• Vortech rattling? This is the solution

    by
    melev
    Published on 03-27-2010 02:45 AM
    9 Comments Comments
    When the Vortech pump starts rattling, the first thing to do is realign the motor with the wetside. If it goes back to running silently, that's all it took. However over time, the rattle may return and refuse to go away. When this happens, you need to replace a small part inside the wetside.

    I had this problem recently with one MP40w, and obtained some new parts prior to beginning this little project. Having a local fish store with parts is ideal, but if you can't do that, they are now available on the Ecotech Marine site. http://ecotechmarine.com/parts-store/

    I unplugged the power to the pump's driver, and the battery backup cable. The wetside was pulled out of my reef and placed in a small container of pure vinegar for 20 minutes. I set a timer so I wouldn't forget. Once it was done soaking, I pulled it apart and cleaned everything with a reef toothbrush. Here it is, ready to go:




    Removing the outer guard, the propeller section is accessible.






    Using a Phillips head screwdriver and a 3/8" wrench, carefully loosen the screw holding it together.




    Here is it, broken down (mostly).




    Note, the propeller and the shaft come apart in the middle, and have matching teeth to hold one another.




    So what's causing the rattle? This little piece. Note where the arrow is pointing. That darkened spot is where the wear has occurred, allowing the shaft to wobble in the wet frame.




    Here's where it gets interesting. The new parts weren't the same size and shape.



    Even the wet frame plate was different, with two ledges in the recessed hole. The white ceramic piece matched to interlock into position.






    My old wet frame seems to have the ceramic piece glued into position, because I was unable to remove it. So I ended up using the new wet frame, new ceramic bushing, new insert, and new propeller. From the old section, I still used the magnet, screw, washer, and nut, as well as the O-ring and strainer cover. Here are the new pieces stacked into position prior to inserting the screw from beneath.




    After the nut was secured to the screw, I tested if the magnet could spin freely, making sure it wasn't rubbing in any areas and that it didn't resist at any point. When I felt it was going to work as it should, the basket was pressed and locked into place, and the bottom plate snapped on to cover the magnet.

    It was then aligned inside my tank with the motor on the outside. Spock was excited to see the clean pump in her home.




    Once plugged in, it started up quickly and silently. The battery backup cable was also plugged back in for those times when the power fails in our area.

    The entire process of repairing it with newer parts didn't take more than 10 minutes, once you ignore the cleaning session. I didn't think you'd want to see this demo with a bunch of dirty slimy parts. If your pump isn't running quietly, it may be necessary to take it apart and ascertain what it's going to take to get it back to top form. Once you know, order those pieces and get it fixed. It doesn't take long, and it isn't hard. When I visit people's tanks and they complain to me about little issues, I always wonder why they don't just make the time to resolve them. After all, if you don't, who will?!
    .
    This article was originally published in blog: Vortech Rattling? This is the solution started by melev
    Categories:
    1. Equipment
    Comments 9 Comments
    1. fishtal's Avatar
      fishtal - 03-28-2010, 02:29 AM
      I'll have to try this. I recently got a new wet side and still get the wobble.
      Reply
    1. chappy's Avatar
      chappy - 03-31-2010, 04:03 AM
      are you putting it on full throttle for a min or so when placing it on the tank
      Reply
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev - 03-31-2010, 03:52 PM
      No, none of them run at 100%. Probably more like 80 to 90%.
      Reply
    1. Lyfey's Avatar
      Lyfey - 04-16-2010, 04:42 PM
      Mark, why 20 minutes? I soaked my wetside overnight in pure vinegar, does that cause harm to the pump?
      Reply
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev - 04-16-2010, 11:14 PM
      You can soak them longer, but overnight may be too long for the magnet. Vinegar is a mild acid, so it will eat away at the surfaces submerged. One guy from our local club had a pump sitting in a vinegar and water solution for two months, forgotten obviously. When he pulled it out, the core of the powerhead looked like Death Valley, cracked and peeling in strange flake-like bits.

      Usually what needs to soak the longest is the basket strainer, not all the rest. Feel free to soak that part longer if need be.
      Reply
    1. Lyfey's Avatar
      Lyfey - 04-20-2010, 12:37 PM
      The irony, well I pulled out the wet frame and soaked it in vinegar for around 20 minutes, all pieces were seperated prior to soaking. I cleaned everything very nicely and re-installed the pump back in. BTW this is a MP40w with the ES upgrade. I upgraded to ES the second day after release.

      So I noticed after I re-installed the pump I had a slight rattle, so figuring I would "deal with it tomorrow" I put it at 50 % power on the new NTM. Yesterday I turn it up and my pump is making alot more sound, a large rattle. So I take it apart and notice that the wetside magnet has scratches and all of the interior parts show wear except the propeller and the piece that attaches to the propeller that interlocks with the white ceramic piece. I got this pump for my birthday gift last August so it came with the new prop design of one piece.

      For the life of me I cannot get this pump back silent like it was before its very efficient cleaning. I am figuring since the magnet, clear plastic o ring and the ceramic white piece all show wear that I should replace these and it should fix the problem, sorta like what your DIY is about. The pump at 100% green mode rattles a bit, enough to be annoying and about 100% louder than before, on NTM at 100% I can hear the pump rattle from the adjacent living room, nowhere near as quiet as it once was. Do you think 8 months or so of wear can produce this? Do you think that upgrading to the new ES module produces excess wear? I noticed that when I first pulled the pump apart for cleaning it took me a while to seperate the clear o-ring from the magnet itself it was pretty much sealed in place. Once it was removed there is a solid black ring of something along the outer edges of the clear o-ring and circumference of the o-ring is a little jagged now. The magnet shows wear on the backside and also on the front where the screw and o-ring match up. I think I might have oversoaked my pump the last time (over 24 hours in 100% vinegar) and this time I cleaned it a little too rough (very lightly with a wire brush/toothbrush) I wont use the wire brush again on the vortech. I think the vigorous cleaning this time coupled with the oversoak last time and the 1-2 months of 100% NTM erroded my interior parts of my vortech. Anyone have any similar situations?

      -Chris
      Reply
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev - 04-20-2010, 01:45 PM
      I wouldn't ever use a wire brush because of scoring risk. I wouldn't want to scratch the surface of the magnet because it might removed a protective coating. A regular toothbrush, sponges, and a plastic scraper are about as rough as I'll use on any reefing equipment.

      Contact Ecotech. You should be under warranty - do it today.
      Reply
    1. Blake's Avatar
      Blake - 10-26-2011, 04:53 PM
      on my mp10 it goes for a little while then there is a noise and the wet side completely falls off of alignment and falls to the sand bed in my aquarium! what should i do?!?! buy a new wet side? or is it the dry side??
      Reply
    1. melev's Avatar
      melev - 10-27-2011, 11:07 AM
      Depending on how they were sitting packaged, you might need a new magnet for the wet side. They sell the impeller assembly for a very reasonable price, because I ordered one last year.
      Reply