5
Troubleshooting
Liquiflo FTS Transfer Pump User Manual
Series No. FTS300
49
Pump will not turn on
No flow while pump is on
Low flow while pump is on
.
Pump doesn’t prime
Excessive heat generated by pump
Excessive noise coming from the pump (surging, burbling, whining, grinding, etc.)
External leak of fluid
– (Identify what the leaking fluid is to assist in troubleshooting)
CAUSES
WHAT TO DO
•
Power disconnected or
improperly connected
Check to see that the pump is properly wired. See the Installation Instructions portion of this manual.
•
The motor controller has
shut down the pump
If the pump is properly wired, the motor controller may have triggered a shut down. See the Operation section of Motor Control Unit
manual to learn about resetting the motor controller.
•
•
Incorrect direction of
rotation
If your control device (either a VFD or a Soft Starter) allows for reversal of the pumping direction, operate the control device
accordingly. If the pump is not rotating the desired direction when commanded, it is wired improperly. See the Installation I nstructions
portion of this manual for information on swapping L1 and L3 in the junction box.
• •
•
Pump suction inlet not fully
submerged or
insufficiently submerged
If the suction inlet is only partially submerged, the Transfer Pump will ingest air and not pump properly. The Transfer Pump can create
enough vacuum and flow to disturb the surface of a fluid and start ingesting air if the suction inlet is fully below the flui d surface but at
an insufficient depth. Adjust the depth of the suction inlet until the Transfer Pump primes and runs normally.
• •
•
Inlet not sealed/vacuum
leaks
There may be leaks present in the suction line plumbing at the flange connections, or there may be a leak on the suction side of the
pump if you recently serviced it and did not properly re-assemble the Transfer Pump. Check for leaks in the suction side plumbing and
fix them, and also make sure that if the Transfer Pump was recently serviced that all required seals were properly installed and that all
fasteners were properly torqued.
•
• •
Discharge not
sealed/pressure leaks
There may be leaks present in the discharge plumbing at the flange connections, or there may be a leak on the discharge side of the
pump if you recently serviced it and did not properly re-assemble the Transfer Pump. Check for leaks in the discharge side plumbing
and fix them, and also make sure that if the Transfer Pump was recently serviced that all required seals were properly instal led and
that all fasteners were properly torqued. Be sure to check the rear drive shaft seal at the motor flange interface, and be sure it was
properly installed with the retaining ring fully seated.
• • •
Discharge is blocked
THIS SITUATION CAN CAUSE IMMEDIATE DAMAGE TO THE PUMPING MECHANISM
– If you experience a zero flow condition
while the pump is running, shut the pump down immediately and check to make sure that the discharge line is free of blockage. This
could be caused by debris, a closed valve, improper piping design, a plugged filter, a capped discharge outlet, or other fact ors.
• • •
Suction is blocked
Check to make sure the suction line is not obstructed by debris, a closed valve, improper piping design, a plugged filter, a capped
suction inlet, or other factors.
• •
•
Bypass valve is open
The bypass valve may be on the Transfer Pump if you have selected that option or it may be installed in your plumbing accordi ng to
the Piping Guidelines section of this manual. In either situation, there may be a blockage or restriction of the discharge li ne causing
excess discharge pressure, opening the bypass valve and putting the Transfer Pump into bypass operation mode. See the
troubleshooting steps for “Discharge is blocked” and “Discharge line too restrictive” for steps to fix this problem.
• •
Discharge line too
restrictive
Check to make sure the discharge piping is not too small in diameter, is not too long, does not include valves which are too small, does
not include too many fittings such as elbows, is not blocked by debris, or flows through a filter which is partially plugged and needs
service. See the Piping Guidelines section of this manual for more information.
• • •
Suction line too restrictive
Check to make sure the suction piping is not too small in diameter, is not too long, does not include valves which are too small, does
not include too many fittings such as elbows, is not blocked by debris, or flows through a filter which is partially plugged and needs
service. See the Piping Guidelines section of this manual for more information.
• • •
•
Insufficient NPSHA
The suction piping may be too restrictive, especially if elbows or small valves are too close to the suction flange of the Transfer Pump.
Make sure that the fluid lift requirements of the piping system are appropriate for the Transfer Pump specifications and the atmospheric
pressure at the pumping location. See the Piping Guidelines section of this manual for more information.
•
•
Wiper Blades are worn
The wiper blades will wear over time during normal operation of the pump but can wear faster if the pumping fluid is not prop erly
filtered and contains debris. They will also wear faster if the pump is run at higher speeds, and higher temperatures. To inspect the
wiper blades for wear and replace them, see the Maintenance and service section of this manual.
•
Shaft Seals are worn
Follow the Maintenance and service instructions in this manual to access the shaft seals and inspect them for damage. If a shaft seal is
damaged, they can be replaced according to the Maintenance instructions.
• • • • • • •
Pumping Mechanism is
damaged
If the Transfer Pump was subjected to a “dead head” condition (fully blocked discharge while operating), or ingested large debris due
to lack of proper filtration, the pumping mechanism may have become damaged. Follow the Maintenance and service instructions in
this manual to check for damage to the impeller, lobe gears, wiper blades, or other portions of the rotating assemblies.
•
• •
Inlet seal wear ring
damaged or missing
The inlet seal wear ring will wear over time during normal operation. Follow the Maintenance and service instructions in this manual to
inspect the wear ring and replace it if required. If you recently serviced the Transfer Pump, check to make sure the wear ring is present
and was properly installed
– also inspect the impeller face because an improperly installed wear ring can cause damage to the impeller
if the Transfer Pump is operated in that state.
•
•
Excess turbulence in tank
The Transfer Pump is capable of delivering a very high pumping volume, so it may be necessary to check your fluid tank for excess
turbulence. This can cause aeration of the fluid, or if vortices are large enough impact the Transfer Pump's suction performa nce. If you
find that the tank has excessive turbulence during operation, baffling or diffusers must be installed, or tank volume must be increased.
•
• •
Bearings are not greased
If you recently serviced the Transfer Pump, you may have forgotten to grease the bearings according to the Maintenance and se rvice
instructions in this manual. The bearings may lose grease over time if the shaft seals were damaged and you did not properly replace
them, or if the shaft seals were not properly installed. Follow the Maintenance and service instructions in this manual to inspect the
shaft seals and bearings.
• •
Gear oil not properly
refilled
If you recently serviced the Transfer Pump, make sure you properly filled the gear chamber with oil according to the Maintenance and
service instructions in this manual.
•
Rear drive shaft seal is
worn or not sealing
properly
The rear drive shaft seal must be installed in the proper orientation, and the snap ring which retains it must also be present and
properly seated. Follow the Maintenance and service instructions in this manual to check the Rear drive shaft seal and its snap ring.
•
Oil drain plug not tight or
sealed properly
If a leak of gear chamber oil is coming from the oil drain plug, inspect the drain plug to make sure the integral seal under the drain plug
head is present and undamaged. If the seal is present and in good condition, make sure the drain plug is properly tightened. For more
information, see the Maintenance and service instructions in this manual.
•
Housing seal missing or
damaged
If you recently serviced the Transfer Pump, you may have forgotten to install or replace one of the housing seals, or it may be installed
improperly or damaged. Follow the Maintenance and service instructions in this manual to properly replace all housing seals.
