Can we talk about running a dredge pump dry for "cleaning"?

I tried that trick last month on a job near Baton Rouge where we had a sandbar clog. Everyone says to let it run dry for a few minutes to clear the impeller. I let it go for maybe 4 minutes and it shredded the rubber wear plate. Cost me $220 and a half day swapping it out. Has anyone else had a pump lock up from debris instead of clearing it that way?

2 comments

2 Comments

casey39327d ago

Wait, did you check the manufacturer spec before trying that, or just figure four minutes was safe? How hot did the housing get before you shut it down?

blair62627d ago

Freaked me out when you said that. Four minutes with no spec check? That housing must've been screaming hot. I would've shut it down way before that, man.