repair/replace old freshwater hand pump

[Paul B]

The head has a ceramic sink with a 1" opening and the hand pump with a vertical pull is fastened by its threaded spout piece by a nut below and a rubber gasket above. The self-priming ability is long gone and the chrome plating is in bad shape. The gasket around the pump handle rod is a coiled strip of some fiber. I haven't had the canister open yet to see what parts it needs. Current products on the market all seem to need a wooden counter on which to fasten. Any help on re-fitting this old plumbing would be appreciated.

[imported_Daniel]

Paul, you could get the faucet end re-plated, the seal around the handle can be taken out and replaced with graphite packing, available at most plumbing wholesalers. The part at the end of the plunger that seals inside the "canister" (which creates your vaccum), is probably leather, you could make your own replacement piece for this. What this boils down to, seems to be a costly and time consuming repair, due to the pe-plating. I dont see the difference between mounting a new one on ceramic or wood, they should all mount the same way, though you may need to make a washer to go underneath the sink, due to the difference in thickness between wood countertops and a ceramic sink.

[Tonyr]

Why not use the opportunity to replace the hand pump with a Whale foot pump? It's so nice to be able to wash one's hands properly, something you can't do with a hand pump without at least in part filling the sink. We just did this substitution, and recommend it.

Regards, Tony

[Bob Cleek]

There used to be a neat foot pump on the market that set flush in the cabin sole. To use it, you'd put your toe on the top and twist and the plunger would pop up. When done, you'd push all the way down and twist to lock it flush with the sole again. Haven't seen 'em in years, though. The Whale foot pump works great, but you've always got that lever sticking out to trip you or whack your ankle on.

As for your pump, if it is bronze, it is worth keeping. It sounds like it only needs a routine servicing. As said, shaft packing replaced and a new leather with some pump grease and it's a done deal. You have any idea what a good bronze galley pump will run you if you can find one? LOL I expect more than a few guys in here would be glad to trade you your "old funky" bronze galley pump for a brand new plastic one! LOL

As for the plating... an option to replating (which can be cheaply done if you know a plating outfit that will wire it up with a big load of other stuff they are doing) is removing the chrome and polishing the bronze. Finestkind!

[Paul B]

I've cleaned up the faucet and will polish it up and I'll track down some graphite packing--thanks for the tip. As for the canister, it looks like it was never meant to be opened and after soaking, the seal is working just fine. A foot pump would be handy, but nothing I've seen would fit and fasten around the hole anyway.
Thanks.