SnapOn VR500 Valve Grinder, pump doesn't pump

[Unmarked Bill]

Just picked up this valve grinder today on the cheap, and it all works except the oil pump. There's no vacuum at the hose that goes in the fluid. I could use a cheap aquarium pump I guess, but I'd like to fix it if i can.

Does anyone know who made these machines? That seems like it would help in finding a diagram or parts book etc. Thanks in advance for any info or advice.

Last thing, the old SnapOn catalogs list a Vinylite cover for these machines. has anyone ever seen one? I really want to get something like that made at the upholstery shop. It's under part# VRC-1 I think.


<a href="http://s19.photobucket.com/user/picturedlife/media/20130401_202939_zpsf19c1430.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/picturedlife/20130401_202939_zpsf19c1430.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20130401_202939_zpsf19c1430.jpg"/></a>

 

[Big-Foot]

The pump vanes are likely stuck in their resting position if this unit sat for a few years.

I would pull off the output lines and start dribbling PB Blaster or Liquid Wrench down those ports and leave it sit a few days and try again. You may also need to prime that pump in the same method using a bit of ATF..

 

[Unmarked Bill]

Thanks for responding, Randy. The vanes spin like hell but no vacuum, I don't even know how that could happen. Craziest time trying to get this thing to work, I pulled the pump and it had some lint in a ball in the middle of the vanes so I figured I had the culprit, but no change after I cleaned it out. I didn't take the top of the pump apart because I didn't want to disturb the drive for the valve turner/chuck. I eventually gave up for the time being and put it all back together but I hate to get beat by a little pump!

I just don't get what could cause a condition of no vacuum when the vanes spin free?

 

[rancherbill]

Here's the parts diagram.

It looks like there might be inline filters.

 

[Unmarked Bill]

Thanks Rancherbill, I thought that might be it but I pulled both hoses off, no vacuum at the barb.

Do you know who OEM'd this machine for SnapOn?

 

[rancherbill]

No.

 

[Unmarked Bill]

I gotta say I'm stumped. All you have is an inlet, an out, and some vanes spinning like crazy but not moving air somehow. Gasket surface is fine, no clearance or interference between the vanes and the cover plate, no joy. I'm not a genius but I can usually figure stuff out, this makes no sense.

 

[Unmarked Bill]

WOW I just talked to Dennis at BEAM equipment supplies in Maryland, this is definitely the guy to talk to about valve grinders.

This machine is a K.O. Lee, no parts or support available. Dennis gave me some advice about what to try, I'm going to take another run at this pump and if it doesn't work I'll buy a submersible pump from BEAM. He also has manuals.

 

[Big-Foot]

Bill, I would try the soaking method first, then disassemble it and clean it up.

If the vanes are not free to move in and out of the carrier, there will be no vacuum or pressure.
I would be it is just gummed up..
Here's a picture of a vane style pump for reference.

 

[Unmarked Bill]

Thought I'd make an update, just got this thing running and when I googled it my own photo brought me back to this thread I started way back. I took the pump apart, from what I saw, I can't imagine one of these pumps ever going bad. I think most of the people who replace the pump are just making the same dumb pilot error I was making.

The guy sold me this machine cheap since it wasn't pumping fluid, I figured I could get it going. Turns out all it is, it wasn't primed. Duh. It makes me feel better that the guy I got it from was stumped too, but still feel pretty dumb.

I feel like I remember in Auto Shop class, the teacher said you have to turn off the fluid before turning off the electric motor. If you don't, all the ATF bleeds back into the reservoir, and when you go to run the machine it needs to be primed again. If you turn off the fluid before turning off the machine, and vice versa for starting up, it works great.

I just put the reservoir up on a thick book till fluid started flowing, then shut off the valve, then shut down the motor. Put the reservoir back under, machine on, fluid valve open, gets fluid.

I'm just posting this in case anyone is dumb like me and doesn't know why they aren't getting fluid.

 

[devoncoolman]

They were good machines. We had two of them for many years. Upgraded to a kwikway with air chuck like 6 years ago. Van norman's are the same.

 

[Unmarked Bill]

My girl moved out so I set it up in the kitchen. Gonna scrounge the side yard for a roached out donor head and see if I can remember how to do a valve job.

 

[Unmarked Bill]

Was running this machine again this evening on some big Buick 455 valves, Im getting a ton of runout, like .006". can anyone point me in a direction for the truing process on this machine? Thanks in advance for any help!!

 

[3 Gun Shooter]

You need to rebuild the chuck, The Kwik Way valve refacers Snap On sold you can get parts for, not sure on the K.O.Lee.

Looking at it most closely, might be an early Kwik Way.

 

[Unmarked Bill]

Once again Dennis at BEAM is the man!! Walked me through it on the phone, all it needed was the collet wiped off and reinstalled. I was getting valve faces with less than 3 tenths runout before I even finished my coffee.

 

[Unmarked Bill]

 

[petevr500]

I have just found out that you have same grinder I do a Vr 505A and I am in need of few parts to make it work. they where lost while in transit. Hope you can help me out at least with some picture of Harbor cone and retaining nuts for grinding wheels. and also what type of wheels you have either clear or dark stones. Thanks PETER

 

[Packard V8]

FWIW, never use a valve to measure chuck runout; don't even trust a new valve to be true. Use a length of 3/8" drill rod and a Best Test indicator. Then, cycle the chuck open and closed and repeat several times. To trust the chuck, it's got to reseat to zero every cycle.

jack vines