Help!! (hey, coming from markthefixer?????? here's one for the books!!)
I repaired a submersible Simer 120v 1/6 h.p. utility / sump pump yesterday in anticipation of today's floods. The pump caught me by surprise and dumped it's entire fill of oil on the bench (no manual, too old?) and mopping the flood of oil up contaminated it badly, that which wasn't absorbed by the towel.
The submersible pump appears to be filled to the brim with oil for lubrication and cooling, as the water to be ejected flows up around the wall (aluminum no less) of the motor chamber under pressure, thus absorbing heat from the motor.
All I have to do is refill the thing with oil, close up the o-ringed fill hole (why didn't I drain it? good question... in retrospect) and start pumping away.
After a day of dedicated searching, I have NOT come up with a good answer as to what to use. It was too late on Friday night to call Simer to find out.
If it's too viscous at low temperatures, pumping 32 degree water will either stall or drag the motor badly.
It must be compatible with the varnish insulation on the motor coils ( I WAS considering using brake fluid - until I remembered how brake fluid will take off paint!!) as well as the rubber seals.
I thought of compressor and pressure washer pump oil, but rejected it because there was no indication of electrical compatibility of the additives they bragged about.
I also thought of Mineral oil, but that appears to be too thick compared to the saved and contaminated sample.
SO, has anyone successfully repaired an oil immersed sump pump motor and refilled it with NEW oil? It would have been SO much simpler if that darn fill plug hadn't been set up with a straight screwdriver blade anti-tamper "slot" that was REALLY frozen....
Any thoughts? I would like to pump out my backyard tomorrow...
By Monday, there's plenty of places that will be open for me to call, but by then, I'll probably have an ice-rink...
I repaired a submersible Simer 120v 1/6 h.p. utility / sump pump yesterday in anticipation of today's floods. The pump caught me by surprise and dumped it's entire fill of oil on the bench (no manual, too old?) and mopping the flood of oil up contaminated it badly, that which wasn't absorbed by the towel.
The submersible pump appears to be filled to the brim with oil for lubrication and cooling, as the water to be ejected flows up around the wall (aluminum no less) of the motor chamber under pressure, thus absorbing heat from the motor.
All I have to do is refill the thing with oil, close up the o-ringed fill hole (why didn't I drain it? good question... in retrospect) and start pumping away.
After a day of dedicated searching, I have NOT come up with a good answer as to what to use. It was too late on Friday night to call Simer to find out.
If it's too viscous at low temperatures, pumping 32 degree water will either stall or drag the motor badly.
It must be compatible with the varnish insulation on the motor coils ( I WAS considering using brake fluid - until I remembered how brake fluid will take off paint!!) as well as the rubber seals.
I thought of compressor and pressure washer pump oil, but rejected it because there was no indication of electrical compatibility of the additives they bragged about.
I also thought of Mineral oil, but that appears to be too thick compared to the saved and contaminated sample.
SO, has anyone successfully repaired an oil immersed sump pump motor and refilled it with NEW oil? It would have been SO much simpler if that darn fill plug hadn't been set up with a straight screwdriver blade anti-tamper "slot" that was REALLY frozen....
Any thoughts? I would like to pump out my backyard tomorrow...
By Monday, there's plenty of places that will be open for me to call, but by then, I'll probably have an ice-rink...