Skimmer impeller shaft slipping out.

[instantaquatics]

So long story short, my skimmer impeller shaft is slipping out of the impeller. I know this is a bad sign as it needs to keep the impeller down, which it's not doing, which is causing the impeller to not run. It's not broken at all or anything, the shaft is just completely loose and not firm inside the impeller. What should I do?

 

[Saltyreef]

So long story short, my skimmer impeller shaft is slipping out of the impeller. I know this is a bad sign as it needs to keep the impeller down, which it's not doing, which is causing the impeller to not run. It's not broken at all or anything, the shaft is just completely loose and not firm inside the impeller. What should I do?

Photos?
Hard to picture in my mind.

 

[instantaquatics]

Photos?
Hard to picture in my mind.

Took a video.

 

[Saltyreef]

Took a video.

Once that pump is installed, the shaft pushes against something to keep it in place.
Its hard to get needlewheel pumps to start spinning sometimes but try jogging the power off and on to the pump with it installed and primed with water.

 

[instantaquatics]

Once that pump is installed, the shaft pushes against something to keep it in place.
Its hard to get needlewheel pumps to start spinning sometimes but try jogging the power off and on to the pump with it installed and primed with water.

I've done this multiple times. I do that and the skimmer starts running fine, but once I unplug it and plug it back in, it doesn't work.

 

[Saltyreef]

I've done this multiple times. I do that and the skimmer starts running fine, but once I unplug it and plug it back in, it doesn't work.

Is it a HOB type skimmer?
Is it used?
If so how old is it?

 

[instantaquatics]

Is it a HOB type skimmer?
Is it used?
If so how old is it?

It is a HOB skimmer, not used, bought it from the company Macro Aqua on amazon September 20th.

 

[Saltyreef]

It is a HOB skimmer, not used, bought it from the company Macro Aqua on amazon September 20th.

I just looked at a couple reviews since it had 2 stars and a lot of people complaining of the pump being hard to prime.
Might just want to cut your losses and get something like a CPR brand hang on skimmer.
Not sure if youll be able to get it to work without fiddling too much.
Sounds like a design flaw.

 

[instantaquatics]

I just looked at a couple reviews since it had 2 stars and a lot of people complaining of the pump being hard to prime.
Might just want to cut your losses and get something like a CPR brand hang on skimmer.
Not sure if youll be able to get it to work without fiddling too much.
Sounds like a design flaw.

How do you "prime" it? Do I really need to take the pump off everytime I empty the cup?

 

[instantaquatics]

What's really annoying is that the pump and impeller work fine, it's just that dang ceramic shaft doesn't push down on the impeller to make it work. If I do it with my fingers it does. Is there any other way I can keep the impeller down by DIYing it?