ZD desoldering station pump rebuild

[stj]

just did one.
works great.

so here's the discoveries.
the pump "modules" have 4 parts, the main body, the outside bit, the inside bit - screwed to the main body, and the diaphram.
the failure is the inside bit, it has a rubber coating for some reason that becomes tacky and breaks down - contaminating the diaphram.
so you need to clean everything to get rid of all the tacky black stuff.
then reassemble it.
*BUT*
you must put the 2 screws into the assembly only finger-tight.
if you tighten it properly the valves dont work.
use the link pipe to test the 4 valves by blowing/sucking - you will see.
i had to finger-tight the screws with blue-locktite to make the 4 valves work.
then put the bellows back with new cable ties and put the shell back anf it's all good

[sam_sam_sam]

just did one.
works great.

so here's the discoveries.
the pump "modules" have 4 parts, the main body, the outside bit, the inside bit - screwed to the main body, and the diaphram.
the failure is the inside bit, it has a rubber coating for some reason that becomes tacky and breaks down - contaminating the diaphram.
so you need to clean everything to get rid of all the tacky black stuff.
then reassemble it.
*BUT*
you must put the 2 screws into the assembly only finger-tight.
if you tighten it properly the valves dont work.
use the link pipe to test the 4 valves by blowing/sucking - you will see.
i had to finger-tight the screws with blue-locktite to make the 4 valves work.
then put the bellows back with new cable ties and put the shell back anf it's all good

I have also found that the vacuum pump on the desoldering gun station has the same issue I think this due to the flux in the solder and you have to take it apart and clean it the disk washer has to be very clean as well for best results and the area that the washer sits on also needs to be very cleaned and while you are at cleaning the vacuum pump clean the piston cup as well and do not put anything on the rubber cups because you will not have the suction that you need for it work correctly

I have cleaned several of them before I figure out the best way to do this process and get very good results

[stj]

it wasnt flux - i have extra filters.
the inner hard cup that the bellows goes onto has that shit rubber coating they put on cheap powertools.
thats what is turning sticky and slimey.

[sam_sam_sam]

it wasnt flux - i have extra filters.
the inner hard cup that the bellows goes onto has that shit rubber coating they put on cheap powertools.
thats what is turning sticky and slimey.

I did not know that this was done when it was manufactured oh really not cool that this was done

[stj]

i cant see why they did it.
unless it was maybe to stop the bellows slipping off before they added the cable tie anyway?