Pondmaster 3600 -- shaft/impeller broken after just one month!

I can't believe it, but after looking at the shaft material, I'm not
surprised. It appears to be a flimsy piece of plastic, so I suspect that the
torque of the motor, combined with any sort of load, results in breakage.

I'm hoping the place that sold it to me will replace it today without too
much hassle.

Anyone else having problems with this pump?

MSK

"Remydog" wrote in message
news:xVGtc.4293$js4.3558@attbi_s51...
I can't believe it, but after looking at the shaft material, I'm not
surprised. It appears to be a flimsy piece of plastic, so I suspect that the
torque of the motor, combined with any sort of load, results in breakage.

I'm hoping the place that sold it to me will replace it today without too
much hassle.

Anyone else having problems with this pump?

MSK


Take it back and buy a real pump.

I have a 2400 and I have had to replace the impeller once. I think
Pondmaster has a design flaw, and they make up for it by selling the
impellers fairly cheaply, like about $10. I still think that they are a
super pump for a submersible pump.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html
"Remydog" wrote in message
news:xVGtc.4293$js4.3558@attbi_s51...
I can't believe it, but after looking at the shaft material, I'm not
surprised. It appears to be a flimsy piece of plastic, so I suspect that
the
torque of the motor, combined with any sort of load, results in breakage.

I'm hoping the place that sold it to me will replace it today without too
much hassle.

Anyone else having problems with this pump?

MSK

Well, the retailer gave me a replacement pump no questions asked. However,
when I plugged this one in, it's making one heck of a rattling noise
suggesting that the impeller is not in perfect alignment. Called them and
they said to bring this one back. Royal pain to have to go through this and
I'm sure it's no picnic for the store.

MSK

"Michael Shaffer" wrote in message
news:ZoItc.296$W01.144@okepread01...
I have the 3600 also and the impeller shaft has broken twice (because
the impeller housing broke and caused a misalignment). Both times I got
a free replacement from pondliner.com

Remydog wrote:
I can't believe it, but after looking at the shaft material, I'm not
surprised. It appears to be a flimsy piece of plastic, so I suspect that
the
torque of the motor, combined with any sort of load, results in
breakage.

I'm hoping the place that sold it to me will replace it today without
too
much hassle.

Anyone else having problems with this pump?

MSK

Such as? This pump comes highly recommended in several web sites that I've
visited.

MSK
"George" wrote in message
.. .

"Remydog" wrote in message
news:xVGtc.4293$js4.3558@attbi_s51...
I can't believe it, but after looking at the shaft material, I'm not
surprised. It appears to be a flimsy piece of plastic, so I suspect that
the
torque of the motor, combined with any sort of load, results in
breakage.

I'm hoping the place that sold it to me will replace it today without
too
much hassle.

Anyone else having problems with this pump?

MSK


Take it back and buy a real pump.

I have the 3600 also and the impeller shaft has broken twice (because
the impeller housing broke and caused a misalignment). Both times I got
a free replacement from pondliner.com

Remydog wrote:
I can't believe it, but after looking at the shaft material, I'm not
surprised. It appears to be a flimsy piece of plastic, so I suspect that the
torque of the motor, combined with any sort of load, results in breakage.

I'm hoping the place that sold it to me will replace it today without too
much hassle.

Anyone else having problems with this pump?

MSK

"Remydog" wrote in message
news:nuRtc.6180$IB.5259@attbi_s04...
Such as? This pump comes highly recommended in several web sites that I've
visited.

MSK

I use an Flotec brand portable submersible that is rated at 1/6 hp and 1400 gph
(depending on head). It has an all metal impeller and shaft, duel ball bearing
design, and is oil-free. I am a geologist who specializes in environmental
remediation of sites with contaminated ground water. As such, I have to use
pumps that are both reliable and durable. That experience, as well as the many
years of experience I have raising fish has come in handy in the design of my
pond. See this link for more information on the pump I use. It has been very
reliable, and can practically pump pure sand without damaging the pump - in
fact, before I started using it for the pond, I used it to pump water out from
under my carport where I was installing a new concrete pad - water that was
sand-laden:

http://www.flotecpump.com/


Of course, it is a submersible, and not an out of water design. Your needs will
vary. The most important features to remember when chosing a pump is its
reliability, its construction, and the discharge per feet of head. Personally,
I would spend the few extra bucks and go with the industrial grade units simply
because they need less maintenance, have a more durable construction, and
generally a higher output. Avoid pumps with plastic moving parts if you want
them to last in your pond more than a year.

"George" wrote in message
.. .

"Remydog" wrote in message
news:xVGtc.4293$js4.3558@attbi_s51...
I can't believe it, but after looking at the shaft material, I'm not
surprised. It appears to be a flimsy piece of plastic, so I suspect that
the
torque of the motor, combined with any sort of load, results in
breakage.

I'm hoping the place that sold it to me will replace it today without
too
much hassle.

Anyone else having problems with this pump?

MSK


Take it back and buy a real pump.

"Remydog" wrote in message
news:wtRtc.6174$IB.1077@attbi_s04...
Well, the retailer gave me a replacement pump no questions asked. However,
when I plugged this one in, it's making one heck of a rattling noise
suggesting that the impeller is not in perfect alignment. Called them and
they said to bring this one back. Royal pain to have to go through this and
I'm sure it's no picnic for the store.

MSK

Honestly, I think that pondmaster pumps are over-rated. If you continue to have
problems, you might consider asking for a refund, and look for a Flotec pump, or
similar brand.

http://www.flotecpump.com/

"Michael Shaffer" wrote in message
news:ZoItc.296$W01.144@okepread01...
I have the 3600 also and the impeller shaft has broken twice (because
the impeller housing broke and caused a misalignment). Both times I got
a free replacement from pondliner.com

Remydog wrote:
I can't believe it, but after looking at the shaft material, I'm not
surprised. It appears to be a flimsy piece of plastic, so I suspect that
the
torque of the motor, combined with any sort of load, results in
breakage.

I'm hoping the place that sold it to me will replace it today without
too
much hassle.

Anyone else having problems with this pump?

MSK

George,

Thanks for the advice. What do you know about their higher volume pumps? The
pump I have is rated at 3600 gallons, and I need something like that to
power all that I have running.

MSK

"George" wrote in message
. ..

"Remydog" wrote in message
news:nuRtc.6180$IB.5259@attbi_s04...
Such as? This pump comes highly recommended in several web sites that
I've
visited.

MSK

I use an Flotec brand portable submersible that is rated at 1/6 hp and
1400 gph
(depending on head). It has an all metal impeller and shaft, duel ball
bearing
design, and is oil-free. I am a geologist who specializes in
environmental
remediation of sites with contaminated ground water. As such, I have to
use
pumps that are both reliable and durable. That experience, as well as the
many
years of experience I have raising fish has come in handy in the design of
my
pond. See this link for more information on the pump I use. It has been
very
reliable, and can practically pump pure sand without damaging the pump -
in
fact, before I started using it for the pond, I used it to pump water out
from
under my carport where I was installing a new concrete pad - water that
was
sand-laden:

http://www.flotecpump.com/


Of course, it is a submersible, and not an out of water design. Your
needs will
vary. The most important features to remember when chosing a pump is its
reliability, its construction, and the discharge per feet of head.
Personally,
I would spend the few extra bucks and go with the industrial grade units
simply
because they need less maintenance, have a more durable construction, and
generally a higher output. Avoid pumps with plastic moving parts if you
want
them to last in your pond more than a year.

"George" wrote in message
.. .

"Remydog" wrote in message
news:xVGtc.4293$js4.3558@attbi_s51...
I can't believe it, but after looking at the shaft material, I'm not
surprised. It appears to be a flimsy piece of plastic, so I suspect
that
the
torque of the motor, combined with any sort of load, results in
breakage.

I'm hoping the place that sold it to me will replace it today without
too
much hassle.

Anyone else having problems with this pump?

MSK


Take it back and buy a real pump.

"Remydog" wrote in message
news:BMZtc.8427$IB.6786@attbi_s04...
George,

Thanks for the advice. What do you know about their higher volume pumps? The
pump I have is rated at 3600 gallons, and I need something like that to
power all that I have running.

MSK

They have a stainless steel waterfall/utility pump that is rated at 4100 gph.
It is an excellent pump. It has a 2 year waranty, which is quite good for a
submersible pump. Most pumps only have a one year waranty. The model number is
Model FP0S4100X - 1/2 HP. It is rated for continuous duty. It will run your
waterfall, and with a tee adapter and a regulator valve, will also run your
filtration as well. I would think that it would be more than adequate for most
purposes. I don't know about the price.

Here is a pdf file with more information on the pump, and on others that they
sell:

http://www.flotecpump.com/pdf/FP514-EN.PDF

"George" wrote in message
. ..

"Remydog" wrote in message
news:nuRtc.6180$IB.5259@attbi_s04...
Such as? This pump comes highly recommended in several web sites that
I've
visited.

MSK

I use an Flotec brand portable submersible that is rated at 1/6 hp and
1400 gph
(depending on head). It has an all metal impeller and shaft, duel ball
bearing
design, and is oil-free. I am a geologist who specializes in
environmental
remediation of sites with contaminated ground water. As such, I have to
use
pumps that are both reliable and durable. That experience, as well as the
many
years of experience I have raising fish has come in handy in the design of
my
pond. See this link for more information on the pump I use. It has been
very
reliable, and can practically pump pure sand without damaging the pump -
in
fact, before I started using it for the pond, I used it to pump water out
from
under my carport where I was installing a new concrete pad - water that
was
sand-laden:

http://www.flotecpump.com/


Of course, it is a submersible, and not an out of water design. Your
needs will
vary. The most important features to remember when chosing a pump is its
reliability, its construction, and the discharge per feet of head.
Personally,
I would spend the few extra bucks and go with the industrial grade units
simply
because they need less maintenance, have a more durable construction, and
generally a higher output. Avoid pumps with plastic moving parts if you
want
them to last in your pond more than a year.

"George" wrote in message
.. .

"Remydog" wrote in message
news:xVGtc.4293$js4.3558@attbi_s51...
I can't believe it, but after looking at the shaft material, I'm not
surprised. It appears to be a flimsy piece of plastic, so I suspect
that
the
torque of the motor, combined with any sort of load, results in
breakage.

I'm hoping the place that sold it to me will replace it today without
too
much hassle.

Anyone else having problems with this pump?

MSK


Take it back and buy a real pump.