Chapter 11

PROGRESSING CAVITY PUMP

OVERHAUL GUIDE

A progressing cavity pump overhaul can be handled on a pro-

fessional basis with clearly understood expectations and com-
munications, regardless of whether the repair is to be done at
the pump manufacturer's facility, in-house, or by a third party
(on- or off-site).
Having the pump manufacturer (original equipment man-
ufacturer) perform the overhaul has some obvious advantages,
not least of which is their access to original component design,
dimensional, and tolerance data, material specifications, and
their experience with the pump. They also usually have com-
plete testing facilities. New pump warranties are sometimes
available from the original pump manufacturer, as well as up-
grades and modernizations.
Third-party repair is frequently less costly, at least on a first-
cost basis, but rarely includes a warranty, almost never includes
any meaningful testing, and can sacrifice reliability for expediency.
 In-house overhaul, facilities and personnel permitting, is a
good alternative if some in-house expertise or experience is
available. Unfortunately, with the many company "right-sizing"
initiatives occurring of late, maintenance personnel are fre-
quently the first to go, with resultant loss of in-house knowl-
edge as well as historical perspectives that frequently led to very
quick analyses and fixes.
If there are company- or industry-specific or unique re-
quirements to be imposed on the overhaul, such as sanitary
specifications or testing liquids compatibility, be sure they are
spelled out in writing before proceeding. If troubleshooting,
failure analysis, or other services are expected or needed, they
too should be made clear before the overhaul commences.
Regardless of the overhaul facility location, the basic steps
to be followed are similar. Pumps for overhaul should be deliv-
ered to the overhaul facility as clean as possible and include a
material safety data sheet (MSDS) for any liquid residue in the
pump(s). The basic overhaul steps include (as applicable):

1. Received condition report (external damage, missing

parts, extraneous parts, etc.)
2. Review of MSDS to ensure proper handling of residue
liquid in pump
3. Disassembly of the pumps
4. Thorough cleaning of pump component parts for
inspection
5. Inspection of each part to determine if the part should be
 Scrapped (always for elastomers and gaskets, usually
for antifriction bearings and frequently for mechani-
cal seals unless sufficiently valuable to have them
overhauled themselves)
Reworked (remachined, plated, scraped, polished,
weld build-up, etc.)
Reused as-is

Rotary Pump Inspection Report

Owner Mode! No.
Serial No. MSDS Yes Ho
Recevied Condtion

Part Recommended Dispositon- Check one

I,D. Qty Part No. Part Name Scrap R
j euse"!Rework & Commenst Price

Subtotal
By AssembtyfTest
Date Other
Comments Other
Total.
 6. A written inspection report relating the above compo-
nent condition/disposition recommendations should
be produced- The report should include pricing for the
recommended overhaul, noting what is or is not in-
cluded (painting, testing, special preservation, etc.).

If a warranty claim or troubleshooting effort is to be made,

be sure to keep all parts, regardless of condition, so a more
complete evaluation can be made.
A comparison to the cost of a new pump may be appro-
priate if such is still manufactured. Many off-the-shelf pumps
are manufactured in large lot sizes and sell for about the same
price as an overhaul handled on a one-time basis.
The party paying for the overhaul should review these
recommendations and, depending on cost, time, criticality,
etc., either challenge the observations if any appear question-
able or authorize the overhaul to commence. Note that time
will frequently determine the reuse of questionable or worn
parts. The overhaul should specifically state that new pump
performance will be achieved (or something less) due to eco-
nomics or time. A loading or unloading pump flow rate may
not be very critical to day-to-day operations, while pump
capacity may be critical for gas sealing, machinery lubrication,
or process applications. If something less than new pump per-
formance is expected, then the minimum flow rate should be
agreed upon before the overhaul proceeds.
If weld buildup or repair is to be conducted, be sure that
the weld procedures and welders have been adequately quali-
fied. Plating and spray buildup processes are frequently tech-
nique-sensitive and may need some nondestructive testing
after application to confirm whether the objectives were met.
Not all pumps are tested after repair. If this is a require-
ment, specify so in the ordering document Testing ranges from
turning the pump shaft by hand, to hydrostatic and spin tests,
to full qualification testing as would be conducted on a new
pump. If new pump flow rate is expected after the repair, again,
so specify. If the overhauled pump will be installed and operated
upon its return, no special preservation or packaging may be
needed. On the other hand, if the pump will go into storage,
internal preservation and sturdy crating should be specified.
Application of a paint should be included if the pump exterior is
of cast iron, steel, or other material susceptible to rusting.