Aquaclear impellers and impeller shafts

[four_by_ken]

Those of you that use AquaClear hang on filters... when you change impelled, do you always change the shaft too, or not every time?

[Regalblue]

Why are you changing it?  I have AC110s (actually 500s) that are over 10yrs old & work fine.

[Jaws22]

how much for the filter?

[four_by_ken]

Why are you changing it?  I have AC110s (actually 500s) that are over 10yrs old & work fine.

It's REALLY noisy.   Rattling like mad.

[four_by_ken]

how much for the filter?

Who's selling one?

 

[Regalblue]

Have you tried lubing it up?

[four_by_ken]

Have you tried lubing it up?

No.  I read about using petroleum jelly... but that just seems like a quick fix that I will have to do again shortly.  No?

[linuxrulesusa]

Usually when an Aquaclear is noisy you have to change the impeller shaft.  Pull off the motor, look at the shaft - it should be a straight up and down cylinder but when worn gets more of an hourglass shape or even uneven wear/indentation in the shaft itself.

To change it, rock it back and forth with pliers firmly but carefully and it should come right out of the motor.

Put the new shaft in and tap it to seat it  Put the impeller back on.

It may be noisy for a few hours until enough grime builds up to make it run smoothly. 

I've not had to change impellers yet on any of my Aquaclears and they are several years old. Usually the impeller shafts do the trick and they are only a few dollars each.

[Regalblue]

Have you tried lubing it up?

No.  I read about using petroleum jelly... but that just seems like a quick fix that I will have to do again shortly.  No?

honestly IDK, I haven't ever done it.

[linuxrulesusa]

Have you tried lubing it up?

No.  I read about using petroleum jelly... but that just seems like a quick fix that I will have to do again shortly.  No?

honestly IDK, I haven't ever done it.

Never worked for me.  Made it a little quieter for a few days, then the noise was back.  I'd replace the impeller shaft.

[waldo1959]

A friend of mine gave me a shaft he made from a stainless steel bicycle spoke.  I used it to replace my impeller shaft (Aquaclear 70) and it worked 100 %, super quiet, no lube required.  The old shaft looked like a chewed corn cob and was rattling like crazy. 

[four_by_ken]

Just to follow up... when I changed out the shaft, it was VERY visually worn out.  Honestly... almost half the shaft was worn. 

I replaced the impeller also as I had it apart and had a new one.  But, in the future I doubt I will replace the impeller seeing how bad this shaft was worn out.

[Maize-N-Blue-D]

Process question:  When you clean out your HOB filters, do you wash out inside the motor where the impeller sits ?

I usually take my entire HOB to the laundry tub and let the faucet run down into the motor to rinse it out any debris...I also rinse off the impeller for the same reason....  I then put everything back and all seems well...

[linuxrulesusa]

Process question:  When you clean out your HOB filters, do you wash out inside the motor where the impeller sits ?

I usually take my entire HOB to the laundry tub and let the faucet run down into the motor to rinse it out any debris...I also rinse off the impeller for the same reason....  I then put everything back and all seems well...

I don't usually...this sounds gross but sometimes the slime buildup on the impeller makes it run better so if you clean it too well it rattles/is noisy for a while.  Just my experience with them.

[four_by_ken]

I see no reason to take the entire filter off to clean it .

I also agree that a little drunk on the impeller makes it run quieter .

Just cleaned the sponge and you're good to go.