If you are a homeowner, we recommend you have a helper whenever uninstalling or installing your Simple Pump Deep Well Hand Pump.
READ EACH SECTION CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING. FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS STEP BY STEP.
The following instructions are detailed and should tell you everything you need to know.
If you have any questions, please phone 775-265-1220.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Tools and Materials Needed
These tools and materials will be needed either during maintenance or to reinstall the pump.
- Allen wrench set (English, not metric)
- 2 channel locks: to grip 1-3/4” outer diameter PVC pipe
- 2 vise grips
- Roll of Teflon tape
- Bleach/water: 1 part bleach to 20 parts water.
- Wire cutters, strippers (if installing alongside an existing submersible pump)
- Small tube of Permatex Anti-Seize Compound/Lubricant, available from any auto parts store. (‘High temperature capability’, with copper or nickel versions, is not necessary.)
Seal Replacement
SIGNS THAT SEALS NEED REPLACING
The length of time between seal replacement can vary greatly with amount of use and water quality. Most clients have done maintenance at somewhere between three and ten years:
For piston seals: when output drops appreciably.
For pump heads seals: when water leaks between the pump rod and the rod gland in the pump head.
SEAL KIT DETAILS
Model 100: The SK100BU seal kit for a model 100CA pump cylinder assembly and pump head is comprised of five (5), 90 durometer u-cup seals. Three (3) u-cup seals are provided for the piston in the pump cylinder: two urethane (with either yellow or red ID marks) and one buna (black with no ID marks), and two (2) buna u-cup seals are provided for the rod gland in the pump head.
Model 125: The SK125BU seal kit for a model 125CA pump cylinder assembly and pump head is comprised of four (4), 90 durometer u-cup seals. Two (2) urethane u-cup seals (with either yellow or red ID marks) are provided for the piston in the pump cylinder, and two (2) buna u-cup seals are provided for the rod gland in the pump head.
The piston seals ride on the inside wall of the stainless pump cylinder sealing between the piston OD and the cylinder ID while the rod gland seals ride on the 3/4″ OD stainless steel rod that runs up and down in the pump head.
Model 125-82515: The SK125-82515 seal kit for a model 125CA-82515 pump cylinder assembly and pump head is comprised of four (4), 90 durometer u-cup seals. Two (2) urethane u-cup seals (with red ID marks) and (2) buna u-cup seals are provided for the piston in the pump cylinder, and two (2) buna u-cup seals are provided for the rod gland in the pump head. The position of the seals on the piston body are urethane, buna, buna, urethane.
The piston seals ride on the inside wall of the stainless pump cylinder sealing between the piston OD and the cylinder ID while the rod gland seals ride on the 3/4″ OD stainless steel rod that runs up and down in the pump head.
Note that rod gland replacement is also explained later, but the need for it is rare.
CHANGING THE PUMP HEAD SEALS
REMOVE THE LEVER ARM ASSEMBLY
All seal replacements start with removing the lever arm mechanism:
Using the 3/16″ Allen wrench, remove each of the four socket head cap screws that hold the lever arm mechanism to the pump head.
Unscrew the clevis from the pump rod.
Move the lever arm clockwise while keeping the pump rod from rotating using your vice grip or channel lock.
*** The direction you unscrew is the opposite of normal — turn clockwise to remove, rather than the normal counterclockwise.
This will remove the lever link arm, bracket, and lever arm, from the 3/4″ stainless rod.
IF YOU HAVE A SHORT ROD GLAND
Unscrew the rod gland from the pump head.
The 2 u-cup seals in the pump head are located at the top end of the rod gland, in two machined grooves.
*** The buna rod gland u-cup seals must be installed with open end of “U” facing down.
IF YOU HAVE A LONG ROD GLAND
Remove the pump head by unscrewing it. Rotate it in a counterclockwise motion. A good number of rotations are required before it detaches from the riser tube. You may need to first loosen it with a channel lock.
The 2 u-cup seals in the pump head are located at the top end of the rod gland, in two machined grooves.
Once the pump head has been removed, the u-cup seals can be easily accessed for replacement.
CHANGING THE PISTON SEALS
In order to replace u-cup seals on the piston, the pump system must be pulled from the well as the piston is in the pump cylinder, at the bottom.
*** Piston U-cup seals MUST be installed with open end of “U” facing UPWARD (see photo).
Reinstall pump cylinder, drop pipes and pump head as described in the Installation document.
*** For systems that have been installed three or more times, use Loctite non-permanent thread bonder on the sucker rod connections.
*** For drop pipes: Use Teflon tape on connections, but never more than three layers. And never use a liquid sealant/pipe dope.
REINSTALL PUMP HEAD AND HANDLE
For long rod gland: Install pump head onto riser (COUNTER-CLOCKWISE to tighten).
For both:
Install clevis onto 3/4″ stainless rod (COUNTER-CLOCKWISE to tighten).
Install the (4) 1/4-20 x 1/2 shcs that affix the lever bracket to the pump head.
REPLACING the ROD GLAND
IF YOU HAVE THE SHORT ROD GLAND
If not already done, remove the handle assembly as described under “Changing the Pump Head Seals” on the previous page.
Remove the rod gland from the stainless pump head using the channel locks (counter-clockwise to loosen). Leave the o-ring in place beneath rod gland in pump head.
Thread in the new rod gland.
Install clevis onto 3/4″ stainless rod (COUNTER-CLOCKWISE to tighten).
Install the (4) 1/4-20 x 1/2 shcs that affix the lever bracket to the pump head.
IF YOU HAVE THE LONG ROD GLAND
It will be replaced by the short rod gland and guide.
REMOVE LONG ROD GLAND
Remove the pump head as described for changing the Pump Head Seals.
The long rod gland runs the length of the assembly at length.
Remove the spider (lowest arrow) by unscrewing COUNTER-CLOCKWISE to loosen.
Remove the rod gland from the stainless pump head using the channel locks. Again, COUNTER-CLOCKWISE to loosen. Leave the o-ring in place beneath rod gland in pump head.
INSTALL PRESS-FIT GUIDE
Install the guide as shown in the four photos below.
Place guide in opening of riser tube.
A mark is made on some PVC tubing at the 6.5” mark.
The guide can then be pushed the correct distance into the riser tube.
INSTALL SHORT ROD GLAND
Thread the short rod gland into the top of the pump head.
REINSTALL PUMP HEAD AND HANDLE
Install pump head onto riser (COUNTER-CLOCKWISE to tighten).
Install clevis onto 3/4″ stainless rod (COUNTER-CLOCKWISE to tighten).
Install the (4) 1/4-20 x 1/2 shcs that affix the lever bracket to the pump head.