Eheim 2213 Problems

Hi JSchmidt,

I've tried the procedure you outlined to the tee and I will narrate what happens as I go along:

1 The filter is off
2 The intake tube is full of water leading from the aquarium
3 All other tubes and the filter are empty
4 I re-attach all tubes and open the outlet tubes keeping them above water
5 I open the input tube and water fills the filter forceing air out
6 Once all air is out I turn on the filter and no water suction is occuring and all I hear is a rattling noise. There is an air bubble in the output tube at this point.

I've also tried this same procedure and before I turn the filter back on I use the primer to make sure all air is out until all that comes out of the filter is nothing but water... but as soon as I stop priming the flow stops and the rattling noise persists...

The impeller is starting... I know the magnet is turning as I witnessed this when inspecting the impeller system. I tried running the system outside after turning it upside down just to see if the magnet is spinning and it did. The only thing strange I saw was that the plastic shaft housing that goes through the magnet is in two pieces:

shaft piece 1 magnet with hole shaft piece 2
=|--- OOOO -|

Shaft piece 1 does not look worn and does fit snug within the magnet but shaft piece 2 I guess is supposed to be separate?
Shaft piece 1 looks almost as if it has been roughly cut or broke from shaft piece 2. This is the plastic shaft, not the thin fiber glass impeller shaft.

As a recount, the filter stopped operating properly when I was at work and it wasn't until I came home and checked on the tank that I heard the sound the filter was making and that no suction was occuring. Also, I found no gravel or anything else caught up in the impeller assembly. When I first setup the filter it worked like a charm and was no effort at all to start...

Famman, according to what you say, it sounds like my assembly may be worn out... this is the first time I have ever dealt with this type of filter so I am not sure what to look for in a worn out assembly.

Thanks,
 
Hi JSchmidt,

I forgot to mention, I will try turning the filter upside down after I have forced the air out and before turning it back on just in case there is an air bubble causing problems.

Thanks,
 
If you hold the impeller in your hand by the magnet and turn the plastic fins back and forth, do the fins stop rotating after 1/2 turn or does it spin freely?
By squeezing the tines of the plastic fork together at the fins end, you can pull off the plastic cap and fins. What you have left should be a single molded piece of plastic and magnet. The magnet and plastic piece should be solid and not separable. Through the center of the plastic shaft which the magnet surrounds, there is a hollow metal shaft through which the fiberglass shaft passes. There is a rubber cap on each end of the fiberglass shaft, the cavity cover and impeller lock. That's it 7 parts counting the rubber caps and the fins as seperate pieces. If you have 8, it's broken.
:)
good luck
 
Hi Famman and JSchmidt,

Famman, I think you have hit the problem... that plastic shaft that houses the fiberglass shaft is definately broken into two pieces... as a result when the magnet rotates it is not catching the impeller notch. It looks like I need a new impeller assembly. What could have caused the plastic shaft to snap in the first place? I noticed that it is snapped at the bottom opening of the magnet opposite the impeller....hmn...maybe the plastic shaft was just weak?

Thanks for everyone's help!

So, SlappyMcFish, would Big Als or Eheim hook me up with a new assembly? I've only had the filter for about 3-4 weeks.
 
Hey Famman,

One thing I forgot to mention... you mentioned a "metal shaft" inside the plastic shaft.... Mine doesn't have a metal shaft!!! This may explain why the plastic shaft broke! :eek:

Thanks,
 
I think my Eheim Classic impeller have a ceramic shaft, not plastic. They won't ever bend out of true, but they can snap fairly easily. It sounds like famman has lead you to the solution. (I always stock a spare impeller for each canister, just in case I get clutzy while cleaning/reassembling the pump head.)

Big Al's, ThatPetPlace, or Drs. Foster & Smith should stock the correct part.

Hope this solves your problem...

Jim
 
Hi Guys,

Yesterday I received an impeller replacement and as we suspected, everything is now working fine! Thanks to everyone for the time and suggestions. Now I get to clean all the algae and decaying plant matter out of my tank...

Thanks,
 
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