Why has my pump shaft broken?

The pump shaft is designed to transmit the drive torque to the impellers or rotary parts. The shaft is a central component of centrifugal pumps and rotary positive displacement pumps. Effective working order of the pump shaft relies on a number of variables including temperature, corrosion, metallurgy, bearing location and size, impellers and couplings, axial and radial hydraulic forces and rotary speed. Which means when a pump shaft fails, there could be a number of contributing factors.

Common Reasons for Pump Shaft Failures

• Sudden starting or stopping of a pump can damage the pump shaft.
• Rapid engagement of a pump can twist the impeller from the shaft, damaging the shaft bearings.
• Interruption to water flow can affect the impeller and cause the pump shaft to break and wear away shaft bearings.
• An unbalanced or damaged impeller contributes to the weakening of the shaft over time and its subsequent failure.

If you are experiencing issues with your pump shaft or are concerned about the effects of long term wear and tear on your pump, contact us today on 01482 213 500 and talk to a pump expert.