PSA: Stop running your dredge pump dry when you think it's 'cleared out'

I spent 2 years thinking that letting my pump run dry for 10 seconds after a clog cleared was just standard practice. Then last month I was working a pond job over near Lake Placid and noticed the impeller started vibrating like crazy. My buddy Mike who runs a 12-inch cutterhead upstate told me to check the wear ring. I pulled it out and the clearance had opened up to almost 1/4 inch wider than spec. All that dry running was eating the ring and recirculating material instead of moving it. Cost me $600 in parts and 2 days downtime. Has anyone else had a pump shop tell them this is a common killer of wear rings?

2 comments

2 Comments

ryan_flores1d agoMost Upvoted

My buddy Dave trashed a pump doing the same thing, cost him a weekend and a new wear ring too.

matthew7031d ago

Yeah man, that's rough, hate hearing about stuff like that.

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