Operation, Maintenance and Repair
OPERATION
The rope pump has excellent characteristics with regard to
its operation and maintenance.
Its operation is very easy and consists solely in turning
the handle. The brake can be removed while pumping to
prevent continuous noise. Once the pumping is finished,
the brake must be put back on in order to prevent the
pulley wheel and handle from turning backwards.
MAINTENANCE
The maintenance can be divided into:
PROPER ROPE TENSION
It might be necessary to correct the tension in the rope
during the first weeks of use, as the knots tend to
lengthen the rope. Lack of tension in the rope can cause
the rope to slip over the pulley wheel. To alter the
tension in the rope, remove the rope and untie the knot.
Put the rope back on the pulley wheel with the desired
tension to measure where the new knot must be made, and
repeat the process of braiding.
GREASING
Oil or grease the bushings of the axle and the handle when
considered necessary. Any type of oil or grease can be used
to do this.
FASTENING
The fastening of the wheel should be revised periodically,
checking the screws.
CLEANING AND PAINTING
To prevent corrosion, clean and paint the wheel every year.
REPAIR
With proper maintenance the rope pump should not cause any
problem. The most common problems are caused by the rope
which is of a thickness (1/4" or 6 millimetres) which,
under normal circumstances, lasts three years. The most
common failures and their solutions are:
WEAR TO THE ROPE
Excessive wear to the rope can occur when the rope is
slipping over the pulley wheel while pumping or when the
rope is rubbing against the well cover or wall. Replace
the rope and prevent rubbing or slipping by correcting the
tension.
REPLACING THE ROPE
To replace the rope, insert a support rope without pistons
into the pipes while removing the worn rope. The same
support rope will serve to insert the new rope into the
pipes. Be careful of the direction of the pistons.
BROKEN ROPE
Before removing the pipes from the well a support rope
without pistons but with a small weight on its end, should
be lowered through the pumping pipe. (The weight must fit
into the pipes and pass through the guide box at the other
side.) Next the pumping pipe is removed and the new rope
with pistons is inserted with the help of the support rope.
If the pipes are already out of the well, the whole pipe
must be probed with a wire of the length of the pumping
pipe in order to be able to insert the new rope with pistons.
ROPE STUCK IN THE PUMPING PIPE
This kind of failure is normally caused by waste in the
well being suctioned into the pipe. Should it not be
possible to solve the problem by pulling the rope backwards,
the whole pipe must be taken out of the well in order to
pull the rope more firmly. If neither of these procedures
is successful, the pipe must be cut at the place where the
problem is detected and changed. To join the pipes again a
jacket must be made. This kind of work requires some experience.
THE WELL DRIED UP
If the well dries up, it should be deepened by about one
metre. Before installing the pump again, an extra piece of
pumping pipe is needed. The pumping pipe must be lengthened
using an extra piece of pipe with the jacket directed
downwards. An extra piece of rope is also needed.
HOW TO MAKE A JACKET ON A PIPE
The commercial pipes always have a jacket at one end. But
in case it was necessary to cut the pumping pipe or if you
only have access to a piece of pipe without a jacket it
will be useful to know how to make one.
Heat the end of the pipe (only one inch), take it out of
the fire and insert a piece of the same type of pipe into
the heated end. Repeat this procedure about three times to
obtain a complete jacket. The pipe which was used to make
the jacket will reduce its diametre when inserted into the
heated pipe end. Cut this pipe when it is reduced too much.
(Prevent the pipe from burning or scorching at all times.
The smoke generated by PVC is known to be very dangerous.)