| What causes my ceramic plunger to crack? |
| The solid ceramic plungers used in the CAT PUMPS are extremely durable. If a plunger cracks it is typically due to foreign material lodged in the pump, improper manifold installation, thermal shock or dropping. IMPROPER INSTALLATION: The plunger can crack due to poor support when installing the manifold. Too much weight on the plunger or misalignment of the manifold can result in a circular crack around the plunger. If severe, it will be noticeable while the head is being pressed into position. It may also be evident after the head is installed and the pump is turned over by hand to check for smooth operation. If the plunger is cracked it will feel rough or turn hard. FOREIGN MATERIAL: A foreign solid becoming lodged between the plunger end and the head may result in a cracked plunger. Properly filtered pumped liquid and a covered supply tank can eliminate this. THERMAL SHOCK: Cracking can be caused by thermal shock. This is when the ceramic has excessively heated and is then hit with cold liquid. The ceramic cannot respond to the sudden change in temperature. This appears as a spider web cracking in the ceramic. Avoid high temperature liquids followed by cold liquids. Review the pump installation to avoid heat build-up from running dry. Be certain your supply tank is adequately sized and by-pass is properly handled for the duty cycles. |
|
|
