Old water pump in garden

[Anonymous]

We've got an old cast iron water pump in the back garden, that I would like to recommission. I think it is in the region of 80 - 100 years old (the property is 96 years old)

A couple of questions arise:

1. What would the seals be made of, and is it easy to fashion replacement ones myself?

2. If the water level has dropped, how would I best re-bore a shaft & re-access the water?

 

[Anonymous]

I am not an expert in water pumps but my thoughts on this are –
The seals may have been made of leather (I can remember the bicycle pumps of my youth having leather on the end of the piston.)
If the pump has not been used for a long time the cylinder will be rusted and will therefore be rough and will soon wear out any seal you put in.
Don’t forget that there is usually a non return valve (called a foot valve) at the end of the pipe at the bottom of the well. That will have to be made to work again. Without the foot valve you will have to prime the pump every time you use it.
It would be easier probably to buy anewpump.
Mywifehasjustpouredcoffedownmycompuyerandthespacebardoesnotwork!
Ithinkiwillputherdownthewell!

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I'm thinking about running a new hose down there & connecting an electric pump to power the garden watering system.

I figure that using groundwater has got to be better environmentally (we are only about 4 feet above river level) than using treated water from the tap ....

Can anyone see any likely problems with this? I imagine, as the pump has been there for many years, that I have earned prescriptive rights to use it?