Thanks Sean. I'll let you guys know if the grease my husband used worked or
not. I'm going to plug it in as soon as I finish my morning coffee here.
If it didn't work - then this week we'll check out the Auto Zone in
town.....
--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

On Sat, 26 Mar 2005 16:21:54 -0600, "Reel McKoi" wrote:


"PlainBill" wrote in message
news
On Fri, 25 Mar 2005 17:16:20 -0600, "Reel McKoi" wrote:

My 1200 gph pump is flipping the breaker. AAARRGGGHHHH! It's a
thermally
protected Beckett. How is water getting to the "juice?" I don't suppose
they can be fixed - anyone?

I had to scramble to hook up a 500 gph just to keep the water moving.
:-(

I've had this happen with two Beckett's. In each case, it wasn't an
overload, but current leakage that tripped the GFCI. If you
disassemble it, you can see the problem - the o-ring that seals the
motor to the housing.

## YEP!!! When we opened the pump about 1/4 cup of water ran out. We
allowed it to dry out all day and sealed it with GREASE. Hubby tightened
them nicely this time. Also, the screws were not real tight when I
unscrewed them - probably causing a poor seal. :-( Home Depot no longer
carries these pumps nor does Foster&Smith. We don't know if the is grease
will work so ordered another pump just in case, a Pondmaster Mag Drive @
1800 gph. Price w/shipping & handling came to $140.98.

I'd suggest giving it a week or more to dry
out,

## He wouldn't wait. We left it in the hot sun to dry and it was dry by the
time we got back from town. I would have waited a few days.

then coating the o-ring with either silicon grease (available
from a pool store) or rtv cement.

## No pool stores here. No one had heard of rtv cement at Lowe's or Home
Depot. All we could find was silicon "oil" so my husband used Dielectric
grease.

Since it's going into a pond, give
the rtv plenty of time to cure and the byproducts to dissipate.

## What is the full name of rtv cement? What is it usually used for?

I believe it's a Dow Corning trademark. GE also has a clear 'Tub and
Tile' caulk that is essentially the same thing. Essentially the stuff
reacts with moisture in the air to start the curing process. I'd give
it 24 hours to cure, just to let the volatiles dissipate. The
silicone grease your husband used is about the same thing, except it
never cures.

PlainBill