Centrifugal borehole pumps "Vodomet" manufactured by the Russian company "Dzhileks" do an excellent job of supplying water from various structures, but from time to time they still break down. The fastest way to solve the problem is to repair the water cannon pump with your own hands. This task cannot be called simple, but many home craftsmen cope with it more than satisfactorily.
The device of the centrifugal pump "Vodomet" is somewhat more complicated than that of the vibrational "Kid" or "Brook". In the lower part of the unit there is a sealed oil-filled engine, on the shaft of which peculiar glasses are put on - elements with working floating wheels.
Depending on the power of the pump, there may be more or less such glasses. The top cover of the pump presses all these elements and holds them in the correct position. An electric cable comes out of this cover, a pipe for supplying water to the water main and lugs for hanging the pump.
The pump "Vodomet" is a reliable technique with high efficiency. Its design allows you to perform many repairs at home
Floating impellers are the highlight of this unit. At the very beginning of work, they are ground to the structure by grinding a plastic shoulder. As a result, a minimum gap is formed between the static and moving elements of the device. This design ensures high pump efficiency.
Another advantage of the floating wheels of the Vodomet pump is the ability to pass sand particles that enter the well during natural sanding processes. Pump models of the “Vodojet A” type are arranged in a similar way. They are additionally equipped with a float switch, which is designed to turn off the device in case of an emergency. For example, if the source has dried up for some reason water (low debit, flooding, etc.).
If the installation and operation of the Vodomet pump was carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, there will be no need for premature repairs (click to enlarge)
The downhole pump "Vodomet", despite the lack of such protection, works quite well. It can turn on/off every three minutes without compromising structural integrity. To prevent the situation with the occurrence of "dry running", which is detrimental to any pump, you should choose the right model, hang it at the right height, etc.
An additional element extends the life of the device, but requires additional space for placement. For this reason, Water Jet A ”is usually used not in wells, but in wells. But this model has to be repaired in approximately the same way as a well pump. Another feature of the Vodomet submersible pumps is the lower water intake. The design allows the pump to be used in a semi-submerged state. If you need to completely empty the container, the Water Cannon will do the job perfectly.
But in a filter well, it is not always useful to place the pump in this way. The device will constantly pick up sand from the bottom. This negatively affects both the quality of the water and the condition of the impellers of the device. To prevent a problem of this nature, home-made nozzles are put on the bottom of the pump to prevent sand from entering the device.
It is necessary to position the unit in the well so that there is at least 1 m between the bottom of the working and the bottom of the pump. 35º C. It is not recommended to violate the temperature regime for its normal operation. And you can’t turn on the unit more than 20 times a day.
In order to exclude premature wear and tear, it is impossible for Aquarius to work without water. The device must be grounded. It is necessary to include an RCD in the network, which turns off the device in case of current leakage more than 30 mA.
How to disassemble "Water cannon"
The device of the “Vodomet” pump cannot be called completely simple and understandable. Before starting disassembly, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the features of its design as much as possible. It does not hurt to fix the correct position of each element: record, photograph, film, etc.
You should also pay attention to the correct position of each detail in relation to the concepts of "top" and "bottom". If the wheels were installed incorrectly after the repair, the pump will still work, but not very efficiently. Problems can also arise after rewinding the engine. Not all pump owners remember the correct arrangement of contacts.
To carefully remove the cover of the Water Cannon pump, you can use the so-called oil filter puller or its soft counterpart - twisting their fabric (rope) with a lever
Before starting disassembly, the pump, of course, should be disconnected from the power supply and removed from the well. To facilitate the work, it is better to disconnect the water supply pipe from the nozzle and remove the metal cable. When the “Vodomet” pump is in working position, its wetted motor is in the upper part, and the pumping part, consisting of vane wheels and cups with lids, is in the lower part. But when disassembling the pump, it is more convenient to keep it upside down, i.e. engine down.
The first step in disassembling the Waterjet pump is unscrewing the bottom cover. This operation is performed using a sufficiently long screwdriver, threaded through the eyelets for hanging the cable. You need to unscrew it counterclockwise. It may be more convenient to use other devices, for example, gas wrench number three. A device for removing the oil filter cap, well known to motorists, or its equivalent from a strip of durable fabric with a lever for twisting it, is also suitable.
After that, carefully remove the chamber-cups with lids and impellers from the pump housing. Cup covers are numbered from 1 to 3. Usually, all cups with the number “1” are first put on the shaft, then with the number “2”, then with the number “3”. When disassembling the water jet pump, these elements will be removed in the reverse order. It is better to write down the numbering order of the glasses to avoid mistakes during assembly.
This photo shows the pumping part of the device disassembled. The elements are laid out in the order in which they were assembled. You should immediately remember which side is the top (click to enlarge)
It will not hurt to immediately clarify the direction of movement of the shaft. To do this, the pump with the wheels removed is simply turned on for a few seconds. The wheel should stand in such a way that the water is sucked in from the bottom in the center, and the water flows up to the outer part of the ring. In the correct position, the vane ring should be mounted with the widest part towards the engine, i.e. tab down and smooth side up.
This is how the engine of the Vodomet pump looks like, taken out of the device case. The shaft is fixed with two clips that must be held with pliers to remove it.
The pump shaft is not twisted, as in similar models, but is fixed with two clips. If it needs to be removed, clamp the clips with pliers and remove the shaft. When the impeller cups are removed, it may be necessary to remove the motor as well. This will require some effort, since it is pressed into the body quite tightly.
In order not to bend the shaft, place the pump housing on a support with a hole through which the shaft can be inserted. After that, gently knock the engine out of the housing with a hammer and plank. They hit the end with a hammer, and the plank acts as a shock absorber.
When the position of the motor in the housing changes, you must first remove the ring-shaped fixing gasket. It must be rotated inside the case by 90 degrees, squeezed a little and removed so as not to damage the internal thread of the case. You can immediately pay attention to the position of this gasket.
The photo shows the elements of the disassembled engine of the Vodemet pump: 1 - the shaft of the hydraulic part; 2 - gland spring, 3 - gland, 4 - front cover; 5 - membrane; 6 - front flange; 7 - rotor
It should be facing the engine with the side from which the chamfer was removed. After that, you can remove the engine from the housing. It is closed by the top cover of the pump, which is fixed with two strong sealing rubber bands.
To remove the cover, you need to put the engine on its side. Then the cover is carefully knocked out of the engine housing, hitting it with a wide screwdriver and a rubber mallet. Other suitable tools can be used for this. There is a capacitor under the cover. Sometimes this element fails, but it is not difficult to replace it.
Care must be taken when handling the pump housing. Sometimes it becomes necessary to fix the device in a vise. First, it is recommended to wrap the body at the fixation point with shock-absorbing material. The force must be moderate so as not to deform the product.
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The working rings of the Vodomet pump wear out quickly, especially if they pump water that is heavily polluted with sand. Replacing these elements is not difficult, it is important to properly disassemble and then assemble the pumping part of the device
In order to prevent further breakdowns, it is recommended to replace this element with a new gasket in case of pronounced wear. Usually a new gasket can be purchased from the manufacturer or picked up at specialized outlets. After the repair of the pump is completed, you need to check its operation.
You can immerse it in a container of water, such as a bucket, to make sure the device turns on and is able to pump water. But the idea of \u200b\u200bhow good pressure the pump will provide in the system is thus impossible. Checking the operation of the pump for pressure can be done at a service center, but first it is better to clarify whether this is possible.
Another test option is possible if the owner of the pump has a large volume container at his disposal. Of course, you can check the characteristics of the repaired pump right in the well, but if problems are found during the check, the device will have to be taken out from a fairly large depth. A preliminary check on the surface will help to avoid this.
Typical malfunctions and repairs
If the Vodomet pump is under warranty service, the easiest way is to solve all problems in a service center. But when the deadlines have passed, owners usually prefer to save money and do the repairs themselves. Some operations, such as replacing worn impellers, are easy to perform.
But if you need to rewind the engine, it is better to entrust this matter to specialists. As for spare parts and components, they can be purchased without any problems and at a very reasonable price. The company "Dzhileks" willingly sells spare parts for its products. They are sold both in specialized stores and in service centers. You can also contact the manufacturer directly.
This is how the result of water penetration into the engine compartment looks like, if for some reason the case is poorly sealed - the capacitor is damaged, it should be replaced
By the nature of the breakdown of the device, one can roughly judge what kind of repair work will be needed. Here is a list of typical problems that owners of Vodomet pumps have to face:
- The device does not turn on.
- The pump housing is energized.
- The pressure of water in the system has noticeably decreased.
- The pump works unevenly, making sounds uncharacteristic for normal functioning.
And here is a list of malfunctions that are typical for these symptoms and how to fix them:
- The motor winding burned out. It will have to be completely replaced.
- Loose contact or broken wire. It is necessary to open the motor housing, restore the connection with the contacts and / or the integrity of the electrical cable.
- The integrity of the engine housing is broken. As a result, the capacitor got wet, it should be replaced with a new analogue.
- The impellers are worn out. It is necessary to disassemble the pump and replace them with new elements.
Of course, if the pump is already removed from the well for repair, it makes sense to carry out a complete diagnosis of the unit. The pump is disassembled, gaskets, washers, glasses, impellers and other elements are inspected. If signs of wear are noticeable, you should immediately take care of replacing such elements.
Then it makes sense to disassemble the engine, test the condition of the contacts and the supply wire. If necessary, locate the damaged cable and reconnect. Sometimes it is worth completely replacing the power cord.
Problems with a damp capacitor are usually obvious even from the outside. Soldering a new capacitor is usually not difficult, but during reassembly, the cause of the malfunction should also be eliminated, i.e. ensure sufficient tightness of the motor housing.
The burnt motor winding, as already mentioned, will be difficult to perform correctly at home. This operation can be ordered at the factory, and all other work can be done independently. This makes repairs cheaper. In some cases, it is easier and more reliable to replace the engine with a new device.
When the engine is depressurized, a situation is observed that experts characterize with the word “emulsion”. This means that water got into the engine case and mixed with the oil, turning it into an emulsion. The oil must be drained and completely replaced.
In no case should this fluid be replaced with some ordinary engine oil. The only suitable lubricant for Vodomet pumps is pure glycerin. The fact is that in the event of a breakdown, oil can get into the well and significantly spoil the quality of the water. It is very difficult to get rid of such pollution.
Why can a pump fail?
There are only two main reasons for breakdowns of Vodomet pumps: errors made during the manufacture of the device and difficult conditions for its operation. The owner of the pump is powerless to influence the first situation. If you are so unlucky that you got a defective unit, you need to tune in to a long-term cooperation with the service center as part of the warranty.
If the motor winding is damaged, the pump simply does not turn on. Correctly restoring the winding in a home workshop is not easy, it is better to contact the factory
Careless handling of the device or its incorrect installation are quite common. Do not pull the pump by the electrical cable, this is the weak point of the pump. If handled carelessly, small cracks may form at the point of its entry into the engine housing.
Over time, they expand, moisture penetrates into the body and the engine becomes unusable. In the same way, the contact can be broken. Cable breaks can be caused when installing the pump if the wire is kinked or accidentally broken.
Proper suspension depth is an important factor in trouble-free operation of the pump. If the device is too deep and constantly working under increased load, it will quickly break.
Impeller wear can be caused by prolonged contact with sand contaminated water. The manufacturer, of course, does not recommend pumping water with the inclusion of sand and clay suspension up to two kilograms per cubic meter of water in the well. However, the instructions do not say how contaminated the water can be and how long it can be transported without compromising the design of the pump.
Practice shows that “Vodomet” pumps can only be used in one capacity. Either to supply water to the water supply, or to remove sand from the well. Having pumped a sandy structure, the owner of the pump is surprised to observe the uneven operation of the pump. The reason is simple - the impellers are worn out and need to be replaced.
A non-trivial option for protecting the Vodomet pump from sanding if the suspension is too low. If it is not possible to hang the pump at the desired height, you can use this protective nozzle
It is not difficult to correct the situation, but pumping a contaminated well or pumping it after drilling can be done in a more efficient way: using a submersible vibration pump of the “Kid” or “Brook” type. Such equipment is cheaper and easier to repair.
Another reason for breakdowns of the Vodomet pump is improper suspension of the pump. If the immersion depth of the device exceeds the figure specified by the manufacturer, the device is operating at increased loads for which it was not designed. Often in such situations, depressurization of the engine is observed.
Dismantling the "Water Cannon": a useful video
The following material very clearly shows how to properly disassemble the water jet pump, as well as the process of reassembling one of the models:
Dismantling and repairing Vodomet pumps requires attention to detail and some skill. Over time, the task becomes quite feasible and familiar. Many home craftsmen maintain and repair such pumps with complete success.
