Installation Operation & Maintenance Instructions

Models SSP & SSPC

Description and Specifications: The Model SSP is a close coupled, end suction, single stage, open-impeller, back-pullout centrifugal pump. The model SSPC is the enclosed impeller version of the same pump. Connections are NPT threaded. All wetted metal pump parts are 18-8, 304SS, or better. Most parts are formed from stainless steel sheet. O-rings and elastomeric seal parts are Buna (Viton, EPR are optional). Motors are NEMA 56J frame, with a C-Face mounting flange and a threaded shaft. All pumps use a mechanical seal to prevent leakage around the motor shaft.

Operating limits: The models SSP & SSPC are designed for 75-PSIG operating pressure at 212 deg. F., with the standard Type-6, carbon vs. ceramic with buna-n elastomers mechanical seal, and a maximum temperature limit of 250 deg. F., with a Type-21 mechanical seal with viton elastomers. The motor is limited to 20 starts per hour, evenly distributed.

Notice: Upon receipt of this equipment, inspect the carton and the equipment for any damages that might have occurred during shipment and notify the carrier immediately. Damage that occurs during shipment is not the responsibility of American Stainless Pumps. Failure to notify the carrier will place responsibility on the purchaser for any repairs or damages occurring during shipment.

Units may be installed horizontally, at an angle or vertically with the motor on top. Do not mount the motor below the pump as leakage from the pump will damage the motor and can cause a shock, burns or death.

) Locate the pump as near to the liquid source as possible. The pump must be primed with little or no air in the case to begin operation. The pump must be located below the liquid level when starting. This pump is not self-priming.

) Protect the pump and motor from freezing. Although the pump may survive a freeze up, the mechanical seal and O-Rings may not.

) Allow adequate space around the unit for service and ventilation.

) Units mounted horizontally should be located on a flat, rigid surface. Unit may be free standing, but some vibrations may occur. If attached to a foundation, tighten hold down bolts before connecting the piping.

 

) All piping must be independently supported. No piping loads may be carried by the pump.

) Piping should be the same size or larger than the pump connections.

) Proper Piping to the suction is critical for proper pump operation. Suction pipe should be short and direct, with a minimum of fittings and turns.

) Suction pipe must continuously rise to the pump to avoid air pockets. All pipe connections must be airtight.

) If suction pipe is larger than the pump, an eccentric reducer must be used with the straight side on top to avoid an air pocket.

) If suction of pump is above the liquid source level, a foot valve or other isolation valve will be needed to prime the pump. A continuous stream of liquid must be made available for the pump suction to hold its prime.

) Do not use any suction valve for throttling the pump. This will cause loss of prime and damage to the pump that is not covered by warranty.

) Be sure that the source liquid level is sufficient to prevent vortices from drawing air into the pump.

) Install a valve on the discharge line for use in regulating the pump flow and for isolating the pump during maintenance and inspection.

The models SSP & SSPC will operate properly only in one direction (clockwise when looking from the motor end, counterclockwise when viewed from the pump end). Operating the pump in the reverse rotation may cause the impeller to unscrew, breaking the shaft, damaging the pump and/or the motor, and voids the warranty. Three phase motors can rotate in either direction. Single phase motors normally only rotate in the proper direction.

1. Remove the end cover from the center of the back of the motor by prying off the cap. You do not need to remove any screws on most motors.

2. Quickly switch on and off the motor and watch the shaft rotation as it slows down. Motor shaft should be turning in the clockwise direction when viewed from the back of the motor.

3. If your three-phase motor is turning in the wrong direction, have a qualified electrician interchange two of the three motor power wires. This should reverse the rotation. If a single-phase motor is turning in the wrong direction, it has been wired wrong internally. Consult the motor manufacturer or American Stainless Pumps for instructions.

4. Check the rotation again, if it is correct, replace the end cover cap.

) Pump must be completely primed before starting. Air in the suction lines or case must be vented.

) Model SSPC Only: If the pump case is rotated so that the discharge nozzle is not vertical, an air pocket may form in the case that will prevent the pump from operating properly. Loosen the case bolts until this air is removed for proper operation. Be sure to retighten the bolts before operating the pump.

) Do not operate the pump at or near zero flow. At zero flow, heat will build up in the pump and can cause extreme damage to the pump, property damage and/or possible injury to operating personal. Minimum flows of 10% of the pumps best efficiency point are recommended unless otherwise authorized by ASP.

) Do not operate the pump beyond the flow rates shown on published curves. Noisy pumps or the sounds of "pumping rocks" may be signs of cavitation or operation beyond the pumps capacity.

) Check pump and motor for vibration. Vibration may be a sign of pipe strain, insufficient mounting or operation beyond the pumps capacity.

) The pump models SSP & SSPC are not designed for handling large amounts of solids. For the model SSP, Spherical solids size should not exceed the vane height of the impeller, less 0.060". For the model SSPC, solid sizes must be smaller than the impeller vane family expressed in thousandths of an inch, less 0.140".

 

) See page xxx for model SSP, and page xxx for model SSPC cross sectional drawings.

1. Close all valves and drain pump and pipes and flush if necessary.

2. Remove any motor hold down bolts.

3. Remove the eight (8) case bolts (Item 7CS) with a 3/16" allen wrench.

4. Pull the motor and pump internals back out of the case. The baseplate (Item 800) will slip off when the bottom two case bolts are removed and can be left with the pump case. Remove the case o-ring (item 500) and inspect for damage or hardness.

5. If the motor is a three-phase motor, a locking screw is used to prevent the impeller from unthreading if started in the wrong direction. The locking screw is installed with removable thread locker to prevent it from coming out during operation. The standard locking screw is a right hand thread screw with a combination Phillips/slotted pan headed screw and can be removed with a screwdriver. If the locking screw has a button head socket, it has left hand threads and can be removed with a 1/8" Allen wrench.  DO NOT apply any heat to the components.  If the pump was built prior to 2004 (see serial number prefix), and the motor HP is less than one, the pump may not have a locking screw.  In these pumps, the impeller  is secured with a thread locking compound applied to the motor shaft threads to secure the impeller.

6. Remove the impeller (item 200) by turning the impeller counterclockwise (when looking at the impeller from the pump end) while holding the motor shaft. It will be necessary to remove the motor shaft cover plate in the center of the rear of the motor to get access to the shaft. Using a screwdriver, wrench or vise grips as needed, hold the shaft tightly against rotation while turning the impeller. DO NOT apply any heat to the components. If you are unable to hold the shaft in this manner, remove the rear motor housing and grip the motor shaft with vise grips or other similar device (do not hold shaft where bearings will mount).

7. Model SSP Only: There should be several spacing washers behind the impeller. These spacers locate the open impeller vanes close to the case for efficient operation. Measure the thickness of this stack of spacers for future reference. Remove them from the shaft but do not lose these washers. You will need them for reassembly.

8. Remove the rotating element of the mechanical shaft seal (item 300). This element is held in place by the impeller only. If the rotating element does not come off easily, it is stuck to the shaft. Pry up the seal plate (Item 400) with screwdrivers or pry bars. The seal plate should compress the seal spring and force the seal off the shaft. If seal is stuck, and you must pry with force, do not pry towards your face or body. The seal and seal plate can come free unexpectedly and injure you.

9. If the seal plate (item 400) did not come off with the seal, remove it now. If you plan to replace the stationary seat, you will need to press it out from the back. Do not push with your finger, as you will probably cut it on the edges of the seal plate when the seal pushes out.

10. If you plan to replace the motor, remove the four motor adapter bolts (Item 7MB) with a 7/32" allen wrench and remove the motor adapter plate (Item 600). If you are not replacing the motor, leave the adapter plate in place.

11. If the motor comes with a deflector, the deflector should go outside of the motor adapter plate and must be removed if the adapter plate is to be removed.

12. Check the suction o-ring (item 510) in the case suction nozzle. It may be difficult to remove. Use a sharp pointed awl or similar device to pry the o-ring from the groove. Replace if damaged, swollen, fretted, or just worn out.

) See page xxx for model SSP, and page xxx for model SSPC cross sectional drawings.

) Assembly of the pump and motor is easier when the motor is standing face up so that parts do not fall off, although access to the motor shaft at the rear of the motor will require a horizontal position.

) It is considered good practice to replace the mechanical seal whenever you have to disassemble the pump.

1. If replacing the motor, remove the deflector from the motor shaft. There may not be enough room behind the motor adapter plate for the deflector to spin freely.

2. Install the motor adapter plate (Item 600) with the four motor bolts (Item 7MB) using a 7/32" allen wrench. You must use the low profile button head socket screws that came with the pump or other low profile head bolts. There is not enough room for a standard cap head screw/bolt. Tighten the bolts. Install the deflector now.

3. Install the mechanical seal stationary seat into the Seal Plate (Item 400) by putting a suitable lubricant on the cup seat and gently pressing into the seal plate bore. Do not get any lubricant on the seal faces. Use the foam sheet from the seal box to protect the seal face from dirt and scratches while pressing into the seal plate. Place the seal plate onto the motor adapter plate.

4. Lubricate the sealing elastomers on the rotating assembly of the mechanical seal and press gently onto the shaft. You may have to hold the seal in place until the impeller is installed.

5. Model SSP Only: Place the necessary number and thickness of impeller spacer/washers onto the threaded portion of the shaft. If you are not changing the impeller or the motor, use the same batch of spacer/washers you removed. See the section on Setting Impeller Clearance for procedures if you have changed the impeller to case setting.

6. (If motor is three-phase, read section 7 below for Loctite instructions, then continue reading here) Thread the impeller onto the pump shaft. Be sure the impeller hub is tight against the spacer/washers that are tight against the shoulder of the motor shaft. If you leave the impeller loose, when the motor starts up, the impeller will tighten up on the shaft so tightly that you may not be able to remove it later. You will need to hold the motor shaft from the rear of the motor with a large screwdriver, wrench or vise grips while tightening the impeller.

7. If motor is three-phase, and wiring has been reconnected, rotation may have changed. To protect against rotation in the wrong direction at start up, reinstall the left hand threaded impeller locking screw and washer (item 7SC), or for motor horsepowers less than 1 HP, install the impeller with a locking compound such as Loctite.

8. Install the case o-ring (item 500). Replace if brittle, damaged or misshapen.

9. Model SSPC Only: Install the suction o-ring (item 510). Replace if brittle, damaged or misshapen.

10. Model SSPC Only: Join up the back pull out assembly with the case. Do not force the pump into the case. The suction O-ring (item 510) can be pinched when installing. You may have to back out the pump from the case, center up the O-ring with your finger and slip in the pump assembly again. Before installing the case bolts, check to be sure the impeller is spinning freely.

11. Model SSP Only: Join up the back pull out assembly with the case. Install the (8) case bolts (item 7CS), leaving the bottom two bolts loose for attaching the base (not necessary with footed motors). Slip the baseplate under the bottom two bolts. Tighten the case bolts while holding the baseplate in place.

12. Model SSP Only: Check the impeller to case clearance per the following instructions and adjust as needed.

13. Install and tighten the motor base hold down bolts.

Setting Impeller Clearance: Model SSP Only

) See SSP Performance Notes for more impeller shimming information.

) Properly setting the impeller to case clearance is the most critical factor in determining the SSP’s performance. You will get maximum performance and efficiency (and maximum amp draw) with near to zero clearance. Factory standard clearance is 8 to 12 mil. Spacer/Washers to adjust clearances are available in 10 mil and 15-mil thickness.

) You can have more or less than normal flow and head by changing the clearance. To increase clearance, remove impeller spacer/washers. To decrease clearance, add impeller spacer/washers. Be aware that if you set the impeller at near to zero clearance, and operate near maximum flow rates, you may overload the standard motor. Also be aware that impeller clearances near zero greatly increase the risk of the impeller grinding against the casing.

) Standard factory settings for spacers are 30 to 90 mils of spacer/washers to obtain 10-mil clearance. Since the tolerances of the motor shaft and pump parts can stack up, some pumps may need more or less than this standard. Some special OEM assemblies will not have any spacers when the customer elects to accept reduced performance in return for ease of assembly.

) American Stainless Pumps provides special feeler gauges for impeller shimming. Call and order our feeler gauge set, part number K200. Our standard shim pack set is also available. It contains ten each of the 0.010" and 0.015" shims.

) American Stainless Pumps provides special feeler gauges for impeller shimming. Call and order our feeler gauge set, part number K200. Our standard shim pack set is also available. It contains ten each of the 0.010" and 0.015" shims. Use part number 200115.

1. Place the pump (as assembled through step 4 on page 47) on the workbench, positioned vertically.

2. Place 0.050" shims onto the motor shaft (two 0.015" shims and two 0.010" shims).

3. Thread the impeller onto the shaft, compressing the seal and shims. You will need to hold the motor shaft from the rear of the motor with a large screwdriver, wrench or vise grips while tightening the impeller.

4. Place case o-ring (item 500) onto seal plate. Make sure o-ring is laying flat against the seal plate flange.

5. Place case onto pump assembly, and install case screws (item 7CS). Tighten case screws in a cross-bolting fashion.

6. Rotate the impeller from the back of the motor, or with your finger through the suction or discharge nozzles. Listen and feel for any scraping noises from the impeller hitting the casing. If a scraping noise is heard, remove the case and impeller, and then remove either one 10 or one 15 mil shim. Repeat step 5 & 6. If no noise is heard, proceed to step 7.

7. Use the pink feeler gauge (0.015"), and slide it in between the impeller and the casing through the discharge nozzle. If the pink feeler gauge does not fit, go back to step 6 and remove shims as necessary to make pink gauge slide in between impeller and casing. When done correctly, the feeler gauge will become visible through the suction nozzle. Continue pushing the feeler gauge into the casing until it is all the way in, and centered across the face of the impeller. Rotate the feeler gauge using a pair of needle nose pliers, and feel for tight spots. If gauge encounters only a slight pinching resistance, you probably have a good impeller clearance. Remove the pink feeler gauge, and check to see that the brown feeler gauge (0.010") does not bind when used in the same way. If it does not, go to step 9. If it does, remove 0.010 mils of shims from behind impeller and repeat step 7. If the pink feeler gauge is free to rotate 360 degrees across the face of the impeller without binding or resistance, go to step 8.

8. If the pink gauge is capable of rotating 360 degrees without binding, then there is a greater impeller/casing clearance than 0.015". Determine this clearance by repeating step 7 with the thicker gauges. Yellow=0.020", White=0.025", Orange=0.030". If clearance is larger than 0.030", stack the various gauge thickness and repeat procedure until clearance is known. When clearance is determined, add shims behind the impeller to close clearance as desired. Repeat step 7.

9. Proper clearance has been established. Return to step 5 on the previous page.

Model SSP Impeller Shimming Method for Replacement Impellers

When replacing impellers in a model SSP open impeller pump, the following worksheet will provide a relatively quick method for maintaining the proper impeller/casing clearance. You may also want to read the previous page for an overview of the impeller shimming procedure.