Kinetico Model 30 - not regenerating

[John19]

I've seen good discussions here, so here goes....

I have a Kinetico Model 30 and it looks like the dial is stuck. I've switched it to the next 'block' (brine/rinse, backwash, etc.) and checked back in half an hour, but it was still at the same spot. So it doesn't seem to be moving by itself anymore.
I called the clearwater number (since the previous owner got it from there.. 26 years ago) and they set up an appointment. A few hours later the technician calls and tells me he's not going to even look at it, since it's 26 years old and wants me to "just" buy a new one.

Now since they aren't the cheapest ones on the market (no pun intended).. is there a way to fix what I have or is it really end of life?

An additional question: I could get a refurb K60 for 2.5k.. but I'm not sure if that would be a good replacement (and price).

Any tips/advice would be very welcome!

 

[Ryan Symons]

My opinion...forget kinetico. They make a great softener but they are proprietary units with proprietary filters that they charge a lot of money for. (Top tier dealers pay the same price for a kinetico as i do for a clack or fleck twin tank and charge twice as much as i do for them.) Then you have to pay inflated service rates and have no choice but to deal with them. On top of that the new corporate philosophy is that when the warranty is up they no longer want to fix they want to sell new.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[John19]

My opinion...forget kinetico. They make a great softener but they are proprietary units with proprietary filters that they charge a lot of money for. (Top tier dealers pay the same price for a kinetico as i do for a clack or fleck twin tank and charge twice as much as i do for them.) Then you have to pay inflated service rates and have no choice but to deal with them. On top of that the new corporate philosophy is that when the warranty is up they no longer want to fix they want to sell new.

Thank you Ryan! Now.. as for Clack or Fleck.. who services those? Do you have to do that yourself?

 

[Ryan Symons]

You could do it yourself but being a dealer I service my customers....and a lot of other companies customers. If your softener is from clearwater you are likely in my general region. We are out of the Youngstown area

 

[John19]

I'm just west of Mansfield, so that's out of your region I would think....
How would I find a Fleck service provider in my area?.. If I google it I get all the water softener companies around me, so.. not sure if that's the way to go.

Plus how do I know what size/type Fleck to get?

 

[Ryan Symons]

You need to have your water tested and the softener sized for your needs. I would actually recommend Clack myself. They have a nice twin tank softener. The twin tank fleck models are 9000 and 9100. They have several single tank units. The 2510 is an updated version of the long time workhorse 2500 and 1500. I would avoid the 5600. If you call Mark at Charger Water Treatment (wholesale distributor) he can recommend a reliable dealer in your area. 3305318570

 

[Bannerman]

Clack vs Fleck, usually a personal preference similar to Ford vs GM.

The newest Fleck residential models include the 5800, 5810 and 5812. Each higher number has increased capabilities over the lower number and all more capable than a 5600.

 

[MDHarmon]

Hello John19,
I found the problem with my regeneration issue.
I pulled Level 1 off and relieved the water pressure.
When the Kinetico service guy was out before he pulled the top apart like he knew what he was doing (got water everywhere).
Showed me that everything looked good, it had other problems and I needed a "New" unit because this one was shot.
He said it would cost too much to fix.

I knew it had to be something simple.
So tonight I;
1) Pulled Level 1 off.
2 Spun the metering turbine but none of the lower gears moved.
3) Removed the e-Clip and the turbine gear.

The Level 1 picture shows the turbine gears, these do the work to drive the process through each stage.
You can see an e-Clip on the Regeneration Turbine but not on the Metering Turbine.
The e-Clip is small so it is taped to a labeled paper inside of a plastic bag until reassembly.
There are a few pictures of the Metering Gear (it has a #9 stamped on it)
I zoomed in on the picture and could see the pieces of white gear inside of the Level 1 housing.
I ordered 2 replacements from eBay tonight.