First water cooling system, I need help with my problems

[BrokenMonkey]

First off, I bought a swiftech H2O-120 kit from Newegg. The pump is an MCP350. I hooked everything up, added fluid, jumped the PSU and flipped the switch. Nothing happened. I called swiftech and they said I will have to RMA the pump, but it seemed like the guy I talked to was ready to leave (it was almost 5 on a Friday in California). I'd like to try to get the pump working, but I don't know what the problem could be. The pump doesn't hum or anything like it's trying to work, so I don't know where to start. If it makes any difference, the pump is on the floor of my case, and the reservoir is up by the optical drives. If I need to replace it I need help disconnecting everything. The pump is adhered via the neoprene pad that came with it.

1. Can anyone help me figure out what's wrong with the pump, and how to fix it so I don't have to wait for a replacement?

2. Can anyone tell me how to get the hose clamps off? I made sure they were on very tight, and now I can't get them off.

3. Can anyone tell me an easy way to remove the pump itself? The adhesive on the neoprene pad is so strong that it seems like it will be a pain to remove and I'll be left with a mess in my case.

Thanks for any help, I need whatever help I can get, especially with removing the clips since I will most likely end up sending back the pump.

 

[theseeker]

First off, I bought a swiftech H2O-120 kit from Newegg. The pump is an MCP350. I hooked everything up, added fluid, jumped the PSU and flipped the switch. Nothing happened. I called swiftech and they said I will have to RMA the pump, but it seemed like the guy I talked to was ready to leave (it was almost 5 on a Friday in California). I'd like to try to get the pump working, but I don't know what the problem could be. The pump doesn't hum or anything like it's trying to work, so I don't know where to start. If it makes any difference, the pump is on the floor of my case, and the reservoir is up by the optical drives. If I need to replace it I need help disconnecting everything. The pump is adhered via the neoprene pad that came with it.

1. Can anyone help me figure out what's wrong with the pump, and how to fix it so I don't have to wait for a replacement? Hook the pump up to a different PSU, if you have one, although it sounds like it is DOA.

2. Can anyone tell me how to get the hose clamps off? I made sure they were on very tight, and now I can't get them off.

3. Can anyone tell me an easy way to remove the pump itself? The adhesive on the neoprene pad is so strong that it seems like it will be a pain to remove and I'll be left with a mess in my case.

Thanks for any help, I need whatever help I can get, especially with removing the clips since I will most likely end up sending back the pump.

I love AC gear, just my 2 cents

 

[BrokenMonkey]

Yeah I plugged the pump plug into my dad's computer while it was running, and it still didn't work. Any advice on the clamps?

 

[Arcygenical]

I love AC gear, just my 2 cents

Helpful!


OP: It's a dead pump Nothing you can do about it...

As for the hose clamps... What kind are they? Do the "snap" together as you tighten them? There are lots of different kinds...

And for the neoprene pad... Just rip it off SLOWLY, and use some 99% rubbing alcohol (isopropanol) to remove the residue.

 

[BrokenMonkey]

The clamps are black plastic clamps, they snap together as I close them and they have two "fingers" on each side. I tried prying up the top "finger" but since there were three more "fingers" locking together that didn't work. I also tried sliding them apart sideways with a wrench but I couldn't get it.

 

[BillParrish]

cut em with some snips/sidecutters or carefully with an exacto knife.

Before you give up completely, give the pump a good slap, hold it in one hand and slap it against the palm of your other hand, then see if it will run. I have gotten 2 pumps that seemed DOA to start and run fine that way, impeller is just frozen from shipping, once free its good to go. Worth a try anyway.

 

[BrokenMonkey]

cut em with some snips/sidecutters or carefully with an exacto knife.

Before you give up completely, give the pump a good slap, hold it in one hand and slap it against the palm of your other hand, then see if it will run. I have gotten 2 pumps that seemed DOA to start and run fine that way, impeller is just frozen from shipping, once free its good to go. Worth a try anyway.

Sounds like a great idea, but it's stuck inside my case. Should I try tapping it with a hammer or something to unfreeze it? I'm not sure if it will dislodge it the way hitting the pump agianst something would.

 

[BrokenMonkey]

Just an update on my situation: I got the pump out of the case by ripping apart the neoprene pad, then peeling the remaining chuck out of my case. I still need help getting the hose clamps off, I'd rather not cut them but if it's my only option I might have to ask Swiftech to throw in two more when they ship me the new pump.

 

[BillParrish]

I like the small stainless steel ones better anyway, just dont over tighten them. any autoparts store and sometimes in grocery stores in their hardware/junk section.

 

[Arcygenical]

Just an update on my situation: I got the pump out of the case by ripping apart the neoprene pad, then peeling the remaining chuck out of my case. I still need help getting the hose clamps off, I'd rather not cut them but if it's my only option I might have to ask Swiftech to throw in two more when they ship me the new pump.

Got a pic of those clamps? there's like 4 different kinds... that are all removed differently

 

[BrokenMonkey]

Got a pic of those clamps? there's like 4 different kinds... that are all removed differently

 

[BrokenMonkey]

Thanks for everyone who tried to help, I was able to get the clamps off by using a claw hammer to slide apart the fingers sideways, and I was able to drain the system. I took the top off of the pump and tried turning it on. I was able to get the pump to run by manually spinning the impeller several times, but it would never start on its own. Once it was running I put the top back on and tried to pump some of the coolant through it by placing the barbs in coolant but I couldn't observe any coolant moving. What's wrong with the pump? Is it worth it to try and fix it? I really don't want to wait for a new pump but it doesn't seem like I have much of a choice.

 

[THRESHIN]

i think it depends on how much you want to tinker with it. if you have to send it back and pay for a repair i wouldn't bother. by the time thats all over might as well get a new pump. if its under warrenty then yes yes get them to fix it!!

if you want to spend some time attempting a fix yourself, you might as well if you were going to junk it anyways. could be something stupid like a broken solder joint which is quite easy to fix if you can get at it. if the motor's dead you're screwed though. or maybe a gummed up impeller? unlikely but could happen.

i fxed my MCP655 last night bought it off ebay and guy tried to screw me, settled for taking the pump at half the cost. the bearing recepticle was off center. i managed to grind out the side of the impeller that was interfering with the motor unit itself. no noise or nasty vibrations now not too bad for a $40 MCP655 eh?

 

[nonlnear]

Thanks for everyone who tried to help, I was able to get the clamps off by using a claw hammer to slide apart the fingers sideways, and I was able to drain the system. I took the top off of the pump and tried turning it on. I was able to get the pump to run by manually spinning the impeller several times, but it would never start on its own. Once it was running I put the top back on and tried to pump some of the coolant through it by placing the barbs in coolant but I couldn't observe any coolant moving. What's wrong with the pump? Is it worth it to try and fix it? I really don't want to wait for a new pump but it doesn't seem like I have much of a choice.

Were you running it dry? (Don't answer that... )

 

[kunsunoke]

I took the top off of the pump and tried turning it on. I was able to get the pump to run by manually spinning the impeller several times, but it would never start on its own. Once it was running I put the top back on and tried to pump some of the coolant through it by placing the barbs in coolant but I couldn't observe any coolant moving. What's wrong with the pump? Is it worth it to try and fix it? I really don't want to wait for a new pump but it doesn't seem like I have much of a choice.

My guess is that the DC motor that drives the impeller is bad. Since it's probably a sealed unit, RMA is your only option at this point. Don't even bother wasting any more time on it.

I like AC pumps as well. There's more of a selection and the pumps are significantly cheaper and more powerful. Hydors are going for very little cash on eBay right now.