Whale Gulper 220 Pump - Follow Up

[Norman_E]

I posted this thread whilst I was sailing in Turkey http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=248733 and have now brought the pump back to the UK and stripped it. Inside the pump body on the "dry" side behind the diaphragm there is a mixture of grease and shredded plastic from the worm wheel. The reason is very plain to see. The worm on the motor shaft is made of steel rather than bronze, and it has rusted to a rough and abrasive surface that will shred any replacement plastic worm wheel in short order.

I will call Whale on Monday and see what they say, as I can remove the plastic wheel to replace it (by punching its shaft out of the housing) but there is no obvious way to change the worm which appears to be a force fit on the motor shaft.

 

[grahama]

Thanks for keeping us informed.
I use one of these as an auto bilge pump, so it's kind of important it works!
Let us know what Whale say, thanks

 

[Norman_E]

I received an e-mail from Whale today, advising that both parts have been sent to me. It should be fun getting the worm off the motor shaft, though I can make an extractor for it, as I have a well equipped workshop.

 

[sarabande]

a quick thought, N. If the gear/drive is on the dry side, how come the steel has become rusty ? Do you have a small leak ?

 

[Norman_E]

On a boat "dry side" is relative, and a damp salty atmosphere is liable to rust steel. IMHO the worm would have been much better made in bronze.

 

[Norman_E]

The parts arrived yesterday. Aiden at Whale Pumps sent them more than a week ago and the Post Office lost them, and he very kindly sent me another set of gears, which I will fit today or tomorrow. Getting the old rusty worm off the shaft entailed filing two flats on it and making a special puller. Reassemby should be much easier.