Well pump

upnover

upnover

Grumpy, decrepit Old Man
Moderator
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Morganton NC
Well, mine has taken a dump!
have done all the trouble shooting, it is the pump I am sure. Anyone have a used submersible one for sale? close?

Anyone wanna earn a few bucks to help install one?

It's a baby wipe bath today!

BTW my well is 246 deep, not sure how far off the bottom I am, I'd say 20-40 feet and the one in it is a 3/4 horse
 
I helped 2 different coworkers pull pumps from 265' & 443' respectively. One was actually dead and both had the wires chaffed in two... seems those plastic pieces to center the tube in the bore *ARE* needed :rolleyes:

- Before you start, KILL the power and buy several extra plastic standoffs & a couple wire splice kits (w/ the sealant goo) just to have in case it's needed (you can return them if unused, but a PITA to have to go after them when everything's out)
- Have several folks ready to help, because sometimes (depending on when it was done) the drillers use ABS & it can't take the same radius as some of the newer poly tube
- Getting it started up is the hardest, since you're haulling the weight of the tube (+ some water) & the pump
- Have someone walk the end away from you and another spell you pulling it out...
- If you see a hole (pipe) or wear on the insulation when pulling it up, MARK IT RIGHT THEN! (ducktape, ziptie, etc) Otherwise you'll spend hours hunting it layed out on the ground!
 
RatLabGuy said:
holy crap.
Is this guy stealing water from Hell?
Click to expand...

Not uncommon with drilled wells. Mine is 315' and my neighbor a half mile down the road is 895'. He has a farm and the well guy had to go that far to get the GPM he needed. There is maybe 25' elevation change from my land to his.
 
I had some problems with my well about a year ago. Here are some websites I book marked in case I ever had to trouble shoot it again:

http://www.do-it-yourself-pumps.com/how-to-install-my-well-pump.htm

http://www.terrylove.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?4-Pump-and-Well-Forum

You can find the answer to just about anything on the Terry Love Pump and Well Forum, just got to search for it.


I actually ended up calling a plumber to come out and fix it, it was expensive but they fixed it. The plumber kept saying that they would test the pump to see if it would "ohm out". I didn't understand what he meant, but afterwards I found out that they were testing the windings in the pump for ohm readings within spec. Here's a webpage that shows how for Franklin motors.

http://www.franklin-electric.com/business/WaterSystems/service/AIM/page-48.aspx
 
Caver Dave said:
I helped 2 different coworkers pull pumps from 265' & 443' respectively. One was actually dead and both had the wires chaffed in two... seems those plastic pieces to center the tube in the bore *ARE* needed :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
That wire chafing is no joke. I had to pull my well pump two times to chase down worn through wires. Finally did it right the second time and used the plastic isolators and torque arrestor. I was a bit suprised the well driller didn't do HIS job right the first time.:rolleyes:
 
willness33 said:
That wire chafing is no joke. I had to pull my well pump two times to chase down worn through wires. Finally did it right the second time and used the plastic isolators and torque arrestor. I was a bit suprised the well driller didn't do HIS job right the first time.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Plastic Isolators? What are they for ,pics?
 
Deluxe Cable Guard. 3rd from the top.

http://www.deanbennett.com/misc-well-accessories.htm

awww.deanbennett.com_cable_guard_deluxe.jpg
 
Wish I had known about those the last time I had to pull the pump, maybe it would still be working. I guess 4 times might be the charm.
 
Well(pun intended) it just keeps getting better!

Pulled pump yesterday thanks to three friends from work coming to help me)
My well has PVC pipe, got it out and back in with no breaks. We did how ever managed to break some pipe outside of the well. Got that repaired, union leaked, got a new one of those
tested new used pump, it worked.
All installed, hooked back up. Barely built pressure. Pulled pump again, thought it was the pump, put yet another pump on, thanks to a couple other friends, broke pipe once, fixed, hooked up, still same issue. Have concluded it's the wire. Went to sLowes, they didn't have, and found out they are VERY proud of their wire!

Today, gonna pull again, start ohming the wire to find bad place, repair and try again.

My back and shoulders are about gone! as I type sitting here on heating pad, needing a shower, and hoping this night mare will soon be over.
 
Damn, that sucks. Our pump went out a year or so ago. I didn't try to do it myself. We just payed the man, and it wasn't cheap. The guy had a pretty cool home built looking electric lifting device. My well is 360 feet deep. The guy across the street from me has a 900 foot deep well! Two other guys on the road have 500-600 foot deep wells.

A coworker of mine replaced his own pump. He pulled the pump using a fourwheeler, and he pulled the pipe out over the side of a 55 gallon drum.
 
Mine being PVC pipe, it takes several guys Tall guys keeping a big arch on it to keep from busting it. One person dragin it across the yard.
 
Back in HS I worked at the local ag store and they did well pumps. They had a nifty contraption to pulling up pumps. Basically a 3'x4' angle iron cage thing on wheels. It sat would the well casing. It had 3 12" rubber tires, one was adjustable to set the tension. and another was powered by a simple chain/sprocket off a small elec motor. A simple switch to feed in/out.

Not sure down here, but back home the pump had to hang on a pitman (i think it was called) it was a large T thing that went into the casing 10-12' down to keep it below the frost line for winter time. This flange was gasketed to seal up when the pump was hanging on it. To pull it you had to shove a long handle down and thread into the T and pull that up enough to get started.

Back home it seemed 9/10 pumps were 300'+ then my brother has a ~25' deep dug well lined with clay pipe rings that produces the clearest/best tasting water you can find.
 
Pump has been pulled total of 4 times so far. my original pump, one from a friend of mines dad, was supposed to be good, and one I bought from craigs list. Mine is defiantly burned up, the other two will run a little and kick off. Have done all the checks, have power, thought maybe a break in the supply wires to the pump, bought all new, still same issue. No other conclusion except that it's gonna have to have a new pump.
SOMEONE BUY MY TRUCK! Please?? LOL Sorry folks, living without water for going on 6 days, I am desperate. I have to work tonight, so something has to be done today as in later this morning. Need some volunteers to help me get it back in the well. It takes at least four people.
 
Well, I did, but had toheat water on the stove, seems we didn't catch it in time and burned out the hot water heater, will fix that tomorrow
 
go to the new western carolina supply up your way next time you need some help. its on e. fleming drive in the old parker plumbing building. or you can come see me in hickory.
 
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