Is my pump broken?

[Buc_Nasty]

I recently got an eheim 2260 and I don't know if the pump motor is broken.
It ran fine for a few weeks, very quiet and everything. I changed some substrates, and some pebbles somehow got into the pump, and when i turned it on I could tell there were pebbles getting spun around in the impeller, then it completely stopped. I then took the motor apart and took out the pebbles.
Now the pump will pump, but every 20 seconds or so the water flow drastically drops off, stops, then starts up and a lot of air bubbles come out.
The whole time its really loud. I've checked everywhere for air leaks and whatnot but cant seem to find anything.
How can I tell if i simply need a new impeller or a whole new pump or if i have an air leak somewhere?? I want to be sure before I go spending a lot of money on new parts

 

[bigblue22]

might be the impeller.

 

[smpage]

Sounds like the impeller for sure. Might be worthwhile to make sure you put it back together correctly.

 

[Buc_Nasty]

When I ran it underwater with no tubes attached it was fine and the flow didnt fluctuate at all....still think its the impeller? Could it be that the diameter of some new piping im using is too small?

 

[zerojquan85]

from what your describing.. its most likely the impeller..

You might have broken it or something is bent or out of shape with the impeller.. usually with eheim stuff they are easy to maintain and repair.. i wouldnt say that your pump is broken... just the impeller is causing the issue..

 

[Buc_Nasty]

alright thanks for the quick replies I'll order a new impeller hopefully it fixes the problem

 

[zerojquan85]

alright thanks for the quick replies I'll order a new impeller hopefully it fixes the problem

depending on the issue.. it could be impeller or motor.. if its making sounds.. i would still double check..

but the reason why i mention a new motor is that the 2260 and 2262 EHEIM difference are in the pumps motor..... its the same unit.. so getting the impeller is a good idea.. but if it turns out to the motor.. u can always replace it..

 

[zennzzo]

Just check the pump housing and see if there is any wear through to the windings...remove the impeller and look in that hole...there is a field of windings epoxy encased in the housing...when you suck up substrate you turn the impeller magnet into a sanding wheel...the longer you run a noisy pump the sooner you'll destroy the housing...
You probably just snapped the shaft and the magnet was grinding the housing...if the housing is still sound, (no metal showing) then replace the impeller and the shaft with a new one...
You might find this part fairly spendy...the impeller assembly for my 2180 runs 80 bux...

 

[deeda]

When I ran it underwater with no tubes attached it was fine and the flow didnt fluctuate at all....still think its the impeller? Could it be that the diameter of some new piping im using is too small?

What is the diameter of the new piping you are using? If it is on the suction side of the filter, this might be the cause of your problems.

You also said it ran fine for a few weeks but then a pebble got stuck in the impeller well. Check to make sure the magnet on the impeller is not worn down and that you haven't broken off one of the impeller fins. Also check that the rubber bushings that hold the impeller shaft vertically centered are in place. One is located in the bottom of the impeller well & one is in the pump latch. You may need to use a flashlight to locate them.

 

[Buc_Nasty]

I removed the smaller intake tubing and the pump works fine now. The diameter was too small and it was restricting flow too much. I had gotten a really good deal on the Customflo Complete Kit (a bunch of piping, aerating, filter, etc PVC all with suction cups), and too much intake piping doesnt work, even with super strong pumps. My eheim 2260 had been modified before I got it with a 950gph pond pump.
The impeller looked fine anyways thats why I didnt want to jump the gun. Thanks for all the posts and help though everyone.