Overwinter Chugger died. Slight "tick."

[user 246304]

No choice but to overwinter the brewing frame outside, with a tarp covering. Brewed with my son Sunday, and lo and behold, 1 of the Chugger SS inlines was dead, or nearly so. I know nothing mechanical. The pump "tried" to go, with a slight tick and motion of the [fan? is that a fan, at back?]. But moved just a tick, then seized up. Something like a dead battery, except it's just one tick. Is this an obvious fix, or time for another pump?

I'll tell you, with a frame of 2 x 2 mild, mounting these pumps was really difficult for me, but I have hands about as steady as a meth head just about to score. There has to be a better way (maybe build from scratch this time from 1 x 1, this time minding even tacking and distributed welds so the frame doesn't rock, lol).

Thanks.

 

[IslandLizard]

Do it yourself or have someone with more dexterity do it:
You got to remove the stainless head (4 screws) and check inside. Then see if the motor runs without the head. Don't lose the little nylon thrust washer or any of the other parts on the shaft.

During Winter storage outside could leftover water or wort have frozen inside the head? That can cause serious damage to the pump parts, not so much the motor though.

And yeah, you may need to remove it from the stand for easier access and work.

 

[augiedoggy]

Do it yourself or have someone with more dexterity do it:
You got to remove the stainless head (4 screws) and check inside. Then see if the motor runs without the head. Don't lose the little nylon thrust washer or any of the other parts on the shaft.

During Winter storage outside could leftover water or wort have frozen inside the head? That can cause serious damage to the pump parts, not so much the motor though.

And yeah, you may need to remove it from the stand for easier access and work.

I second the very likely event that there was still water in the pump head which if it froze, very likely cracked or misformed the area that the magnet head sit in.

 

[str1p3s]

Mine does that every once in a while. I turn the pump off and stick something into the propeller and manually spin it a few times and then try it again. It seems to knock loose whatever is making it seize. The first time it happened, I definitely thought my pump was dead but that was a year or so ago.

 

[user 246304]

OK thanks, guys. Str1p3s, interesting you say this. I actually tried this but maybe not enough. I'll try to just get the thing to manually spin and see what happens.

If not, I'm afraid the most obvious is what you guys are saying, water and a cracked head. I try to be really careful about this - drain, all valves remain at 45 (including the sample or dump valve at bottom), but it's quite possible whatever I did was not enough. I'll try Str1p3s's plan, can't hurt anything now, and go from there. Wish me luck!

(side note: probably another million threads. Aside from Chuggers, others people like? I automatically presume March but I see a whole bunch of knockoffs "suggested" by Amazon and others. And I myself have a motley crew for running cooling lines, sub. for recirc reservoir, etc.).

 

[Dland]

I had a pump seize up recently, a very old one I had bought used, and probably got drenched with wort & PBW many times by me too, brewing outside & sloppy. Pump head assembly was fine. The motor itself seized with symptom similar to yours.

Spun the motor by the magnetic wheel after putting some spray lube in the little holes in top of motor above the end shaft bearings/bushings. After moving it around it freed up. Now it runs but makes more motor noise.

Next step is to get the little clips off the back motor plate and see if I can do anything for the bushings(I assume), maybe heavier lube. Or I live with the noise or get a new pump, but it works now.

As to new pumps, I'd stick with March or Chugger, the parts seem interchangeable and are available. If you get another brand, you might not be able to find a new impeller or seals if you need it later.

 

[augiedoggy]

OK thanks, guys. Str1p3s, interesting you say this. I actually tried this but maybe not enough. I'll try to just get the thing to manually spin and see what happens.

If not, I'm afraid the most obvious is what you guys are saying, water and a cracked head. I try to be really careful about this - drain, all valves remain at 45 (including the sample or dump valve at bottom), but it's quite possible whatever I did was not enough. I'll try Str1p3s's plan, can't hurt anything now, and go from there. Wish me luck!

(side note: probably another million threads. Aside from Chuggers, others people like? I automatically presume March but I see a whole bunch of knockoffs "suggested" by Amazon and others. And I myself have a motley crew for running cooling lines, sub. for recirc reservoir, etc.).

chuggers ARE one of the knockoffs of march pumps... They are actually chinese clone copies of the american made march pumps.. Nothing really wrong with that I guess but its something I myself had no idea of until recently since its never really brought up here.. I bought my clone from a company called rank. the seller is on ebay. I got a 17gpm poly headed march clone for $148 shipped.. it seems identical to the march pump its stolen its design from like the chugger. only 1/3 the price. It very well could be the actual manufacturer for chugger which is just an American distributor brand for the chinese pumps from what I can tell.

 

[augiedoggy]

wow it seems the chuggers have come down in price quite a bit..
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Home-Brew-...328799?hash=item3fb2e5905f:g:FDcAAOSw4A5YrL44

lots of cheaper options now...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Pump-B...823992?hash=item3d7d74fcf8:g:wAoAAOSwgVJcHQ4q
https://www.ebay.com/itm/SS-Inline-...115054?hash=item215234d5ae:g:A-sAAOSwuZVcVMlV

https://www.ebay.com/itm/YaeBrew-St...730761?hash=item4d70e7f209:g:HrEAAOSwwARawcE-

 

[augiedoggy]

I see they also sell replacement heads...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/CHUGGER-PU...448751?hash=item2ac25c332f:g:OhYAAOSw6CRcSAJL


https://www.ebay.com/itm/CHUGGER-PU...929630?hash=item33ef86ee9e:g:xGUAAOSw3yJbS10I

depending on the model you can use this as an oportunity to upgrade to the much nicer riptide style head for your march/chugger pump.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Riptide-Pu...660414?hash=item287e1f1e3e:g:OaoAAOSwqy1c6tzJ