Cat pump repair

[cleaning up mud]

Who repairs their own cat pumps and how far do you go to repair them yourself? Seals, rods, etc.?

 

[MEP001]

I can and do repair any aspects of them as you know, but there are limits. If a pump throws a rod, for example, it's not cost-effective to repair.

 

[PaulLovesJamie]

Valves, seals, & plungers are easy, I think most of us do that ourselves. Anything beyond that I'd guess almost none of us diy.

 

[Randy]

Anymore we only replace the seals and valves. When the crankcase goes it's not cost effective to repair the crankcase.

 

[Kirb]

How often do you change seals, valves, and plungers? How do you know when to replace them?

Thanks,
Kirb

 

[MEP001]

How often do you change seals, valves, and plungers?

Usually the valve o-rings will go first, although I'm having more problems with the low-pressure seals leaking, at which point I replace all the seals and o-rings.

You want to replace seals and valve o-rings at the first sign of pressure loss to prevent washing out the manifold. If they've been sleeved with stainless inserts, that's not an issue, but you wouldn't want to leave it running rough for other damage it can cause.

The plungers on a Cat pump almost never go bad unless something unusual happens.

 

[Kirb]

Thanks Mep. When do you replace valves? With seals and valves do you change them as preventative maintance?
Thanks,
Kirb

 

[MEP001]

You shouldn't ever have to replace the valves themselves, just the o-rings and backup rings. I've had to replace the plastic tops on them a few times when an employee left the wash-down switch on, but they don't wear.

I don't replace seals as preventive maintenance. I replace them at the first sign of a drop in pressure or pulsation. I've had two of the heads sleeved already, and once they're all done there's no reason at all to replace them until needed.