This is what's keeping us from freezing! It's the Keller Oilpress type 330 902 it's the kind with the old mercury switch, very interesting. Unfortunately it hadn't been in use for a few years and some of the water or whatever rested and rusted in the sump dish under the solenoid, the result you see below.
Only five balls are left in the bearing the rest have rusted and ground each other into a yucky mess. The first guy (he was young) from the local heating company didn't bother to check this out and offered us a new pump for €400!!! Taking the pump apart I found this problem and took a new solenoid from an old pump the boss from the company said I could rob, hey presto, the pump is now running. There was a bit of a problem in adjusting the flow rate but a quick looksee from another of the guys from the same company solved that. I was adjusting the right screws but not having seen or worked on a pump like this before I was not 100% correct. He quickly set it and it cost us just a couple of cd's.The new (second hand) solenoid (is that the right word?) is turning sweetly and touch wood the heating system is now back on. We gave €20 to the Tea pot for the guys at the firm and they were quite happy. Savings,? €380, and we now understand our pump much better, if it can last till we can afford proper central heating it would be great.
