March Pump Problems: Very Bad Brew Day

[Douglefish]

I finally had some time to brew and am in the middle of the first of 2 batches. I am using a HERMS and only have roughly 5 batches on the pump. I just finished my recirculation and stopped the pump. Switched my hoses and the pump would not turn back on. It just buzzes a little when I turn it on?

I know the question, did you run it dry? The only time it ever ran dry was for very short periods of times (a couple of seconds) after I ran out of fluid at the end of the mash for example. This was very limited?

Would this be enough to ruin my pump? I'm very frustrated and a little in shock.

Has anyone else ran into issues with these?

 

[brrman]

Didn't trip a breaker did you? I don't think running the pump dry will prevent it from even starting.

 

[Douglefish]

I just checked, and the breaker is definitely not tripped, but that was a good suggestion.

I took the pump off the rig and it doesn't smell hot? I would think that I could smell the motor if it burned up right? I am not a motor person, but isn't there a part that enables the pump to turn over at first?

Thanks

 

[Lonnie Mac]

I just checked, and the breaker is definitely not tripped, but that was a good suggestion.

I took the pump off the rig and it doesn't smell hot? I would think that I could smell the motor if it burned up right? I am not a motor person, but isn't there a part that enables the pump to turn over at first?

Thanks

Did you pull the head apart? I would do that first just to make sure it does not have some grain or something stopping the impeller. Put it back to together and try it... I have had this happen before once.

 

[mrbowenz]

Did you pull the head apart? I would do that first just to make sure it does not have some grain or something stopping the impeller. Put it back to together and try it... I have had this happen before once.

I'll bet that's what's going on, I had the same thing happen , couple of bits of grain stopped it cold. Good advice .

 

[samc]

+1 on head removal.... 4 screws only and not much you could screw up.

UNPLUG it first!

 

[beerthirty]

From your description it really sounds like an airlock problem which march pumps are known for. Any time my pump rattles like you described it is an airlock.
As for will the pump turn over at first? If it has sat and wort has dried in the mag housing no the motor wont turn over. The motor will not over come a stuck impeller on startup. The motor will continue to spin if the impeller comes to a stop during use.
I agree with Lonnie that something is blocking the impeller. Shut your valves and disassemble the pump. You will likely find grain in the housing from recirc.

 

[Douglefish]

Thanks for all the help. I took the head apart like you all mentioned and there wasn't anything stuck in it. However, I did notice that the air propeller on the back end of the pump appeared to be trying to spin but it couldn't. I used a screw driver and spun that thing around a bunch plugged it in and then it started. I think that maybe a drop of wort must have gotten in the back and gunked things up. Is there anyway to lube up the pump again?

Lesson Learned: Always cover your pump, ALWAYS!!!!

I just hope that I can get it working smoothly again.

 

[Lonnie Mac]

Thanks for all the help. I took the head apart like you all mentioned and there wasn't anything stuck in it. However, I did notice that the air propeller on the back end of the pump appeared to be trying to spin but it couldn't. I used a screw driver and spun that thing around a bunch plugged it in and then it started. I think that maybe a drop of wort must have gotten in the back and gunked things up. Is there anyway to lube up the pump again?

Lesson Learned: Always cover your pump, ALWAYS!!!!

I just hope that I can get it working smoothly again.

Ah yes, the ole wort on the pump trick!

Yes indeed, your pump should be maintained with 4 or 5 drops of SAE 20 weight non-detergent oil. You can see the oil ports at each bearing front and back on the top of the motor. This is another reason that these things should be mounted up-right, although as yall know, I don't practice that myself...

I do this per the manual usually twice a year...

http://morebeer.com/public/pdf/h315.pdf

 

[beerthirty]

The pump impeller is lubed by the liquid it pumps. The fan has shaft bushings on the armature which should be lubed with light machine oil periodically. Give the bushing behind the fan a shot of WD-40 and start and stop the pump a few times to work the lube into the bushing. A piece of rain gutter makes a great pump shield.

EDIT:
I'm so slow. Thank Lonnie