3 y/o Pentair Whisperflo Pump Corrosion??

[LizT]

Hi - I’m trying to determine if this can be repaired or if I should replace?

Original problem: humming when pump comes on.

Checked capacitor, it’s fine.
Diffuser not clogged.
Impeller seems to be stopping and not rotating completely?

Removed motor from seal plate and there seems to be a lot of corrosion on the bottom? See photo.

The thought is that it’s unlevel not allowing the impeller to rotate properly?

Any thoughts on on how to repair, or possibly level?

Or is it be to replace?

 

[JamesW]

This grommet pulled out of the seal plate.

 

[JamesW]

The grommets are what the motor bolts screw into to hold the motor to the seal plate.

Sometimes the grommets come loose, which makes the motor pull back and the impeller will rub on the seal plate.

If the motor is ok, you can replace the seal plate.

Pentair Intelliflo - replace motor or keep?

I started having a buzzing or vibration type noise over the weekend. Not high pitched. I disassembled the motor tonight expecting to find debris in the impeller but nothing. Then, when getting to the last step with the four bolts on the almond seal plate, after loosening the two upper bolts...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[oldprophet]

Hi - I’m trying to determine if this can be repaired or if I should replace?

Original problem: humming when pump comes on.

Checked capacitor, it’s fine.
Diffuser not clogged.
Impeller seems to be stopping and not rotating completely?

Removed motor from seal plate and there seems to be a lot of corrosion on the bottom? See photo.

The thought is that it’s unlevel not allowing the impeller to rotate properly?

Any thoughts on on how to repair, or possibly level?

Or is it be to replace?

Based on your photo one of the insets in the pump seal plate is broken, as corrosion due to a leak has occurred. That probably caused the plate to be crooked and caused the impeller to drag and stop. A new seal plate, seal, and O ring would be in order. And a new impeller and new bolts

 

[JamesW]

Most likely, you will need a seal plate, impeller, seal etc.

I would just get a new IntelliFlo variable speed pump and save money on electricity.

 

[JamesW]

Can you show the front sticker with the barcode?

 

[LizT]

Can you show the front sticker with the barcode?

View attachment 545379

Sure - see attached.

 

[LizT]

This grommet pulled out of the seal plate.


View attachment 545375

It is really stuck in there. I can’t get it out. Any suggestions?

 

[LizT]

Most likely, you will need a seal plate, impeller, seal etc.

I would just get a new IntelliFlo variable speed pump and save money on electricity.

This grommet pulled out of the seal plate.


View attachment 545375

The grommets are what the motor bolts screw into to hold the motor to the seal plate.

Sometimes the grommets come loose, which makes the motor pull back and the impeller will rub on the seal plate.

If the motor is ok, you can replace the seal plate.



View attachment 545377

Pentair Intelliflo - replace motor or keep?

I started having a buzzing or vibration type noise over the weekend. Not high pitched. I disassembled the motor tonight expecting to find debris in the impeller but nothing. Then, when getting to the last step with the four bolts on the almond seal plate, after loosening the two upper bolts...

www.troublefreepool.com

Thanks for sharing this thred. Here’s a couple of photos of the seal plate. I’m not sure where the leak was from never saw anything leaking, but that would probably be my guess. I’m not sure about the grounding wires mentioned in the other thred. This was the original motor installed by the pool company when built, so I’m assuming it would have been grounded correctly. Probably will just replace with VS pump. As I’m sure it will continue to have problems. Thank you for your quick responses and advice!

 

[LizT]

Most likely, you will need a seal plate, impeller, seal etc.

I would just get a new IntelliFlo variable speed pump and save money on electricity.

This grommet pulled out of the seal plate.


View attachment 545375

The grommets are what the motor bolts screw into to hold the motor to the seal plate.

Sometimes the grommets come loose, which makes the motor pull back and the impeller will rub on the seal plate.

If the motor is ok, you can replace the seal plate.



View attachment 545377

Pentair Intelliflo - replace motor or keep?

I started having a buzzing or vibration type noise over the weekend. Not high pitched. I disassembled the motor tonight expecting to find debris in the impeller but nothing. Then, when getting to the last step with the four bolts on the almond seal plate, after loosening the two upper bolts...

www.troublefreepool.com

Thanks for sharing this thred. Here’s a couple of photos of the seal plate. I’m not sure where the leak was from never saw anything leaking, but that would probably be my guess. I’m not sure about the grounding wires mentioned in the other thred. This was the original motor installed by the pool company when built, so I’m assuming it would have been grounded correctly. Probably will just replace with VS pump. As I’m sure it will continue to have problems. Thank you for your quick responses and advice.

 

[JamesW]

You can see where it was leaking.

The bottom two brass grommets are gone.

I would just get an IntelliFlo Pump.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Liz,

Here is a good place to compare different pumps...

Pentair

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[LizT]

You can see where it was leaking.

The bottom two brass grommets are gone.

I would just get an IntelliFlo Pump.


View attachment 545410

Thank you!

 

[generessler]

This looks and sounds exactly like my own Whisperflow failure a couple of years ago. The lock-up and humming problem happens because the erosion and/or breakage at the mount points results in the motor shaft so far out of alignment that the impeller drags in the housing.

I replaced my seal plate and seal, but the impeller was still locked due to erosion of the motor mounting lugs. I was able to get it running fine by stacking washers and shim material under the bad lugs until the impeller was running true again. This was temporary repair to allow time to get a new VS pump. (Early COVID-time, so turnaround was weeks.)

Just passing this along because you might want to try the same hack while waiting for a new pump. I think the seal plate was about $40 with a seal pre-installed. Amazingly a 2-day turnaround on delivery though I had to try several sources.