Maintenance
Manual
5
Ampco
Pumps
Company
INSTRUCTIONS
Your Ampco centrifugal pump in a rugged unit designed to provide years of low cost pumping service. There is a small amount of necessary care re-
quired to ensure you of this expected long service. It is recommended that you carefully review the installation and operating sections in this manual.
Every Ampco pump receives a careful running test at the
factory
factory
factory to ensure that the head-capacity rating is met in accordance to the Hydraulic Institute
Standards and to ensure mechanical soundness. Special instructions and advice for unusual conditions, such as corrosive, abrasive, and other prob-
lems are too numerous to be included in this general manual, but will be the subject of specific discussion on orders or inquiries for special applica-
tions.
LOCATION
The immediate environment in which the unit is located, while usually of prime importance to the pump, may determine the enclosure needed for the
motor. Ampco can supply several different motor enclosures to meet specific requirements.
The SP Series pumps are supplied with totally enclosed motors as standard. They may be installed where dirt, moisture and mild corrosion are pre-
sent or in outdoor locations. Washdown duty motors, with epoxy paint or paint free stainless steel, are designed for applications where the motor is
frequently subject to washdown to maintain a bacteria-free operating environment. Specialty motors may be required for moist, corrosive, or explosive
environments. Motor drain plugs (if not equipped with automatic drains) must be physically removed periodically to drain accumulated condensation.
Pump units should be located where daily visual inspection is possible and no surrounding structure interferes with ventilating air over or through the
motor.
Submerged suction is the most economical and convenient method of priming a pump when installed in such a position that the top of the casing is
below the surface of the liquid to be pumped. The liquid will flow by gravity into the pump and displace the air (through the discharge if possible or a
vent when available).
INSTALLATION
Begin with a suction line as direct and as simple as possible. The suction line is usually the most sensitive part of the entire pumping system, being
totally dependent on outside forces to provide liquid flow into the center of the impeller.
Locate the pump as close to the supply of liquid as possible, with short and direct suction piping. Use wide radius elbows to help reduce friction loss.
Air pockets due to high sections, concentric reducers, valve bonnets, etc. should be eliminated by installing a suction having a continual rise or at the
very least a straight horizontal run with an air eliminator near the pump suction entry. To prevent air pockets use eccentric pipe reducers that are
mounted in a horizontal position across the top of the pipeline and valves that can be positioned in a plane rather than the normal upright position as
an air pocket may exit in the upright valve bonnet.
Above all, remember that until the liquid reaches the leading edges of the rotating impeller vane the pump cannot impart its energy to move the liquid.
If possible, try not to connect an elbow directly to the inlet of the pump. This may cause excessive turbulence and hinder pump performance.
STARTING
The pump must be primed before starting, as the mechanical seal depends on the liquid being pumped for lubrication and cooling. Even a short run to
determine direction of rotation without first priming may seriously damage the seal. Even though the SP series are “self-priming” they require fluid
inside the pump casing to draw a proper vacuum to initiate the priming.
The correct direction of rotation is counter-clockwise when viewed from the suction end of the pump. It is recommended to turn the pump by hand
before starting the first time to ensure the unit is not binding.
MAINTENANCE
Since long-term breakdown cannot be tolerated in most services, maintenance procedures and a contingency plan must be established in advance to
minimize any production loss caused by downtime. During building and start-up it is common to use outside personnel. Operating personnel should
acquaint themselves with the pump, particularly its running performance. This will aid in establishing a standard for future reference. This manual and
other information provided with the pump should be filed for future reference.
All possible performance data should be recorded once the system is functioning properly and stable. Suction and discharge pressure readings, flow
rate, seal leakage rate, bearing temperature, noise and vibration levels all provide input to a pump’s performance in the system. It is unlikely that all of
this data can be measured, but any information gathered can help alert the user of problems with the pump or system.
Operating personnel should know that any changes in the system or the liquid being pumped might have an effect on the pump’s performance. It is
advisable to also record the fluid temperature, specific gravity, viscosity, liquid concentration, percent of solid concentration, other additives and prop-
erties.
Ampco
Pumps
Company
SP
Series
Manual
M
‐
015
RevC
6.19
