May 19 2008
Fast Reaction — water pump replaced
Jason, my espresso machine connection, zipped over today and replace the seized water pump. $350 parts, and a $50 for an hour’s time. Massively cheaper than finding a new espresso machine.
Not clear why the thing started leaking and seized. Bearing seal failed, and then having a chance to sit for 10 days let it rust up enough to be permanently frozen?
The old pump is a nice piece of brass paper-weight.
The seal in the bearing may not be meant to seal out water. I think it is just to seal out dirt and seal in the lubricant.
I would be looking at what is allowing water to leak down the motor shaft area onto the outside of the bearing.
Perhaps you should install a thin plastic slinger plate over the shaft shown in the pix so when the motor turns the pump it slings off any water laying on top of the slinger plate.
Perhaps it originally had a slinger and someone forgot to install it.
Perhaps there is some other failed seal involved.
On second thought;
The seal that is on the pump shaft down inside the pump must have given way allowing water to come up to the bearing from the back.
debris in the water, a grain of sand, do you have a filter on the machine supply?
miss alignment of the pump and motor, the motor should slide onto the pump shaft straight and true and remain that way when the bolts are tightened. Might be that the tubing is cocked. Once the motor is installed you could loosen all the tubing connections at the pump and at the other end so the tubing is all loose then retighted to see if the tubing is pulling the pump out of alignment.
some part missing
some other leak dripping on the outside of the pump