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CIRCULATOR COUPLER keeps disignigrating

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Stonacious
Stonacious Member Posts: 10
in Oil Heating

I've replaced four circulator couplers in the last 22 months. Tonight will be 5, yep the fifth one started screeching and thumping tonight the second coldest night so far. What am I dealing with here? Should I be replacing the whole pump? Granted they never last more than a year so it's warranty work but I'd like it dine right really. Advice?

Comments

  • HydronicMike
    HydronicMike Member Posts: 300

    You should replace the motor mounts when replacing the coupling.
    Or, you’re not replacing the coupling correctly.
    Or, you probably should replace the energy hogging/wasting 3 piece circulator with a modern one.

    mattmia2HVACNUTGrallert
  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 16,117

    if the motor mount bushings have softened from oil dripping on then or otherwise rotted out, the motor will sag down and the shafts won't align right and it will destroy the coupler

    GGross
  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 7,329

    The bearing assembly could be periodically locking up too. Upgrade the whole circulator.

  • GGross
    GGross Member Posts: 1,797

    show some pics of the pumps how they are installed.

  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 2,932
    edited February 2

    All of the above is correct. Your circulator is out of alignment. So if you want to stop blowing love joy couplings, look into all of the info above.

    That said, what type of circulator and what type of coupler are you working with?

  • ScottSecor
    ScottSecor Member Posts: 1,024

    I have also witnessed couplers breaking prematurely on three piece circulator when the pump was grossly oversized. In rare cases someone used a high head version when it was not warranted. In other cases, the load (five zones) changed to one small zone.

    In the latter case the pump was designed for roughly twenty feet of head at thirty gallons per minute. The new tiny zone required about six feet of head at ten gpm.

  • Alan (California Radiant) Forbes
    Alan (California Radiant) Forbes Member Posts: 4,668
    edited February 2

    This bearing assembly was never oiled and seized up. There were no drain valves and I had to drain the system by partially removing the bearing assembly, bucket by bucket.

    B & G makes great pumps, are very reliable and have nice, flat performance curves. However, there comes a time when they should be replaced by a wet rotor pump as parts are expensive.

    0-10.jpg
    8.33 lbs./gal. x 60 min./hr. x 20°ΔT = 10,000 BTU's/hour

    Two btu per sq ft for degree difference for a slab
    HVACNUT

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