Bought a 2nd FX5 - it's REALLY loud!!

[johnnytaboo]

I took a short video of the noise it was making, but I'm not sure how to post it. The one I bought new (this one was used off CL) is whisper quiet. Any common causes for loud noise from an FX5 I should know about before I start buying new pieces?

Thanks for any help!
- Nohn


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[deeda]

I would take the pump off and check that the impeller is clear, nothing is broken and it is assembled properly.

Does it look like it is missing any pieces?

 

[drdrewr]

Take the pump off and you'll likely find that a piece of media has slipped down and the sound you hear is it rattling against the impeller. Happened to me!!!

 

[johnnytaboo]

Thanks guys. I took it apart last night, but the only thing I found was plain old sludge. The kind that accumulates when you don't clean your tank enough. I wiped everything down, cleaned the inside of the housing as best I could with one of my tube cleaners (little bristle brush on the end of a flexible wire) and tightened everything back up. Noise is still there. I'd like to say it's not as bad, but my wife says it's just as loud as before I cleaned it.

I looked at everything pretty closely. I didn't notice and visibly broken parts or wear. I do know the gentleman I bought it from used a sand substrate since I found a small amount in the bottom of the canister itself. Is there anything I may have forgotten to check?

I really hope this motor isn't permanently damaged.

Thanks again for the help!
- John

 

[1bigdovii]

My guess would be the magnet on the impellar is eaten up. Have you chacked it? Sand has done this in a few of my filters. A damaged mag is loud.

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[johnnytaboo]

I would purchase a new impeller assembly if I knew the magnet was at fault. Any signs to check for to determine whether the impeller assembly is the culprit? I'd have to spend the money on the impeller just to find out that there is a larger problem.

 

[Bderick67]

If you have two FX5s you can just swap the impellars to find out for sure if that is the cause.

 

[1bigdovii]

Are you able to remove the impeller shaft and magnet? If so what you need to do is remove it so you can look at the whole assembly. Inspect the impeller, the shaft and magnet. Make shure the magnet is smooth and still the proper shape. What sand alot of times will do is get in the mag area and score the mags surface. Or if the previous owner ran it really clogged for a long time the mag can end up mis-shaped or the shaft can bend from stress.

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[johnnytaboo]

If you have two FX5s you can just swap the impellars to find out for sure if that is the cause.

Damnit.... You're right. I knew that, I just didn't want to take both filters apart. This does make the most sense though. Removing and cleaning one isn't so bad, but I have a feeling that doing both is going to be a bit of a pain.

Are you able to remove the impeller shaft and magnet? If so what you need to do is remove it so you can look at the whole assembly. Inspect the impeller, the shaft and magnet. Make shure the magnet is smooth and still the proper shape. What sand alot of times will do is get in the mag area and score the mags surface. Or if the previous owner ran it really clogged for a long time the mag can end up mis-shaped or the shaft can bend from stress.

Great info Dovii! I will certainly inspect and compare the two impellers when I take the motors apart.

Thanks again everyone. Hopefully, if it's not a free fix, at least it won't be too expensive.

 

[Kevin911]

any update?