I too have a well question

r0GuE · Aug 1, 2001

Yeah, Ebay...
For Sale: Qty. (1) Myers self oiling working head 6 inch stroke
Price: $5
Shipping $ 200.00
;^)

Rogue

StoneHeartFarm · Aug 1, 2001

Rogue,

You might be surprised. People collect some pretty odd things. Somebody who deals at antique swap meets may have a market for such an item. They're getting pretty rare around here, most of them were pulled and dumped years ago.

SHF

r0GuE · Aug 2, 2001

The well guy called me back and said that it would be thousands to get the well fixed up with a new pump etc. I will abandon the well. As for the pump, he said the only people he knows that still use them are the Amish!!
I do live in PA so maybe I can trade it for a table or chair? ;^)

Rogue

StoneHeartFarm · Aug 2, 2001

Rogue,

No idea on how deep the well is? Thousands seems a little high. But, even if it were only a few hundred, you would have to balance the cost against the use you would get.

Is the pump real cool looking? You could always paint it and stick it in the front yard with flowers planted around it. Odd little decorations like that are popular around here. Just tell everybody you're from Mi. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

SHF

beenthere · Aug 17, 2001

Just read the thread that you started with your pump question. What you describe is a jack pump (at least that is what we called ours at home which sounds the same, complete with the bomb shelter). What I would like to point out though, is the procedure for abandoning your well, if you are choosing to do that. In your State, there may be a procedure to do this, which protects the ground water from surface contamination. In my State, a well is abandoned if not used for two years. It is filled with clay or clay/cement mixture, then capped and sealed with concrete. Its your ground water, so do as you feel is right if abandoning. Just know that surface water could contaminate your good water. My folks had a jack pump on a 500' well, and it required a 5HP motor to lift the water up that high. A rod goes down into the water in the well, where there is a head that has the plunger and valves. The rod lifts 6" and then drops for another 6" lift. It is similar to the old hand pumps in the way it works. To work there may have to be new leathers put on at the bottom end.

Boondox · Aug 17, 2001

Rogue -- Not sure from your description if you're talking about a springhouse (is there a water-filled container inside that well house?) or a well head (metal-encased electric motor on top of a metal shaft going straight down into the ground with no water visible). Both are typical setups around here. If a springhouse, the motor will be a shallow-water jet pump with an intake line extending from the pointy end of the pump into the water, and an output line from the center of the pump to a pressure tank. Assuming it hasn't been used in some time, it'll have to be primed. If you have a deep well the pump will be way the heck down the shaft, but the power line will connect at the wellhead. Both systems rely on pressure tanks to extend motor life, i.e., reduce the number of pump cycles. The pressure tank is usually about three feet tall with an air bladder inside. The pump sends water into the tank, the air bladder is compressed, and the pump shuts off. When you open a tap the water comes out of the tank, relieving air pressure till it reaches whatever the pump is set at. Is your "electrical box" about 3"x4"x3" deep with a little metal lever coming off the back...or is it a regular breaker box? If it's the small box with the lever, it's an overload breaker to save your pump from lightning or power surges. If you have a voltmeter and feel comfy checking, are your wires hot? Most likely they'll be 240VAC, but confirm at the breaker box.

On the other hand, I hate checking power lines in the country since they're so often chewed upon by rodents, etc. Best to have a pro check it out. I'll try to post photos of both shallow and deep well setups this weekend if there's any interest.

Pete with the half empty springhouse and the well shaft drilled halfway to China

www.GatewayToVermont.com

beenthere · Aug 17, 2001

Boondox
FYI
Check the messages from Rogue on 7/30 at 5:31 pm and 7/31 at 9:11 pm for clarity on what type of well he has in the pit. Seems to me it is a jack pump that has a 6" stroke. His description does not fit with what you think he has.