PUMP MAINTANENCE

Before dismantling the pump first ensure that the power supply to the pump has been
isolated; check that the suction and discharge valves are shut. The gland nuts or sealing
clamp nuts should be removed and the gland lifted clear of the studs and secured. The
casing cover nuts should be removed, also the two fitted bolts. If support columns are
fitted on the pump it will be necessary to remove one or both of them to gain access to
the casing cover; these must be replaced on re-assembly.The casing cover can now be
removed.
Disconnect the coupling bolts and tap the impeller lightly to separate the spigoted
(plugged) halves, the pump rotating assembly can now be withdrawn horizontally from
the rear (fixed) half of the casing, also removing the casing/wear rings. The impeller nut
and tag washer can now be removed and the impeller withdrawn from the shaft. Remove
the key from the shaft and keep this in a safe place. Remove the neck bush, lantern
ring/s gland packing and gland, or mechanical seal if fitted.
After cleaning the various components, the impeller casing rings and impeller should be
examined for signs of wear or damage. Check the clearances using feeler gauges
between the impeller and casing rings. The readings should be checked with the
manufacturers recommended clearances.
If considered necessary the casing rings should be renewed. To do this the impeller
should be cleaned up in way of the casing rings and spare casing rings fitted. Spare
casing rings are normally supplied with a nominal under-size bore and can be machined
out to give the manufacturers recommended running clearance.
The impeller should also be examined for signs of wear or erosion, especially around the
blade tips at their inlet end. If the blade tips are unduly thin, they should be cut back
until they are at least 2.4 mm thick at the points and should be dressed to give a slightly
rounded nose. In order to maintain the dynamic balance of the rotating assembly it will
be necessary for all the blades to be cut back by an equal amount. The neck bush and
liner are to be examined for wear, if necessary renew the liner.
The pump shaft should be examined for wear; minor scoring can be removed with fine
abrasive cloth. If the scoring is excessive it may be necessary to renew the shaft.
If mechanical seals are fitted these are to be examined and adjusted or replaced in
accordance with the manufacturers instructions.
Assembly is carried out in reverse order to dismantling paying particular attention to the
following. The rotating assembly component parts are fitted in the shaft in the following
order, gland, lantern ring, neck bush, top casing ring, impeller with key, nut and tag
washer and finally the bottom casing ring. If a mechanical seal is fitted refer to the
manufacturers instruction manual for fitting instructions.
When fitting the rotating assembly ensure that the tongue pieces of the casing rings and
neck bush register in the back half casing grooves and the anti-rotation pins, where

fitted, locate in the casing slots flush with the casing split. Before replacing the casing
cover, couple up the spigoted coupling and rotate the shaft by hand to ensure that it
rotates freely. Ensure the gland is lifted clear of the stuffing box. Renew the casing/cover
joint and replace front cover.
Pack the stuffing box as follows. Fit a ring (split) of packing round the shaft and press it
firmly home into the stuffing box, using a split tube of suitable size to tamp down the
packing. Repeat this operation with the second and subsequent rings of packing ensuring
that the scarfed joint in each case is located at 90 to the preceding one. Rotate the
spindle after each ring is tamped home to ensure that the packing is bedded in
progressively. When the stuffing box is full, fit the gland and compress the packing until
it feels solid. Slacken back slightly on the gland nuts. It is essential that the gland flange
is parallel to the face of the stuffing box so that the pressure on the packing is evenly
applied. Uneven pressure can result in distortion of the packing with possible leakage or
damage to the shaft or gland.