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Pump coupling shredded on us mid-dredge yesterday in the Delta
We were about 3 hours into a 12 hour shift on the Stockton Deep Water Channel when I heard this grinding noise that just didn't sound right. Shut everything down quick and found the coupling was completely chewed up. Looked like it had been wearing funny for a while maybe. Had to call in a replacement from the shop in Antioch and lost half the day. Anyone had luck with aftermarket couplings or should I stick with OEM on these?
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quinncarr24d ago
Eh, I gotta disagree a little. I've tried aftermarket couplings before and they just don't hold up the same way in sandy water. OEM might cost more but at least you know the rubber compound is meant for that specific pump.
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oliverhernandez24d ago
Those Antioch shop guys probably sold you the same grade of rubber that comes in the OEM box anyway. Couplings shred all the time on the Delta with that fine sand we get in the water, it's not exactly a rare Tuesday. Save your money on the branded stuff and grab a solid aftermarket one, just check the torque rating yourself before you bolt it up.
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violaramirez24d ago
Honestly, that makes me wonder how often you've actually pulled apart a Delta coupling after a season in the Delta? I've seen both sides, and the OEM ones usually have a thicker outer layer that stops the sand from grinding through as fast. The aftermarket ones might match the torque rating, but do they match the durometer of the rubber? That's the real question nobody asks. A softer rubber shreds way faster when it's pumping that fine gritty water all day. So have you measured the hardness on those Antioch couplings yourself, or are you just going off what the shop told you?
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