Ponds and Water Gardens - Pond pump loses pressure.

Can anyone look at this pump and tell me some specs about it? Like what kind of PSI, or GPH I should expect from it?

http://star.walagata.com/w/fubar94/Pond/P1010204.JPG
http://star.walagata.com/w/fubar94/Pond/P1010199.JPG

This is a pump for my pond system in my back yard that was already here when I bought the place several years ago. There are no markings on the pump, except for TACO. Does that mean it's mexican? lol Sorry, couldn't resist. I've tried searching online for it but all I find are the newer and more modern styles. This one was new probably back in the early seventies, I'm guessing.

Anyway, the problem I'm having is that the pressure will gradually diminish over a period of time...ten to twenty minutes, and I can't figure out why. It has a 1 1/2 inlet supply with a 1 1/4 outlet. It's currently setup for 115V. It's just being used as a recirculating pump, which feeds the waterfall. Sure seems to me that I should have way more pressure and flow than what I need for this situation with this pump and motor setup, but for some reason it keeps gradually losing pressure. I've disassembled and inspected the impeller. It looks OK to me. It doesn't make any contact with anything except water so there shouldn't be any wear, and there doesn't appear to be any.

Anybody know anything about it?

Here's some more pics of how it's being used.
http://star.walagata.com/w/fubar94/Pond/P1010212.JPG
http://star.walagata.com/w/fubar94/Pond/P1010213.JPG
http://star.walagata.com/w/fubar94/Pond/P1010206.JPG



Thanks...Randy

It sounde like maybe the suction is getting stoped up.If it does good at first and then gets worse over a short time.Thats what it sound like its doing..

If the impeller section of the pump appears okay, it may be time for a new motor. Or, it may just need rewound.
Check around your area for baldor motor repairs.
A new motor that size is about $300.

fred

fewalt, I had this same problem a couple years ago and I thought the same thing, so I bought this motor, but it is still doing ther same thing.

BTW, you are right on on the price of the motor. It was $300.00.:eek:

It does sound like it is getting clogged, but I can't find where, if that is the case.

Thanks...Randy

Monitor the pump current draw.
Downstream clogging should increase I, upstream blockage should decrease I.
Maybe 1% of the electrical energy for these pumps actually goes into raising the water, so you are looking for small differences.
You could also try to duplicate the symptoms in a tub of clean water.
I hope it's on a GFI.

Is there a check valve in your system somewhere? could it be bad or plugged up a little? I've seen bad check valve flappers on other pumps systems where the flap is floating around inside the housing causing all kinds of problems. Just a thought.

Check the line from the pump to the top of the waterfall/creek. Ours became clogged after years of continuous use. Once we discovered the problem and unclogged the pipe, everything worked good as new. Just another thought.