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The Simple Pump PL-1-Assy Installation Lift has been discontinued (2021-03-22).

NOTE: This product has been discontinued and is no longer available for purchase.

Click here to view the current Simple Pump Well Pumps.

Section 1: Introduction

Recommended Operating Environment and Applications

The Pump Installation Lift was originally designed specifically for use in rural areas in developing countries, but, of course, maybe useful to any well company. Reduces the investment in tools and large vehicles required to install most other hand pumps.

Compared to a pump commonly used for deep water applications, the Simple Pump is much lighter. Simple Pump recommends deploying two individuals to install or remove a pump sets serving wells with a static water level deeper than 200 feet. Using the Pump Lift, one person can safely install or remove a Simple Pump in wells with static levels less than 200 feet.

Capability

The Pump Installation Lift (Pump Lift) uses a manual crank to drive opposing gripper belts for installing/uninstalling a Simple Pump system up to 300 lbs. A Simple Pump system, with its 1″ PVC drop pipe, installed down to 325 feet in a well with a static water level of 300 feet, will contain up to 90 lbs. of water and 170 lbs. of drop pipe plus sucker rod, for a total of 260 pounds.

The lifting capability of the Pump Lift is directly related to the belt traction between the pipe wall and the gripper belts. Iron oxide bacteria (slime), algae growth on the outside of the PVC pipe, or any substance that makes the gripper belts slippery will diminish the total lifting capability.

Shipping

Section 2: Tools Required and Assembly

Contents of Box

• (1) Pump Installation Lift — fully assembled except for SS handle.
• (1) Stainless steel crank handle with 5/16-18 x 3/4″ SS SHCS threaded onto it.

Tools and Materials Needed

Each section also specifies which of these tools are needed for that section.

• (2) Allen wrenches: 1/4 inch, 3/16 inch
• (2) channel locks: to grip 1-3/4” outer diameter PVC pipe
• (2) vise grips

Assembly

Carefully remove the Pump Installation Life and the crank handle. Attach the stainless steel crank handle.

Section 3: Un-installing a Pump System

If the pump has been used recently, the column of water retained in the length of drop pipes will add 30 pounds to the total weight of the pump set for every 100 feet of drop pipe above the static water level. This figure will go down slowly over time (probably months), as the water gradually returns to the static water level.

Remove the pump head

To remove the pump head, first, remove the lever arm mechanism.

Using the 3/16″ Allen wrench, remove each of the four fasteners that hold the lever arm mechanism to the pump head.

Move the lever arm clockwise while keeping the pump rod from rotating. The direction you unscrew is the opposite of normal — turn clockwise to remove, rather than the normal counterclockwise.

You will remove the whole assembly of lever link arm, bracket, and lever arm from the 3/4″ stainless rod.

Remove the pump head by unscrewing it (below) — rotating it in a counterclockwise motion. You may need to first loosen it with a channel lock.

Remove the pump head by unscrewing it and rotating it in a counterclockwise motion. You may need to first loosen it with a channel lock.

Note that there are four Allen head bolts (two (2) on each side) that push the bearing down to increase the tension in the belts (white arrow).

You will not know whether they need to be tightened until you start cranking (several steps later). If the belts slip, use a 3/16 inch Allen wrench to tighten the adjustment screws that push the bearing mount down which then increases tension on the belt.

Pulling the Pump

If it is in the up position, the ratchet and pawl mechanism will not be engaged. When it is not engaged, there is nothing to keep the pump set from falling into the well, after the pinch bolt is loosened.

Loosen the pinch bolt in the split flange to allow the riser tube to move, when cranking starts.

Start cranking. If the pump set does not move upward, it is very likely that there is slippage in the belts. If the belts slip, use a 3/16 inch Allen wrench to tighten the adjustment screws that push the bearing mount down, which then increases tension on the belt.

Remove the 3/4″ stainless rod from the topmost sucker rod. To remove the 3/4″ stainless rod without damaging it, attach your channel lock (or vice grips) to its flat section at its top.

Sometimes the drop pipe held between the gripper belts starts to track away from their center. More cranking could move the drop pipe so far sideways that the Lift may lose its grip.

This is when you need to move the pump set back downward, and then start cranking it upward again, gently guiding the drop pipe to track correctly.

To Crank Back Downwards

To set the Pump Lift so it will allow you to lower the set back into the well, turn the crank backward slightly, to remove the pressure on the pawl. Then, while holding the crank handle, move the pawl to the upright position (below). Then, you can lower the pump system.

Put the pawl back in the down position to resume removal.

Disconnect the first sucker rod from the second. Use two vice grips, or a vice grip and pliers.

The initial disconnection may be a bit difficult because of the dimple that is designed into the female end, to function as a mechanical lock. It may need more force than you might expect. After you overcome the lock, it will unscrew easily.

Continue the Process Until Finished

From this point forward, the disassembly and removal of the pump is a repetitive process where you are removing 9-foot lengths of drop pipe, sucker rod, and rod guide.

To use the Pump Installation Lift to install a pump make sure you also read the manual covering the installation of Simple Pump hand pumps.

Section 4: Care and Maintenance

Each female sucker rod end is dimpled (arrow). The dimple functions as a mechanical disruption of the threads, and therefore mechanical lock. As the male end is screwed in, when the two lift rods are just about completely tightened, shoulder to shoulder, the male threads are disrupted, creating a lock.

The more a Simple Pump has been installed and removed, the more likely this mechanical lock is going to be ineffective. So, on the third time that the Simple Pump is installed, it may be wise to use Loctite non-permanent thread bonder, or a similar compound, before threading the male end into the female. This prevents the unlikely possibility that the lift rods will slowly unscrew over years of use.

Sometimes it is difficult to bring the pump cylinder up past the split flange because the outside diameter of the bushing at its top is a bit wide (below).

If you encountered this difficulty, file down the bushing all around the outside of the bushing, to prevent the problem from happening again.

If the gripper belts become dirty with slime or algae growth, normal mild cleaners will remove them. Just clean with warm, soapy water. Do not use: acetone, ketone, lacquer thinner, gasoline or other solvents.

Lubrication

Place a light oil on all of the chains and sprockets after every us, and before using when the Lift has been stored for more than a few days. Sprockets are all the structures with externally visible teeth that either move chains or are part of the ratchet and pawl mechanism.

Oil on the underside of the gripper belts and on the drive rollers should be avoided. The drive rollers are what engage the gripper belts.

Section 5: Warranty

Warranty in case of manufacturing defects for the Pump Installation Lift is 2 years from the date of purchase.

Wear parts not included under the warranty are the gripper belts, drive roller gripper surface.

The expected life of gripper belts is 4-5 years.