Reef Central Online Community

Go Back   Reef Central Online Community > General Interest Forums > Do It Yourself
Blogs FAQ Calendar Mark Forums Read

Notices

User Tag List

Reply
Thread Tools
Unread 09/03/2010, 04:25 PM   #1
dahenley
Registered Member
 
dahenley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Lubbock, Tx
Posts: 3,165
Noisy Vortech DrySide FIX!!

THIS WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY!!

I am not responsible for your or my actions and can not guarantee any ones outcomes.

Well, because i am a college student and my pocket book always reflects this..... and i own a 240gal tank with not enough flow. i decided to invest in a USED Ecotech Vortech..

I purchased an "Original" Vortech from a reefer. when i purchased it, i didnt realize that the "Original" ones had no modes or programing.... just a speed control.


I purchased it in a non working state. i was told that the pump need a powersupply. SO, i purchased a powersupply from Ecotech. Plugged my pump in and heard it come to life for about 5sec... the a nasty red light of death. so, i purchased a ES driver upgraded from a guy. Then, it works great. it just makes a lot of noise......

I pulled the wetside off and held the dry side and could still hear the noise. So, i pulled the magnet off the pump. just incase there was a piece of metal that got pulled to the magnet and would cause the noise.... NO such luck...

Now, i decide to take it to the MAX. I decide to FIX it my self!!! (seriously, who buys a 400$ pump and tears it apart ) THIS GUY DOES!! plus, i couldnt afford a 220$ DrySide.


HERE we go, hold on and get ready to see how to fix this problem!!!!!!


__________________
Its not just my tank, its OUR tank!!! :-)

240display, reef in progress

Current Tank Info: 240 display, a few frags here and there. lots of fish, and lots of watching. (230 big screen getting re-sealed and going to add to the gallonage) My wife has no clue how addicted i really am.....

Last edited by Dino; 03/30/2018 at 04:50 AM.
dahenley is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/03/2010, 04:34 PM   #2
dahenley
Registered Member
 
dahenley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Lubbock, Tx
Posts: 3,165
Well, its time to tear this baby apart!

First, pull the adjuster off the bottom of the pump


Now, its time to take the magnet off the pump.. (just take the center SS screw off and thats it)


Now, flip it over, and grab a Razor blade and begin the removal of the sticker


Once your done with that, remove the 3 screws that hold the pump motor into the housing


once that is done, you will have to push the motor and cord out of the housing (it should look like this now)


Now, there are 3 long screws that hold the motor housing apart.
then, pull housing off, and pull the inner mag/bearing assy out


This is what you will need to get out.


you will need to get your bearings off the shaft without breaking or chipping your black magnet outer cover. you can not buy this part if anything happens or you break it.
i used 2 screw drivers and i was able to pop off the bearings.
i also got a cheap Bearing press off E b a y and it will work just as good. (harbor Freight didnt have a small one in my area....)

Now, you will need the bearings!!!!!!!!


With the new bearings, press them on the shaft.
your mag assy should look like this now.



__________________
Its not just my tank, its OUR tank!!! :-)

240display, reef in progress

Current Tank Info: 240 display, a few frags here and there. lots of fish, and lots of watching. (230 big screen getting re-sealed and going to add to the gallonage) My wife has no clue how addicted i really am.....

Last edited by Dino; 03/30/2018 at 04:51 AM.
dahenley is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/03/2010, 04:41 PM   #3
dahenley
Registered Member
 
dahenley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Lubbock, Tx
Posts: 3,165
NOW, its time to put this baby back together!!

re-install your mag assy in the housing.
(make sure your spring washer is on the wireside/magnet side of the housing)


Before you put the pump all the way back together, i plugged mine in after i had the inner housing screwed together. (i wanted to test it and make sure everything is good. just in case i needed to take things back apart)


Guess what!! This baby is rocking and is Dead Silent!!
i let my driver ramp up and down a few times before turning it off and finishing the assy


Now, put the motor back in the housing


re-install the sticker!! and make sure its straight. no need in cutting corners now!


Now, the real test!!!



This pump is rocking, and is silent again....
and i didnt have to spend 220$ on a new DrySide!!!


__________________
Its not just my tank, its OUR tank!!! :-)

240display, reef in progress

Current Tank Info: 240 display, a few frags here and there. lots of fish, and lots of watching. (230 big screen getting re-sealed and going to add to the gallonage) My wife has no clue how addicted i really am.....

Last edited by Dino; 03/30/2018 at 04:52 AM.
dahenley is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/03/2010, 04:44 PM   #4
dahenley
Registered Member
 
dahenley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Lubbock, Tx
Posts: 3,165
Lastly, the bearings that i used were

607Z (7 X 19 X 6)

and

698ZZ (8 X 19 X 6)


__________________
Its not just my tank, its OUR tank!!! :-)

240display, reef in progress

Current Tank Info: 240 display, a few frags here and there. lots of fish, and lots of watching. (230 big screen getting re-sealed and going to add to the gallonage) My wife has no clue how addicted i really am.....
dahenley is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/03/2010, 05:08 PM   #5
ultreef
Registered Member
 
ultreef's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 110
What kind of bearing did you replace it with? Do you have the specs on those?

I know the original ones are NMB-1980. I thought both were the same size.


ultreef is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/03/2010, 05:20 PM   #6
Porcupinepuffer
Registered Member
 
Porcupinepuffer's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Posts: 299
This is awesome stuff.


__________________
120g AGA~145lbs Haitian LR~DA RK2 Controler~2x 14k 250 DE MH's~2x Ovrflows~96W Actnics~Mag 12 Rturn~Modified BKing 180 Skimer~Phsban Ractr~GEO Kalk Ractr~Powerheads:MP40w/Seio 820/modified Psweep 270

Current Tank Info: 120 AGA
Porcupinepuffer is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/03/2010, 05:26 PM   #7
dahenley
Registered Member
 
dahenley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Lubbock, Tx
Posts: 3,165
Quote:
Originally Posted by ultreef View Post
What kind of bearing did you replace it with? Do you have the specs on those?

I know the original ones are NMB-1980. I thought both were the same size.
The 1980 converts to the 698. Different brand.
and the bearings are different internal bore.
The other is a 607. The Z and ZZ explains the difference seals or sheilds.

The bearings Are standard roller bearings. Not flanged bearings


__________________
Its not just my tank, its OUR tank!!! :-)

240display, reef in progress

Current Tank Info: 240 display, a few frags here and there. lots of fish, and lots of watching. (230 big screen getting re-sealed and going to add to the gallonage) My wife has no clue how addicted i really am.....
dahenley is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/03/2010, 05:42 PM   #8
ultreef
Registered Member
 
ultreef's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 110
I asked because I think there is room for improvement over the stock NMB ones. But i'm no expert in bearings.

My vortechs are perfectly fine. They aren't dead silent, but maybe there is a compatible bearing out there that's better? less noise, less resistants and last longer? Maybe someone that knows bearing can help.

Thanks.



Quote:
Originally Posted by dahenley View Post
The 1980 converts to the 698. Different brand.
and the bearings are different internal bore.
The other is a 607. The Z and ZZ explains the difference seals or sheilds.

The bearings Are standard roller bearings. Not flanged bearings



ultreef is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/03/2010, 05:43 PM   #9
SWINGRRRR
Premium Member
 
SWINGRRRR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Pcola FL
Posts: 2,504
Nice job. (Dang not even a mention for technical support) J/Jing. I plan to get my bearings on Monday. Can you PM the flea bay link to the seperator plate?


__________________
Have you ever tried to hold a monkey still if it is not drunk ~ insteng

Current Tank Info: 45gal Rimless mixed reef--SWC 150BMK--2xMP10ESW--Giesemann 150W HQI
SWINGRRRR is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/03/2010, 05:45 PM   #10
SWINGRRRR
Premium Member
 
SWINGRRRR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Pcola FL
Posts: 2,504
Quote:
Originally Posted by ultreef View Post
I asked because I think there is room for improvement over the stock NMB ones. But i'm no expert in bearings.

My vortechs are perfectly fine. They aren't dead silent, but maybe there is a compatible bearing out there that's better? less noise, less resistants and last longer? Maybe someone that knows bearing can help.

Thanks.
This is mainly for people with 1+ year old Vortecs when the bearings get LOUD. Not a stock upgrade.


__________________
Have you ever tried to hold a monkey still if it is not drunk ~ insteng

Current Tank Info: 45gal Rimless mixed reef--SWC 150BMK--2xMP10ESW--Giesemann 150W HQI
SWINGRRRR is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/03/2010, 06:05 PM   #11
XSiVE
Registered Member
 
XSiVE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Waterford, MI
Posts: 790
Thanks for this, it has taken away any fear of purchasing an old gen1


XSiVE is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/03/2010, 10:03 PM   #12
seashark
Registered Member
 
seashark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NY
Posts: 293
Quote:
Originally Posted by dahenley View Post
Lastly, the bearings that i used were

607Z (7 X 19 X 6)

and

698ZZ (8 X 19 X 6)
first of all thanks for sharing, i am also thinking to do this, are this bearings above , can i use 607Z (7x19x6) on each end of the shaft? or oposite end of the shaft takes 698ZZ (7x19x6)? thanks


seashark is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/03/2010, 10:10 PM   #13
dahenley
Registered Member
 
dahenley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Lubbock, Tx
Posts: 3,165
the inside diameter is different on the bearings. so you will use the 607Z for one side and a 698ZZ on the other. you cant mess it up. they will only fit on one side. also, because the bearings are not flanged, there is no front or back side to the bearing. if that helps


__________________
Its not just my tank, its OUR tank!!! :-)

240display, reef in progress

Current Tank Info: 240 display, a few frags here and there. lots of fish, and lots of watching. (230 big screen getting re-sealed and going to add to the gallonage) My wife has no clue how addicted i really am.....
dahenley is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/03/2010, 11:35 PM   #14
seashark
Registered Member
 
seashark's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NY
Posts: 293
thanks , could you post the link where you got your bearings please,


seashark is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/03/2010, 11:56 PM   #15
jedheuer
Registered Member
 
jedheuer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Sonoma, Ca
Posts: 558
How noisy was the dry side before you made your fixes? By dead silent now do you really mean dead silent as in you cannot hear it at all??


jedheuer is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/04/2010, 12:16 AM   #16
iamwrasseman
Registered Member
 
iamwrasseman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: syracuse
Posts: 7,003
funny that so many of them fail in this way ,you would think that for the money they would work forever but they dont and its quite disappointing to me as my $50 tunzies and korallia's work for years trouble free .
just my 2 pennies


__________________
This hobby certainly can put you in some weird positions !

Dave

Current Tank Info: 40 freshwater,25saltwater 2000 gallons ,enough tanks for an army ?
iamwrasseman is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/04/2010, 01:50 AM   #17
ultreef
Registered Member
 
ultreef's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 110
Quote:
Originally Posted by SWINGRRRR View Post
This is mainly for people with 1+ year old Vortecs when the bearings get LOUD. Not a stock upgrade.
A brand new out of the box Vortech isn't quiet to begin with. So if there is an improvement that can be made, simply by changing the bearing, to reduce the noise, make it run smoother with less resistance and last longer. Then why not?


ultreef is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/04/2010, 06:48 AM   #18
SWINGRRRR
Premium Member
 
SWINGRRRR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Pcola FL
Posts: 2,504
Quote:
Originally Posted by ultreef View Post
Then why not?
I has a year warranty. If its that bad send it back. I wouldn't mess with any $200+ part still under warranty but YMMV.


Most remote control hobby shops will have the 607 bearing. Its a HPI1421. Its a crankcase bearing to them, but still fairly common.


__________________
Have you ever tried to hold a monkey still if it is not drunk ~ insteng

Current Tank Info: 45gal Rimless mixed reef--SWC 150BMK--2xMP10ESW--Giesemann 150W HQI
SWINGRRRR is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/04/2010, 07:32 AM   #19
dahenley
Registered Member
 
dahenley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Lubbock, Tx
Posts: 3,165
Quote:
Originally Posted by jedheuer View Post
How noisy was the dry side before you made your fixes? By dead silent now do you really mean dead silent as in you cannot hear it at all??
My tank was in the Den, and i could hear it 1-2 rooms away.. it was noisy!!
and your right about "Dead" silent. if i am right next to it, i can hear it. (with in a 1-2feet) after that, the noise is gone for me.

my recliner is 8-10 feet from the corner of my tank where the Vortech is, and i cant hear it. (if that helps??)

i can tell that some of the noise that i can hear on mine, is from the actual magnet on the DrySide. it isnt 100% round. you can see it if you hold the DrySide and look at it as you turn it on. but, its not that far out of round, and because its SSOOOOOO much more quiet now, im not worrying about it. (plus they dont sell the DrySide magnet so there is nothing i can do)


__________________
Its not just my tank, its OUR tank!!! :-)

240display, reef in progress

Current Tank Info: 240 display, a few frags here and there. lots of fish, and lots of watching. (230 big screen getting re-sealed and going to add to the gallonage) My wife has no clue how addicted i really am.....
dahenley is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/04/2010, 07:37 AM   #20
dahenley
Registered Member
 
dahenley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Lubbock, Tx
Posts: 3,165
Quote:
Originally Posted by iamwrasseman View Post
funny that so many of them fail in this way ,you would think that for the money they would work forever but they dont and its quite disappointing to me as my $50 tunzies and korallia's work for years trouble free .
just my 2 pennies
50$ Tunzies, that's a DEAL!!
and you have to think, your getting one heck of a pump. (its taken me 2 years to save up enough money and find a deal on one of these and be able to buy it.) the flow is great. Its about the Equivalent of a MJ1200 with the White impeller mod. the only difference is the Vortech doesn't make a humming noise when on like the MJ. Its flow is about the same distance, but the Vortech has about 2-3 times the width of flow verses the MJ. and the Vortech is controllable.

as for the working for years, there is never any problem with it working, its just the bearings get wore, and need replacing. (just like brakes on a car. every one is different and some can go years with out maintenance and others less then a year. on the same make and model of vehicle. its just life)
plus the bearings are TOTALLY different on the Vortech. it uses roller bearings verses a bushing and ceramic shaft. Ecotech could invest in Ceramic roller bearings, but then the price of the pump would go up 100$ or so.... for some, it might be worth it, and others like me, its not.


My .02


__________________
Its not just my tank, its OUR tank!!! :-)

240display, reef in progress

Current Tank Info: 240 display, a few frags here and there. lots of fish, and lots of watching. (230 big screen getting re-sealed and going to add to the gallonage) My wife has no clue how addicted i really am.....
dahenley is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/04/2010, 07:42 AM   #21
dahenley
Registered Member
 
dahenley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Lubbock, Tx
Posts: 3,165
Quote:
Originally Posted by seashark View Post
thanks , could you post the link where you got your bearings please,
My local bearing house had them on the shelf. its not a weird bearing..

I also ordered mine off Sneeze Bay because they were only 1-4$ verses 15$ each locally........ (as far as ordering over the internet, go ahead and find a reputable bearing brand. its not worth the 1-2$ difference in a cheap verses quality bearing. plus you will get better precession and less noise. just a fact)

but RC shops keep them as well. just make a few calls and you will be surprised at where you can get them. (i seriously thought they would be hard to find.... man, was i mistaken.
The hard part was crossing the bearing numbers over.... after a while, i had to get out my Digital Calipers and guess what..... its a local bearings.

the bearings on the Original shaft were a funky brand and thats what caused the hard cross over...


__________________
Its not just my tank, its OUR tank!!! :-)

240display, reef in progress

Current Tank Info: 240 display, a few frags here and there. lots of fish, and lots of watching. (230 big screen getting re-sealed and going to add to the gallonage) My wife has no clue how addicted i really am.....
dahenley is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/04/2010, 08:24 AM   #22
sjm817
On Yer left!
 
sjm817's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 18,777
Quote:
Originally Posted by iamwrasseman View Post
funny that so many of them fail in this way ,you would think that for the money they would work forever but they dont and its quite disappointing to me as my $50 tunzies and korallia's work for years trouble free .
just my 2 pennies
$50 Tunze? Which model would that be? The closest equivalent model is a 6105. This forum is also chock full of people with Koralia problems. Nothing works forever and worn dryside bearings on a Vortech are extremely rare. This is actually the first one I've seen posted. I ran Tunzes for years and liked them. They didn't last "forever" either. The impeller assembly wore and had to be replaced every year or so. Once the body housing gets worn eough, you have to replace the whole pump, but that is also many years down the road.


__________________
- Scott

Last edited by sjm817; 09/04/2010 at 09:03 AM.
sjm817 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/04/2010, 08:30 AM   #23
sjm817
On Yer left!
 
sjm817's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 18,777
dahenly

Nice DIY write up on the bearing replacement.


__________________
- Scott
sjm817 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/04/2010, 09:36 AM   #24
sfsuphysics
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 9,103
wow... when I had a dry side make horrid noise I tried to see if something was "stuck" as well, unfortunately I couldn't get the magnet off as I couldn't get the magnet to hold still while I dried to unscrew the screw.

Either way its quite disappointing to see that this is a 100% fixable thing yet Ecotech is charging massive bucks for a replacement, and then probably just rebuilding the ones you mail in hoping they'll fix (yet end up telling you it needs to be completely replaced)


__________________
Mike
sfsuphysics is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 09/04/2010, 10:24 AM   #25
dahenley
Registered Member
 
dahenley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Lubbock, Tx
Posts: 3,165
Quote:
Originally Posted by sfsuphysics View Post
wow... when I had a dry side make horrid noise I tried to see if something was "stuck" as well, unfortunately I couldn't get the magnet off as I couldn't get the magnet to hold still while I dried to unscrew the screw.

Either way its quite disappointing to see that this is a 100% fixable thing yet Ecotech is charging massive bucks for a replacement, and then probably just rebuilding the ones you mail in hoping they'll fix (yet end up telling you it needs to be completely replaced)
If you use a Razor and take the sticker off the back of the DrySide, you can see a Flat Head area to put a screwdriver. this is the shaft that goes through the motor and to the magnet. so you can use a Flathead to hold the shaft from turning, and a fillips on the other side to unscrew the screw that holds the magnet on. i was able to just push on the magnet and give a quick turn on the screw and mine broke loose. but i can see where some could be hard to unscrew.

just another tip if needed.


as far as being expensive, some people have said that if you mail in your dryside for a new one, they will sell you the new one for 160$ish but that is just hearsay. (im just too broke to afford that. )


__________________
Its not just my tank, its OUR tank!!! :-)

240display, reef in progress

Current Tank Info: 240 display, a few frags here and there. lots of fish, and lots of watching. (230 big screen getting re-sealed and going to add to the gallonage) My wife has no clue how addicted i really am.....
dahenley is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Noisy Vortech on Dry End and inconsistent pulse mode....... nanoguy EcoTech Marine 2 12/26/2007 04:53 PM
Noisy Koralia? Easy Fix! Uncle Boo Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment 1 12/24/2007 11:27 AM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:13 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Use of this web site is subject to the terms and conditions described in the user agreement.
Reef CentralTM Reef Central, LLC. Copyright ©1999-2022
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging v3.3.0 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.