Q.What's the advantage of buying an impeller from Leading Edge?
A. Besides our free shipping, and helpful customer service, you can rest assured that every impeller that you buy from Leading Edge Impellers is quality checked to assure you that the blade pitch and balance of your impeller is correct, at no additional charge. This is a huge value that almost no other company can provide you.
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Q.What are the options for selling my impeller to Leading Edge?
A.Your quote can include one or more of these payment options to choose from:
1. Store Credit: The best choice if you are looking to trade in your impeller for another impeller from Leading Edge Impellers.
2. Cash Offer: The simplest way to turn your item into cash.
Please note: Your offer cannot be split across offer types, nor can it be changed once your item has been received.
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Q.How and when is payment provided?
A. Once your impeller arrives at our facility and we have inspected it, your payment will be sent to you. Typically this takes 3-5 business days.
1. Store credit: Vouchers redeemable at Leading Edge Impellers are issued within 3-5 business days of item arrival and inspection. However, we understand you may want to buy and sell at the same time because of a short riding season. In this case, please purchase the impeller you want right away. Once we receive and inspect your trade-in item, we will issue your voucher. Please contact us at 949-229- or reply to your voucher to have it applied to a purchase made in the prior two weeks.
2. Cash Offer: Cash offers are paid via PayPal. PayPal payments are sent directly to your account . Payment will be issued within 3-5 business days of item arrival and inspection.
Please note: Store credit vouchers are not redeemable for cash value.
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Q.Who Covers Shipping with your Buy/Sell program?
A.In short, Leading Edge does! See more details below.
1. Store Credit: Your offer price includes the use of our shipping label. Your impeller is insured with our carrier, although any damages resulting from shipment will be reimbursed only if the impeller was properly packaged and is at the sole discretion of our carrier. At this time we are unable to send an impeller box or packing material.
2. Cash Offer: Your offer price includes the use of our shipping label. Your impeller is insured with our carrier, although any damages resulting from shipment will be reimbursed only if the impeller was properly packaged and is at the sole discretion of our carrier. At this time we are unable to send an impeller box or packing material.
*Please note: We are unable to send a prepaid shipping label to customers in Alaska or Hawaii, or any country outside of the Continental US.
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Q.How do I get my shipping label?
A.Once we agree on a value for your impeller, we'll you a prepaid USPS or UPS shipping label. This applies to the Continental US only; however, you can purchase your own label if you're in Alaska or Hawaii.
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Q. How long is the offer valid?
A.Our offers stand for 7 days to ensure the most competitive quote..
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Q. Is the offer on my impeller negotiable?
A.No. Our team of experts research each submitted impeller performs daily market analysis so we can initially put forward our best offer. We understand trying to get the most out of your submission, but we also must take into account our processing costs around repairing, shipping and tuning up each item. We then come out of the gate with our strongest offer. We strive to make the entire process of selling to us simple and stress-free.
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Q.How do I decline an offer on my impeller?
A. Our offers automatically expire one week after being extended. If you chose to not move forward with selling us your impeller you can simply let it expire on its own.
However, you do always have the ability to re-submit your impeller if our offer expired before you could accept it.
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Q.What does Leading Edge Impellers look for during their inspection?
A.Our trained mechanics are looking for wear and damage to the impellers' outside diameter, as well as thread and spline wear beyond what can be seen from pictures. We are less concerned with normal wear and tear.
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Q.I live outside of the continental United States. Does Leading Edge Impellers purchase impellers from Canadian or other international customers?
A. Absolutely. The exception is, we are unable to send a prepaid shipping label to get the impeller here. You would need to pay to ship the impeller to us.
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Q.Is Leading Edge Impellers qualified to service my impeller/pump?
A.Absolutely. We are a qualified, full-service facility dedicated to providing professional, accurate impeller repair & modifications. We have been professionally servicing pumps/impellers for over 35 years, and provide correct, and accurate impeller rebuilding specifications for every impeller out there! We have developed an accurate pitching system, and we have vast knowledge with Skat-Trak, Solas, Nu-Jet, and every OEM stainless steel impeller from Yamaha, Sea-Doo, Kawasaki, Polaris, Honda, Hydrospace and Tigershark watercraft, eliminating common guesswork.
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Q.Do you balance each impeller that you service?
A.Yes. Every impeller that we service is checked for accurate balance within 2/10ths of a gram on our two-plane balancing machine. Checking and correcting the impeller's balance is especially necessary with impellers that have been welded during the repair process. We balance each impeller as the finish is applied, assuring an accurate balance once the impeller is complete.
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Q.My impeller's outside diameter is worn and doesn't fit tight in the pump anymore. Can you fix this?
A.In most cases, yes. We will weld the outside diameter of the impeller, machine it to the correct diameter to fit the pump, re-finish it and re-balance it. In some cases, the impeller diameter is worn so extensively, it is cost-prohibitive to repair it. We would then recommend buying a new impeller.
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Q.I had my impeller's diameter rebuilt and now it won't fit into my pump. Why?
A. This sometimes happens, and the reason is simple. Over the years, the pump wear-ring, or liner becomes corroded, and out-of-round. So you're basically trying to put a new, correctly sized impeller into an old damaged, out of round hole. When this happens, any good impeller will not fit correctly into the pump, whether it's a repaired impeller, or a brand new one. The answer to this is usually that you replace the impeller housing, or liner so that the new impeller has a consistent, tight fit.
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Q. Does impeller pitch work just like boat propeller pitch?
A. Not at all. The numbers refer to the outer blade angle of each impeller blade. The word pitch does not apply to a PWC impeller the way it does a boat propeller. The pitch on a boat prop refers to the distance the unit moves forward per revolution. A PWC impeller pitch refers to numbers that reflect the outer blade angle, which identify how aggressive the impeller is. It is more of a 'label', that can only be used comparing the exact same impeller model. Another reason it's hard to use that label is, that each of the impeller manufactures have been known to slightly change an angle to optimize performance, and not change the ID (or pitch name) of the impeller because the label of that impeller is already known to perform with intended watercraft. We understand the differences between each impeller manufactures specs, and assure the pitch be returned to factory specs.
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Q. Does my impeller pitch need to change if I raise my engine horsepower?
A. There are so many variables that affect the pitch of impeller you would use for your craft. A common idea is that the more horsepower you have, a higher pitch impeller is needed. That is not necessarily the case. With many engine tunes (basically manipulating the computer), the horsepower is made at a higher RPM than stock, so to allow the engine to rev, you sometimes go lower in pitch to gain more speed, and to some people, that is counter-intuitive. But if you do make changes to your engine that require a pitch change, we're here to help.
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Q. Can Leading Edge repitch my existing impeller to work with my engine modifications?
A. Yes. Just send your impeller in, and give us a note stating the engine mods, and any changes you'd like to see with the repitch.
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Q. What's the difference between a polished finish like Solas provides and a textured finish the way Skat-Trak does it?
A. Some people prefer the cosmetic appearance of the Solas, and some like the textured finish that a Skat-Trak impeller has. There really isn't a lot of difference between them, but many professional engine builders/tuners prefer a textured finish on the impeller, with the pump being as smooth as possible. We haven't found significant gains with a high polish, so our rec finish that we use will provide exceptional performance. We do offer our Pro finish as an option, providing a smoother, sharper finish.
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Q. Does the pitch of one impeller brand compare in performance to a different brand impeller?
A. The pitch of an impeller can be deceiving, because of the geometric differences in impeller designs, even from one manufacture. Remember this important fact- there is no correlation in pitch between various impeller models. The pitch only represents the bottom end and top speed to a degree. Comparing the stock impeller's pitch to a performance impeller like a Solas or Skat-Trak to gauge the speed of the impeller is not accurate. The pump venturi nozzle diameter is also critical to the performance of the watercraft. Each of the impeller manufacturers (including the original impellers on current PWC) measure the blade sweep in a different way. Which means the percentage or amount of blade length per angle of progression varies from impeller model to impeller model. There are also many geometric differences between the different brands and models of impellers, for example- blade length, hub size, root angle, and position of the impeller in the pump. These and many other factors are at least as critical as blade pitch, and all have a large effect on the load and efficiency within the pump. We can help you with questions individual to your needs.
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The main function of an impeller is to increase or decrease the flow of liquid, vapor or gas in the mixer at your production facility. This is the reason why these impellers are available in the market with different kind of mechanisms designed for different industries as well. They also come in different sizes and shapes; thus it is significant for you to be aware about which one is the right impeller for you based on its application.
Here is a simple criteria based on which you can decide which impeller to choose. Let's have a look at the methodology:
1. Application
Firstly you need to know the purpose of deploying an impeller. What would be its usage? To what extent will it be subjected to wear and tear? During the process will it be exposed to any dangerous or corrosive materials?
You need to have concrete answers to all of the above questions in order to take the right decision. Based on your requirements, you would have alternatives to choose from, as each impeller style has its own function. You will also be able to select based on sizes and other specifications, for instance an open or a closed design.
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A closed impeller consists of wear rings, which usually require maintenance, while the open ones have less chances to clog; hence some manual adjustments might be made.
2. Flow
Once you're sure about the application of the impeller, you need to know about the flow pattern that will be inculcated in the process.
So for example, an axial flow is appropriate for heat transfers, liquid-liquid blending, etc. This type of flow is suitable for a lesser shear and an efficient pumping rate. It is generally considered to have a pitched blade turbine, but it can also be a radial flow with respect to certain dimensions.
Radial flow on the other hand has a higher shear as compared to axial. It is suitable for applications like gas-liquid dispersion which is also called emulsion mixing. Such flows can be introduced with the usage of crossed blades. The speed of shearing can be customized and controlled depending on how fine you want the emulsions and dispersions of the pigments. For a radial flow, saw tooth impellers are recommended.
Lastly, if your application is based on high viscous substances, then the flow pattern would be a tangential one. This would require an anchor or a square blade.
3. Vessel Diameter
The next step is to figure out the impeller's diameter. This depends on the type of flow pattern you require and the vessel's diameter. Generally, for the radial and the axial flow, impeller's diameter is one third of the vessel's diameter.
It is acclaimed to have a diameter of 70% less than the diameter of the vessel, for an axial impeller, so that the circulation path cannot be hindered by any means. On the other hand, the percentage increases from 70% to 90% in case of anchor impellers.
3. Viscosity
Viscosity of the material is important to consider while choosing an impeller. For lower viscosities which are closer to water like consistency, a prop impeller is recommended. As for higher viscosities and thicker substances, a pitched blade turbine or a vertical blade turbine is appropriate. Anchor and square blades are used when the viscosity is extremely high.
4. Materials
Next criteria is to decide about the material of the impeller. Generally, manufacturers use stainless steel, as it known to be anti-corrosion, anti-contamination, anti-heat and resistant to chemical reactions; thus it is durable and reliable than any other material. This material is also hygiene friendly, as the cleanliness is extremely convenient.
Iron, Titanium, Bronze, Nickel Alloys, etc. are some of the other options available for material of the impeller. In order to make the impellers even long lasting, additional coatings and finishing material are used, specifically when the application is that of a high pressure.
3. Costs
After all the functional factors, one needs to see the feasibility of the impeller with respect to the cost associated with it. Impeller's cost is not one time. Depending on their durability, they also require maintenance from time to time.
Thus, it is indispensable to choose an impeller with low maintenance costs but productive at the same time. Compromising on the costs in the first installment could cost you in the long term, so take the decision wisely and practically, because you don't want your production to stop even for a second for replacement, fixing or maintenance purposes.
4. Specialty
Special applications require special impeller styles with respect to the consistency of the material and the vessel size.
So if your production requires impellers for narrow necked flasks or vessels then collapsible impellers would be an appropriate option for you
On the other hand, if your product is very thick or viscous and requires to be scrapped from the walls of the vessel then anchor impellers are the perfect fit for you, as they would easily clean your vessel walls and would not let your material to waste at all.
Conclusion
Based on the criteria and requirements mentioned above, you'll be able to find the perfect impeller for your product. Although, sometimes even after applying the above mentioned methodology and after considering each dimension of the impeller, you might be not be able to find the perfect fit. In that case, customized options are also available, which could make your life easier and your production up to the mark.
So don't hesitate to get in touch with us, if you're still confused which impeller would be the right fit for you.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of customized Impeller. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.