Pond Boss Forums AERATION Systems questions Air Compressor Question

I have a Marathon 1/4 hp pump that only works for a few seconds before shutting off. The neighborhood kids turned the valves off and the pump was set to run for 8 hours during the night and burned up the pump as there was no air flow. My question is this pump repairable or am I buying a new one? I haven't officially been on the site for a long time but recently received a new password. Attached is a picture of the pump label and a recent panoramic of the pond. My poor daughters face is a little lopsided from the panoramic, but what she doesn't know won't hurt, right?

LMB
Red Ear
BG
FHM
Mosquito Minnow
Red and Golden Shiner

Don't know nuttin about your pump, but that is a lovely pond at sunset. A pond that makes most other pond owners jealous!

SWAG: Your motor winding are burned up. The motor would have to be replaced. It is not cost effective to have it re-wound. I would bite the bullet & buy a whole new unit. How old is it? Also a low amp fuse that will blow before the motor is damaged?

If I am ever in Graham County, can I stop by & sit by your pond at sunset?

Glad to have you back with us at Pond Boss.

Thanks- The pond has been a lot of fun and a fair amount of work. I've had PH issues, low oxygen issues, and was infested with carp at one point. Now I have the neighborhood kids over all of the time and that has it's issues and concerns as well. Overall, it has been fun, and for some reason I enjoy it all. I will look into purchasing a new pump and of course you are welcome to stop by at sunset or otherwise:) Oh yea... good idea on the fuse as it will likely be a problem again!

Looking to buy a Gast 1/4 hp rotary vane but I am seeing different part numbers, RV33, At05, 0523 - Is there a best for a 13' depth pond?

Have you given Gast a call or email? I looked but the information I found was confusing.

I did see that Marathon was the Motor not necessarily the compressor. Your motor is obsolete, but note said give Marathion a call for replacement? But then is it time for the old compressor to be rebuilt? How much do you want to tinker? I would find a rebuild kit for the compressor before I bought a new motor. Probably not. Another rotary vane ? Rotary vanes appear to be easy rebuilds if you can find a kit for your old compressor. I like the look of the Gast & that it is rotary vane. I think I could easily do all the maintence on a Gast. I saw some new Gasts on eBay for less than $400 but I am not sure they are what you need.

Good Luck!

The Gast 0523 Rotary vane (1/4hp) uses at least 3 brands of motor GE, Marathon, and Emerson. 0523 Gast compressor used to have a 1/3 hp motor. Then in the late 1990's they found a new version of dual voltage (110 & 220) 1/4 hp motor that produced the same amount of CFM as the 1/3 hp motor, thus they switched motors to 1/4 hp for the 0523 version of the rotary vane. If the Marathon motor is damaged a rebuild kit will not fix the problem. The rebuild kit is only for the air pump part of the compressor not the motor. IMO and experience it will take a pretty darn good mechanic to put a new motor on the compressor. Numerous special tools are needed to get the vane rotor off the motor shaft.

If the pond is less than 18ft deep the rotary vane is IMO the very best type of compressor to have. Mine as been running for 25 years on the first set of vanes. They are work horses.

Thanks for the help! A new unit is on order.

Yep, I second what Bill said. To prevent this from happening in the future, look at installing a pop-off valve that will bleed off excess pressure before the compressor gets damaged.