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?

3 comments

3 Comments

casey3932mo 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?

jones.brooke27d ago

Understand completely what you're saying. I've been there myself with a brand new piece of equipment and just had a gut feeling about a runtime, no manual in sight. It's a scary thing when you push something past what feels safe and the housing starts getting way too hot to touch. I think @blair626 was right to be worried, because that kind of heat can warp seals or fry the internals before you even realize it. Honestly, I'd trust your instinct more than a random timer if you were testing it out, but now you know to check the spec sheet next time. Live and learn, and at least you caught it before it let the smoke out.

blair6262mo 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.