Water Softeners and Air Filtration Systems - 5600 Econominder Timer Woes

Hello all,
Long time reader... first time poster.

Here's the sort version... see below for the long.

I've noticed that the timer on my Model 5600 Econominder doesn't keep the right time. When I manually try and some of the other functions such as recharging the machine makes noise so it makes me believe that it's not an electrical problem and rather a timer problem. I believe if I replace the timer, things should work fine.

Question 1: Does my assessment seem correct? Is this only a timer problem?
Question 2: Should I try and replace it myself? I see a set of instructions. If you look at page 28 on the following website you can see them too!
http://www.ohiopurewaterco.com/40106(R6)4-01.pdf
Question 3: Would it be worth it just to buy a new softener? I can't find a date on this one, but the house was built in 1992, so it can't be more than 14 years old.
Question 3: Is there anything I can do manually to get soft water while we're waiting for me or someone else to fix it?

LONG VERSION:

I noticed that there was a white buildup on our dishes so I thought it might be a water softener problem. I went down to check it out and noticed it didn't seem like there was any salt used over the past month or so. I reset the timer and started researching the problem. I also moved the manual regeneration knob around and noticed that it seemed to activate the system. Since I didn't know what any of it did... I quickly moved it back to the service position. When I came back to look at the system, I noticed that time of day hadn't changed. Now I'm assuming since when I manually shifted the regeneration the machine kicked into gear, that it's not an electrical problem, but rather a problem with the timer only.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. I'll be sure to report back!
Bill

Lay your ear on the left side/top of the power head and listen for the hum of the motor. If you hear it the motor is running but the gear may be broken or other gears may be. If you turned the knob CCW the gears wil be bust.

If you don't hear the motor, check the electric is on at the wall and that the power cord is plugged in. There are two little wire nuts that connect the power cord to the motor, check them. Otherwise get a new motor. If the gears are bust, get a new power head as long as the softener was providing soft water before this. And form a habit of checking salt use on a weekly basis; you don't run your car out of gas often do you? :)

If you decide to replace the softener or control valve, I suggest using the Fleck 7000 or Clack WS-1 instead of the 5600 or others that require special tools tro work on.

Gary
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Doug Aleshire, Super Moderator 2

Thanks for the help Gary! It looks like you've been providing some valuable information to LOTS of people!! You're a SAINT!

I'm going away for Thanksgiving, but will be sure to check all you said out as soon as I get back and will report back when I check it out!

Have a Happy Holiday season!

Bill

P.S. As far as the gas in my car... I haven't run out of gas since high school! Luckly it has that handy little gas gauge that I'm forced to look at every day! I'll be checking my softener more often... once I get it fixed!

Hope you're still checking this out Gary!!

I got back from Thanksgiving and took the back off the controller to help figure out what is wrong. There is NO clicking sound so I think you're assessment that my motor is not working is correct. HOWEVER the metal case around the motor is warm (almost hot) to the touch. So, there must be energy getting into the motor correct?

I've manually regenerated the system and it all seems to work, in addition, I looked at the bottom of the controller on the inside to see if there were any broken plastic parts that would make me thing the gears were broken. There were no little plastic parts so I think it's just the motor.

Now I'm on the border of just getting a new motor or getting a new control valve. So me like replacing the whole thing might be in order since I don't get the feeling it's that great of a system. I also think it might be easier to replace the whole thing rather than just the motor. Does that seem to make sense?

Here's my questions:
1) Does my assessment seem valid so far?
2) Should I just get a new motor or should I replace the whole dang thing?
3) Is this something I should take on myself? I'm am SOMEWHAT handy.

Thanks in advance! If you have any school questions... let me know as I'm a school teacher!

Bill

The softener was installed in 1996, so this baby has been running for 8 years as near as we can tell. I've read where you need to replace your resin balls every 10 years. Would it be a good idea to replace these while I'm working on the controller? Does it make sense to replace the balls?

Thanks,
Bill

It sounds as if the piston may be sticking and the cure is new seals, spacers and piston. Maybe a new brine valve too. To replace them you need the special Fleck tools for a 5600. Call some local dealers and see what they think the problem is (this media is not so good due to lack of details) and see what they'd charge.

Gary
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Doug Aleshire, Super Moderator 2