The Most Dangerous Problems Are The Ones You Are Unaware Of

The most dangerous problems are the ones you are unaware of. This can often be the case with vacuum pump wear parts. Vacuum pumps are the heart of the liquid waste transport vehicle. Often they seem to work tirelessly with little or no maintenance. However,, an ounce of prevention may reveal a significant problem just before it costs a pound of cure!
The rotary vane vacuum pump is a workhorse machine that is fairly simple and very dependable. However the internal moving parts are all subject to wear. You probably will not notice decreased performance until it is too late to avoid costly repairs. Once a year, it is a good idea to take an extra close look at these components on your pump. Every pump manufacturer varies in their approach to pump wear parts. Some pumps have small ports allowing you to easily measure vane wear. Others require removal of the housing cover which also allows you to examine for rotor contact and check the gaskets and bearings. Provided that nothing is wrong, removal of the housing cover and re-assembly is a relatively uncomplicated procedure with a good owner’s manual for reference.
The parts most likely to need replacement are the rotary vanes. The vanes are designed to slide in and out with each rotation of the pump. As the vanes wear down they are more susceptible to breaking. A broken vane can jam between the rotor and pump housing, causing pump failure and possibly a cracked housing. Remove the old vanes when they begin to delaminate or show significant wear. A generous application of lubricating oil will help the new vanes slide easily. This maintenance procedure will save you a lot of costly down time in the event of a broken vane and subsequent cracked housing!
Other parts that may require attention are the seals, gaskets and o-rings. Parts can be purchased as a kit from tank manufacturers, such as Pik Rite, Inc. or individually from the pump manufacturer. Pump rebuild kits are good items to keep in stock in your facility. Having the full set of needed parts will minimize the amount of time and frustration involved in a quick pump rebuild. Even seemingly insignificant things like a stiff or broken pump valve handle can be easily replaced in your shop. Any extra care that you give your pump in house will save costly repair bills incurred by a lack of maintenance.
Remember, your pump may not complain about worn parts until they break! You won’t know the problem exists until you go looking for it. Keeping a good supply of pump replacement parts will save you time and frustration when you perform regular maintenance checks. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Story by Clint Morris -Pik Rite, Inc.

Clint has 13 years of experience with customer service at Pik Rite, Inc. His knowledge and expertise in the liquid waste industry is highly valued. Pik Rite manufacturers and services commercial vacuum tanks, hoist units, roll-offs, slide-ins, portable toilet service units and tank trailers ranging in size from 300 to 6,500 gallons. Our 15 year steel tank warranty sets us apart from the competition. Tanks are available in steel, stainless steel and aluminum.

Call 800-339-3840 and mention promo code ALW for a 10% discount on pump rebuild kits during the month of March.

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