Hakko 850B hot air station, pump cleaning ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2013, 07:03:52 am
content: Just wondering any Hakko 850B owners ever did some sort of preventive maintenance at the pump ? Please share your experience.I've been worrying that the long accumulated dust inside will eventually clog the air flow someday.Bought mine used from local authorised distributor and it is still working fine. I'm aware that the manual does not mention anything about maintaining the pump, I guess its non serviceable and a replaceable part.Just want to save money if it is maintainable since this old work horse is only used for enthusiast job, not in pro environment.Attached picture below, its the 'yellow' colored part.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2013, 06:12:14 pm
content: Anyone ?Attached below are the few shots on how it looks like, to be honest, I don't even know where to start.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2013, 05:24:42 am
content: I would guess somewhere under the tank and shield there is a felt inlet air filter, and this could benefit from cleaning and dust removal. Otherwise the pump units are not lubricated, and only the motor bushes would benefit from having a drop of light machine oil added to them.You would have to remove the tank, and undo the 4 screws on the cover to clean the filter, going further would not be recommended unless you have a new set of pump seals, as they likely will break on removal.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2013, 02:29:32 pm
content: Thanks SeanB, yeah, its the seal that worries me.Also there are few spots warnings are clearly written at the pump body something like "NO OIL/LUBRICANT".Its weird that Google results have nothing about the pump maintenance at this specific Hakko model, which the most popular base model for all those knock off Chinese hot air station clones, may be my Google-fu is deteriorating.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2013, 03:47:32 pm
content: Given that it is a form of gear or other positive displacement pump the only maintenance will be to look up the inlet filter felt and then clean it. Going further will not be advised unless you are feeling brave. I have a couple of vacuum pumps where the tolerances on clearance is in the range of 3 thou, and where I have had a few lunch themselves from wear in the motor drive couplings ( made by Mr Lo, and not available locally, but I made some replacements from rubber sheet and nails that last longer, and are a lot more reliable) and graunch themselves to destruction. Can be rebuilt, but a new one is actually cheaper from the Chinese supplier, I just did a major improvement to the filters so I was not changing the oil on a daily basis, now it runs a year and stays clean, even if I do have to top up 5l per quarter.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2013, 01:18:09 am
content: I guess I will go through the way as you suggested to detach the whole pump assembly by unscrewing that 4 screws to see how to proceed on cleaning the air intake filter if any at the bottom. Cause its very difficult to see through the tight space below.The only thing I need to do are just detaching the wires from the pump that is connected at the board, and the silicone pipe connection at the T joint at left side of below pic. Interesting finding, if you watch closely, that T join is made in Italy.Question, will the silicone pipe remain snug if I re-connected it at that ribbed T connector ? Just hate if that joint will be the spot that leaking the air once I re-attached it.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2013, 03:26:38 pm
content: It should be snug, but if it is not then a small cable tie works wonders, or a small piece of steel plant tie wire works as well.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2013, 12:41:52 am
content: Thanks SeanB, will share some photos here once I managed to detach the pump.