Is my mp40 bad?

[Linden13]

I was doing a quick cleaning on one of my mp40 this morning. Just take it apart and scrub it with a brush and put molykote on. I usually let them soak in citric acid but did not have the time today.

I saw this brown stain on the shaft and ceramic some came off with a brush but this is what's left. I noticed the ceramic shaft sticking into the plastic impeller. My guess is it wore through the metal shaft?
Is this correct and the wet side needs replacement?

 

[Saltyreef]

There should be ceramic around the shaft. Looks like yours has cracked and flaked off.
Keeping it lubricated and sealed with molykote usually will prevent this but sometimes its just the age and heat that causes it to crack and fall off.

A new wetside is warranted here.
I try my best to have 2 wetsides and cycle through them once per month. While one is getting cleaned and lubed, the other is in use.

 

[Linden13]

Just to clarify the i have the intact ceramic tube that goes over the metal shaft in the picture. It was sticking in the impeller I removed and cleaned everything out. The impeller has a lip inside the hole for the ceramic shaft that I had to remove so it would spin freely. I used molykote on the metal shaft and on ceramic shaft and reassembled everything.

Im worried anmbout the discoloration on the bottom ceramic and metal shaft. Also feels like the ceramic may have worn down the metal shaft some

 

[exnisstech]

I have a few with the rust colored stain. Not sure why some have it and some don't unless some GFO found it's way into a few. None of my sleeves have come off yet. I've been running mine for several years with no issues that I'm aware of. I do not do ICP so I can't say for certain nothing bad is coming off. I've heard is people using a light coating of silicone on the shaft to hold the ceramic on. Someone said that's how they are attached when new but I don't know if that's fact or not.

 

[Saltyreef]

The ceramic should be fused to the stainless shaft. If its not and theres rust on the shaft, that means it has failed and allowed water to penetrate. You could try to sand down the rust on the shaft and refuse the ceramic to it but you would be better off just buying a new wetside. Its a common failure unfortunately.

 

[Bear22]

Yep, common failure that Ecotech has yet to resolve. I just replaced the shaft on a MP10QD less than 10 months old. And now the dry side is making more noise than usual which means the bearings might be on the fritz.

 

[Linden13]

I never heard the ceramic was supposed to be fused to the metal shaft before. I have 2 mp40 and the shafts both slid right off brand new. The other mp40 doesnt have any discoloration both probably around 2 years old cant remember exactly. Never used gfo. I did order a new wet side this morning I will check if that ceramic slides off when I get it. I will probably see if I can clean this one up anymore and just use it temporarily while I clean the other heads.

Are you talking a out silicone that dries, the kind that holds glass tanks together, to keep the ceramic on?

 

[Saltyreef]

I never heard the ceramic was supposed to be fused to the metal shaft before. I have 2 mp40 and the shafts both slid right off brand new. The other mp40 doesnt have any discoloration both probably around 2 years old cant remember exactly. Never used gfo. I did order a new wet side this morning I will check if that ceramic slides off when I get it. I will probably see if I can clean this one up anymore and just use it temporarily while I clean the other heads.

Are you talking a out silicone that dries, the kind that holds glass tanks together, to keep the ceramic on?

Odd. I'm not entirely sure but I don't think they are meant to be loose fit onto the stainless shaft for an MP40. I am entirely sure its fused on an MP10. I dont think they would design it differently for the larger pump.

You can actually just buy the base.

https://store2.ecotechmarine.com/products/mp40qd-wet-frame-assembly

 

[exnisstech]

Are you talking a out silicone that dries, the kind that holds glass tanks together, to keep the ceramic on?

Correct. It works as an adhesive.

PS I keep an eye in the magnets also. My MP40s have been ok but I've had two magnets crack on MP10s

 

[mmorrison55]

I think if you clean the rust off, lube it up it should be ok to use, assuming the propellor turns and doesnt make an excessive noise or stalls out.

But always a good idea to have an extra wet side or two.

Attached is a correspondence I had with ecotech support for this very matter…

They of course recommended new wetside.

 

[mmorrison55]

Correct. It works as an adhesive.

PS I keep an eye in the magnets also. My MP40s have been ok but I've had two magnets crack on MP10s

That’s scary

 

[Linden13]

I will definitely be checking the new website I order when it comes in to see if the ceramic is secure. Im going to order a wet frame also I didn't know we can get them separately. Worth the money to not worry about it. Thanks for info