Smith Indian Fire pump rebuild.

[Klunker]

Has anyone had one of the poly tank Pumps and rebuilt it?
I tried using mine on a very late fall burn when the temps were below freezing.
The end result was the pump had some freezing going on it, it stopped working.
It doesn't seem to pull water from the tank anymore.

I opened up the inlet side of the pump assembly and in there was a steel check ball and a smaller rubber check ball.
I suspect the rubber ball got forced out of where its supposed to be by the slush/ice and wedged in one of the two small openings that feed into the pump body.

I have a assembly diagram thats of no use (poorly drawn showing no detail of components), I have called the mfg and they are unable to tell me where this small rubber ball goes. They just sent me a rebuild kit that "has very detailed instructions". Got the rebuild kit, no instructions.

Anyone help on this?


Thanks

[arojay]

Same thing happened to mine a few years ago.  I can't remember where the rubber one went but I lucked into getting it right.  Mine's put away in the shop attic for winter but I'll get it out over the next day or two and see what I can do for you.

[arojay]

I do remember that I found the rubber check ball on one side of a port and figured out that the ice had pushed it through, so I assembled the pump with the ball on the other side, if that makes any sense.

[Klunker]

thanks for the replies.

I have reassembled the thing with the rubber ball inside the pump, that didn't work, the ball plugged the outlet hole and it wouldn't spray at all.

I haven't tried with assembling the rubber ball inside the inlet fitting then the steel ball and give that a try.

Thanks again.  I'm really surprised that the mfg has been of so little help.

[Klunker]

this is the best I could find no thanks to the mfg. Its not correct, different than my pump.
I don't have 15, 10, 11, 12 and 13. The inside of my pump is different. Along with some other things.

Assembly 16 is the issue. #22 I assume is the steel check ball. I found the rubber ball inside #21 along with the steel ball #22.

[Old Greenhorn]

These things have been around a long time. About 10 years ago I took 6 of these from our Scout camp and brought them home and over the winter I repaired and rebuilt 5 of them, but they were the old steel tanked ones with brass pumps and I believe that is the parts diagram you have. They underwent a bunch of changes over the years up to the 'bag' version they sell now. I wish I could help, but I have never worked on the more modern ones. Geez I remember fighting wildland fires with those steel tanks when I was 16 or so. Ever try running with a full one on?

[Klunker]

I tried the rubber ball dropped down the inlet hose. No good.
But while trying it out I noticed a small wire poking out of the spray nozzle.
I pulled the nozzle off and got this.



I suspect that getting the ball in the right place won't help.
This spring or clip got pushed thru and mangled before working thru.
Where it came from I don't know.

I think I'm off to get a new pump assembly.

Let this be a lesson, don't use in cold temps.