Pump Impeller Stuck

[Cave Dweller]

Have a Mag Drive 24 that I haven't used in a while and the impeller is stuck in the pump body. I've tried soaking it in water and even left it to soak overnight in vinegar.

Looking for ideas as to what else I can try before having to forcefully remove and replace the impeller (that is if the pump doesn't break in the process)?

 

[Macropora]

I kept changing the vinegar out everyday for a week and tried scraping lightly or twisting the impeller lightly to get the vinegar to soak in and break the seal. Eventually it worked and there was gunk in the impeller area and I soaked in full vinegar until it all dissolved.

 

[greg 45]

Try muratic acid sold at lowes home depo or ace hardware
please use gloves and read the warning label

 

[Cave Dweller]

Yeah I have a feeling it's locked up from me rushing... As far as I can remember, it was last used to mix a larger batch of water for my brothers tank and then was just put away for a few months without being rinsed off.

Thanks Macro. I guess I'll just have to keep at it.

Thanks Greg. Will look into the muriatic acid although seeing on the HD website showing it etches concrete kinda keeps me on edge.

 

[Bikeboss11]

Something similar happened to my mag 18..... Heads up vinegar bath for 4 days caused my O-Ring to double in size.... In your case I think your magnet may have swollen

 

[Cave Dweller]

Yeah Bikeboss I saw your post for that too. I removed the housing and the O-ring before even attempting to soak/vinegar the pump. Thankfully since there is a decent amount of space between the impeller and the housing itself I just tipped it on its end and filled the cavity with a minimal amount of vinegar having to be used as opposed to buying a gallon of it and letting it sit there.

How does a magnet swell if you don't mind me asking? And I'm guessing at that point there would be nothing that could be done?

 

[Bikeboss11]

I am not sure how they swell but I think it happens when you unplug the pump and take it out the water for a long time without letting it cool first..... It also happened to my mp10 wetside, I took it out the tank to try out the new jebao pump and when I reinstalled the mp10, the impeller was not spinning and upon checking it further I realized that the magnet was swollen..... Hope I answered your question

 

[Dan_P]

I am not sure how they swell but I think it happens when you unplug the pump and take it out the water for a long time without letting it cool first..... It also happened to my mp10 wetside, I took it out the tank to try out the new jebao pump and when I reinstalled the mp10, the impeller was not spinning and upon checking it further I realized that the magnet was swollen..... Hope I answered your question

MMM, swelling magnets. I could accept corrosion, salt deposit or calcium carbonate preciptation causing a stuck rotor but I am not sure you can decrease the density of, i.e., expand, metal. Vinegar or muriatic acid would not help a swollen magnet.

Just some thoughts.

 

[Cu455]

Put the pump underwater and plug it is. Then take a toothpick, skewer or something and give the impeller a push.