Stop While You’re Ahead…But

The old adage of ‘Stop while your ahead’ is great and all, but I haven’t gotten ahead — only more behind. I’m amending that saying to ‘Stop – just Stop’. I might tack on ‘and curl up into a ball and weep’ as well.

I once more went out to try and take apart my pump, as it has something fundamentally wrong with it again/ still. Yesterday, I soaked all the parts of pipe and pressure bell that I thought may need to come off in lubricant and left them to soak.

Just now I went out to try and disassemble the pipes leading away from the pump unit itself. The connector gave after three sharp raps and unscrewed nicely. The pipes were coated in ice inside put not clogged by a long shot. I moved on to take off the pipe leading out from the pump itself to try and see just how it worked, if it was clogged, and watch water flow.

I wanted to do this to see if I could solve the issue without having to take off the pressure bell, because the four nuts that hold it in place probably haven’t been moved since I was born – thus I suspect any attempt to undo them will simply strip and/or break them.

So I put my wrench on the pipe and gave it a few good smack with hammer. It seemed to be working. Maybe soaking it over night did more than I expected. I tried to strong arm it but it wouldn’t go. I decided to give it a few more whacks.

That’s when I realize it wasn’t unscrewing but shearing off at the point the male pipe went into the female pump unit.

Now I have to figure out how to get that piece out — I’m seeing a dremel, hand aching precision, and lots of cursing.

Well, I figured I might as well see what the water flow coming out was like – overlook the horrid and see if there is good.

I turned on the pump and – hmmmmm.

Didn’t want to turn

I was worried all the banging and shifting  had caused damage somehow.

No- it’s simply frozen ~sigh~ so now the heater is running and I’m waiting, knowing I”m going to have to take those four bolts out some how (and the piece broken off inside) and look at the pressure bell. I left them to soak some more as they warm up.

The only good news so far? That pressure sensor itself is only $25 bucks to replace. And since the one I have is in rough shape (and may not be working anymore) I’m just going to put a new one on and eliminate that possible problem  — since I have to take the old one off anyway.

If anybody wants me – I’ll be the one whimpering in the cold, dry bathtub.

Filed under: Homesteading Tagged: bath, crazy, frustration, plumbing, pressure sensor, water, waterpump, wrench