pump problems

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I've got an AR pump that eats one packing within hours. It lasted two years and immediately after its first packing replacement, it started a habit of eating a packing. The plungers are as smooth as new ones and dont appear to be cracked. Could it be that the brass is wore out and needs replaced? It is an RK21.20.
 
More than likely you have a cracked piston on that one position. If you remove the ceramic you will see if it is cracked, you can also loosen the nut that has the retainer on it for the ceramic and see if you can feel the crack better. Are you using the right parts for the rebuild??
 
I'm using the right parts, I cant find any cracks, I've found them easy on a General but they have white plungers. Thanks for the advice!
 
Did you rebuild it? Is the head worn where the seal sits?
Dumb question...are the seals in correctly with the lips pointing into the manifold?
 
I've got an AR pump that eats one packing within hours. It lasted two years and immediately after its first packing replacement, it started a habit of eating a packing. The plungers are as smooth as new ones and dont appear to be cracked. Could it be that the brass is wore out and needs replaced? It is an RK21.20.

Joe, that you?
 
I rebuilt it. I dont know how the head could be wore. Does anything moving actually come in contact with the head? Ive been told it could be a cracked plunger from our hotsy dealer, and the hydroteck dealer said it could be the brass is wore. Your the first to suggest the head. the packings are wearing on the inside where they rub the piston.

I had a newer pump and wasnt going to rebuild this problem pump but watercannon sent parts for it instead of the pump I ordered parts for. So I hooked it up in a rush this morning for a job today. It did fine today but I'm anticipating it to chew up a packing by tomorrows end.
 
Pump eats seals SUPER-fast

I think I can lend a hand here..
soon, you will be able to get a copy of my "pump Inspection guide" stay tuned.

for now, .. check for..
kinked feed-line,
an air-leak on the inlet-side of the pump.. (pressurize the feed-line with a garden hose.)


bad check valve,
bad o-rings under the check valves,
cracked head, under a check valves,

in-and-out "Rod play".. check for rod-slop on the crankshaft, with a push-pull test on the pistons.
up & down Rod-play.. this causes piston to leave one or two wear-marks on the seal-retainers..
look for polish-marks on the retainers.. they will be on top n bottom of the retainers, as they are in the head.
don't take the seals out of the head, until you look for polished spots.. they're easier to see.
If you're getting wear on the inside-edge of the seals, and they don't look like "rat-bites" up & down play
.. from worn piston guides can be the culprit.

Also, a cracked seal retainer can eat seals, but by the time you replace seals the 2nd time, it would have fallen in half in your hand.

come to one of my "System troubleshooting and BulletProofing" classes this year.
ALL of you !
You'll be glad you did.
:{)

 
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