Pumps Failing to Seal

[SEAL]

The pump on that one blaster that CA99 keeps mentioning has inexplicably developed a small crack in the rubber seal (there aren't any O-rings; it's kind of like a plunger), which causes it to spurt water like a......never mind. Does anybody know how to fix this without making a new pump or pump seal? This thread can apply to any blaster (or at least those without O-rings which can simply be replaced).

[the oncoming storm]

Just make a new pump and put the old handle on it, Sorry but that is all I can think of.

[HBWW]

Odd, I never noticed any cracks in the rubber skirt seal of the 2100, but it still squirts when pumping.

Pump seals are the devil's reincarnated child of water warfare equipment. (That and check valves.) Just when I thought I had something working with the SuperPiston (see the other thread), it ends up squirting through the pump rod itself, which is hollow. (But should've been well sealed off with epoxy.)

Anyway, can't offer anything in the meantime. Perhaps rubber grommets (which should be just as easy to find as O-rings; at your local ACE/ACO) will do a better job. https://www.google.com/search?q=rubber+ ... 4AO6nYCICQ

[soakinader]

I don't know about your cracked pump Seal, but in general for this kind of rubber skirt seal (seen in many CPS tech blasters) you should try my fix:

I just take a 3/8"-1/2" vinyl tube (or whatever size fits) and jam it into the pump head face between the rod and the skirt (Pictured). Then cut the tube so that it doesn't stick out.
You can also cut a second piece and get it behind the second flange as well. (you can see it in this picture). It was cut lengthwise and inserted starting at one end. I don't think you can stretch it over the rod without ruining the vinyl.
Lastly, you can add some glue to make this permanent if you want.
This will tighten up any pump seal that you put it into. I have done this many, many times, and it works really well. There are a few more pics of this on my minus page.
Only other solution is to wrap it in Teflon tape and hope it lasts.

[SEAL]

Well the pump I am struggling with is a little different than the one in soakinader's picture. Here's a picture of it (on the left) next to a pump from what I believe to be a 2100. You should be able to see the crack in it.

[the oncoming storm]

Looks like an XP 70 pump on the right, I still have the pump from mine.

[soakinader]

How tight is the seal now? If it isn't 100%, you should be able to put some teflon tape around the cracked (ripped?) part, and some tubing behind the second collar.

[SEAL]

It's fairly tight; not sure if it's 100% or not. When you say e-tape you mean electrical tape, right? I guess I'll see about it.

[Andrew]

E-tape isn't great for improving seals, especially not ones which come into contact with water (for use under normal o-ring seals PTFE 'tape' is better). Not sure what you can do about it tbh. E-tape may hold or a bit but will eventually be pulled off while pumping. If you an find some decent rubber glue you should be able to fix the tear. It worked on a rubber suction cup thing I had once. All you need to do is prevent that crack from getting any bigger. If not you might have to use the pump rod from another blaster, or make a new one.

[soakinader]

EDIT!!! EDIT! Whoops, I meant teflon tape, NOT e-tape or electrical tape. My bad.

[SEAL]

Haha, that's okay. I actually came up with a new plan; the rubber seal is actually screwed onto the end of the pump. What I'm going to try to do is unscrew it and flip it around, because the other half of it is not cracked/teared. The only thing is, the screw is inside the hollow pump, and I don't have any phillips screwdrivers long enough to reach it. I'm going to look for one tomorrow when I go to the gym.