Water Pump repair

[Mark]

Hi,

Can anyone point me at a source of information for the internals of Glenfield and Kenedy pumps?

We have one in the village (listed) which is not working. We've just had a quote for repair which has come in at just under £8000. Possibly we are being naive, but that seems quite expensive. :shock:

The quote doesnt specify much - basically remove to their premises, overhaul and refurbish as required.

Thanks.

Mark

 

[Flyfisher]

The listing refers to it as a drinking fountain. Does that imply it's not really a pump as such but just a push-button tap? If so, I would guess that the internal mechanism would be very simple, much simpler than a pump anyway. £8000 seems a great deal of money. Have you had just the one quote?

 

[Mark]

Thanks - You're quite right it isnt a proper pump - but all the references I can find describes them as pumps.

I should have thought of IoE earlier.

This is ours
http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=331760

The mechanism inside looked to be a couple of ~(broken) chains, a weight and some sort of valve under the base. The handle turns lifting the valve.

I saw it briefly when the people came out to quote and took the top off.

We've found that people are reluctant to look at it because it's listed. Plumbers all suggest putting a new mechanism inside.

I'm getting very tempted to see what I can do myself - I cant make it any worse and £8K is getting towards most of the parish council yearly budget.

 

[Jon Maine]

Modern innards would be the cheapest option, however are we trying to preserve the complete item or just the asthetics of the case?

I would suggest that the figure quoted is probably three or four times higher than it should be to overhaul the existing.

Assuming that it was a day to remove, another day to replace for two men plus transport you must be looking at around week in the workshop to repair probably re-manufacturing parts I would guess around £2000 plus vat, or if it required lbc because it were being "altered" possibly zero rated. Even if things have to be lathed up and manufactured I cant see it would be to far away from that sort of cost.

If you found installing modern plumbing were an option, with approval of those ethical decision makers that matter I can see it could well be half or less.

I am presuming that the thing just is essentially a large tap feed from a source of slightly pressurised water.

 

[chuckey]

The "active" bit of the valve is almost certainly a flap or disc of leather, the weight holds it closed or allows to water pressure to lift it. So how good are you with these sort of rusty mechanisms?
I presume the water is cocked off because with these sort of things the leather washer always rots out, its probabley gone in the cock too, opening it will allow the bits to get flushed out and it won't reseal. That said, removing the cap and twiddling with the mechanism and the application of a penetrating oil and wire brushing, should allow you to see how much of the mechanism can be salvaged. Bits like the chain would cost you an arm and a leg to have manufactured as identical, because they should be galvanised or brass. I think as a passable compromise, make all the internals out of modern materials (stainless steel and plastic) but stuff the old bits in a grease filled sealed plastic box and put it inside the housing. This is so an industrial archeologist can come along in 100 years and find out how the original mechanism was made.
Frank

 

[Jon Maine]

The "active" bit of the valve is almost certainly a flap or disc of leather, the weight holds it closed or allows to water pressure to lift it. So how good are you with these sort of rusty mechanisms?
I presume the water is cocked off because with these sort of things the leather washer always rots out, its probabley gone in the cock too, opening it will allow the bits to get flushed out and it won't reseal. That said, removing the cap and twiddling with the mechanism and the application of a penetrating oil and wire brushing, should allow you to see how much of the mechanism can be salvaged. Bits like the chain would cost you an arm and a leg to have manufactured as identical, because they should be galvanised or brass. I think as a passable compromise, make all the internals out of modern materials (stainless steel and plastic) but stuff the old bits in a grease filled sealed plastic box and put it inside the housing. This is so an industrial archeologist can come along in 100 years and find out how the original mechanism was made.
Frank

Yes you should be able to use stainless chain or brass chain off of the shelf from somewhere and replace flaps with more rot free durable materials.

Could the inside just be piped with a modern valve with a connection to the original operating lever?

What is the water supply? If it is mains possibly the type of mechanism used may require replacing to comply with regulations? Just a thought.

 

[Mark]

Thanks for those comments.

I'm reassured that I'm not wrong in spluttering my tea all over the keyboard when I got the email - I'll assume they dont really want to do it.

I hadn't thought about regs for the water supply - It is from a main with a stopcock and meter. But I know that the water people replaced some pipework leading to it a few years agoso I'd assumed all was fine on that front.

On a personal level I would prefer to maintain the internals - if that can be done at a sensible cost. I'm told that at one time most of the village obtained drinking water from a number of these pumps - of which this is the last remaining.

I think I'll get the top off and have a good look and see what I can sort with local engineering firms. And if we cant fix whats there I do like the idea of packing the old stuff into the body for the future.

Thanks again.

 

[skier-hughes]

I think I'll get the top off and have a good look and see what I can sort with local engineering firms. And if we cant fix whats there I do like the idea of packing the old stuff into the body for the future.

Thanks again.

Surely someone who can talk the talk can make local firms realise what an opportunity this is for promoting themsleves....... save you a lot of money, for the sake of maybe smallish plaque?