My mom has a gas barrel at the house, something dad put in over 50-years ago. The switch decided to go bad so now we have to "play with it" it get it to work. Wondering what kind of headache it is to pull the side of the motor off that has the switch to either clean it or bypass it and put an external switch on it.
Only concern I would have is a pump motor or switch for any flammable or combustible should probably be explosion proof construction.
X2 I just fixed my 40 year old table saw motor last week. It however, was not anywhere near flammable stuff. Normally cleaning, greasing the bearings, and touching up contact surfaces inside the motor will get most running again. Mine had the internal centrifugal switch contacts with crud on them. Cleaned them with sandpaper and put it all back together and it works like new again. That switch has to be closed to allow the motor to start, but opens as soon as it gets up to a certain rpm. I've never worked on explosion proof gear so I'm not sure what it takes to make them sealed up to keep gas fumes, oxygen, and sparks all separated. Switches for sure make sparks... Stay Safe!!!
Many/most times explosion proof motors aren't actually totally sealed...they are just made in a way to contain an explosion/flame path. I would think that a gas pump would surely be a class 1/div 1 designation, which means it's designed to be used around explosive fumes. Most of the time it's really not that hard to work on them, but I have zero experience with a pump like that one, and no idea how hard it will be to get into, or find parts for. You could likely find a new switch that would work, but technically the only way for it to still have its class 1/div 1 designation, it has to be worked on by a certified repair center...but lawyers are the main people that really care about that. Some motor shops will still repair a model/brand that they are not certified to repair, if you sign off on their liability. That said, I'd totally try to tear into that if it were mine, but that's just me.
Is the barrel gas or diesel? The end of the motor with the switch will come off. Clean the end so you don't get dirt in the mating surfaces. As Dave said they are not air tight but use close fitting joints to stop flame spread. It probably has a standard switch inside although you might find it is a linkage issue. Carful when you pull off the end as the wiring is usually rather short.
Thanks all, I didn't think about the explosion proof until last night/this morning. One option in the back of my mind is to bypass it and let her use the circuit breaker that is just inside the garage door, but that's not my first choice. Good chance we can get an electrician if needed but at least for now it is working and mom did use it by herself yesterday while we were there. Edit to add, that we could also install a switch on the side of the house for her to use.
Gasoline just thought I should get some ideas first plus we only had a couple of hours to spend up there. Next trip I will take the air compressor plus plan on the weekend, hopefully above freezing, to see about taking it apart. I will also be running these ideas past my brother who helps with these projects. Looked at replacements, around $500 range, but I bet this one will outlive them.
So it sounds like you can get it to work if you play with the switch long enough...so do that, get it to run, then just leave it on at the pump, after you wire a power switch inside...that's how Dad has his, just for theft reasons.
Correct, seems like when you pull it all the way out and then push it back in halfway is working so gives us time to get back up there (Christmas) and hopefully have nice weather. Thanks again.
Basically, a farm gas tank, but in town. My dad always kept if for his personal as well as shop vehicles. He passed away but our mom still uses it to fill her cars with gas. Saves her from going downtown to a station to fill up. My dad always filled it when prices were down but went downtown if the prices dropped below what he paid for bulk gas.
