Anyone rebuild vacuum pumps?

[Tracs]

My friend has 2 Chinese manufactured vacuum pumps that need rebuilding. They are out of free standing vacuum packing machine.

I started to take one apart and when I took the end cover of the rotor I found the 3 vanes. The pump is steel and the 3 vanes are aluminum. The tops of the vanes are rounded off, but not evenly rounded. Are the vanes in a vacuum pump supposed to be rounded/angled or are these ones worn down causing the low vacuuming pressure?

The pump is a XD-020. Chinese built with zero references to parts or diagrams online.

I will post some pictures later.

 

[Packard V8]

Just have him call China Customer Service ;>)

Actually, it wasn't too difficult to find info. They're only $150-200 new, so how much labor and making your own parts is he willing to put into them?

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Manual-XD-020-Vacuum-Pump_60496963958.html

jack vines

 

[Tracs]

Just have him call China Customer Service ;>)

Actually, it wasn't too difficult to find info. They're only $150-200 new, so how much labor and making your own parts is he willing to put into them?

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Manual-XD-020-Vacuum-Pump_60496963958.html

jack vines

I have also found lots of for sale ads.

I would be re-building it for free. He will pay for parts.

 

[Packard V8]

FWIW, I once patched up a similar vacuum pump by changing to longer/stronger springs which push the vanes out.

jack vines

 

[Tracs]

FWIW, I once patched up a similar vacuum pump by changing to longer/stronger springs which push the vanes out.

jack vines

That makes sense. But this type of pump relies on the centrifugal force to throw the vanes out, no springs. I don't know why. Probably less parts so its cheaper to buy. I might look at drilling some pockets into the rotor vane slots to accept small springs.

 

[engineer2]

I tried rebuilding a JB HVAC vacuum pump that was worn out. No luck. Tried using a cylinder hone on the pump housing where the vanes ride. It's hardened steel and ruined the honing stones and slightly belled the pump housing. JB said they aren't rebuildable due to tight tolerances, just replace the entire pump cartridge assembly. That costs almost as much as a new pump. Would like to get rid of them.

Yours looks like it might be cast iron. A ball hone might work just to clean it up a bit. The sides of the vanes have to seal too, and that is tricky to get right.

 

[Danglerb]

If you had a good one to compare the bits to, you might be able to figure out what is worn.