Noisy AquaClear 500

"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 ~~~~ }((((({*

"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.

"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. :-)

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 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.

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.

"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 ~~~~ }((((({*

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.