Guys last year about this time I purchased a 1989 Putz 32 Meter boom thinging that I needed it, it wasn't long til I found out that I should have taken a vacation or something, since I  run a 5/45 Olin which never lets me down, my first year in Business we pumped 1500 yards last year we pumped over 3200 years just with my line pump, and maybe 600 with the boom, back in Dec of 2008 the boom when down, by that statement the lower and the upper Stebiel Gear box, I was enroute to a repair shop in Kentucky but never made it the shift fork let go, I had it towed in 450.00 tow to a truck repair shop.

I have some good freinds in other states that repair pumps so they advised the shop on what to do and helped locate parts, but they didn't know how to check for other things, but to get it road ready that with parts and labor was 2,800.00 when we got it home, I put her in pump gear and found out I didn't have any pressure on the pump side of the Stebiel  so after getting some drawings and talking to my repair freind, I pumped all the hydralic oil out then started removing one pump at a time till I got the main pump off thats where I found my problem, the main pump shaft splines had stripped and the rear part of the coupling had also, I got the shaft from Rethox out of Indiana, it cost 450.00 the two piece coupler, it cost  550.00 from Thomas Machinery, Orlandro great people there, with some help from a good friend that has a Telebelt and hates to wrench on things we put her back to gether tighten everything put the oil back in also checked it to be clean and it was, cranked up the Engine and put it in pump gear and it worked perfect no leaks, good pressure and yesterday I got a call to pump a basement, just to be on the safe side for the customer my friend with the Belt was there just in case, mud arrived put in my slick stuff with a sponge behind and water up half way on the barrels and primed out over the hopper and away we when no problems, all that worrying for nothing, I really enjoy this Business I learn all kinds of stuff guys I'm 60 years old.

Good for you Ed!

I'll bet it gave you an increased heart rate priming your pump after all that time...

Good luck Ed, nice post.

Awesome ED, good to hear. At least now you know what's inside and how it works.

About two weeks ago I built a ball stop on my priming port using a piece of 1 inch steel rod, something like  VASA ,had on some of his pictures  it works great now no more cut up sponges.