Broken LAP Dist Pump

My pump, which I purchased at the beginning of the year, just broke. Specifically, the little black disk which connects the lever on the handle to the piston has come off. I can push it back on, but it immediately pops off again. This seems like a weak link in an otherwise very sturdy piece of equipment. Can anyone suggest a better way to refasten the lever? Something that’s a little more permanent?

I emailed the company tonight and got a response in about 10 minutes! They said they stand behind their product and will repair it if I send it back (at my cost). This is a very good policy, but I don’t have a lot of faith in this rather flimsy looking part, and would prefer not to lose the pump for a week or two :-(

Has anyone else had this problem?

Does the shaft have a small groove where the tangs of that lock washer engage?

You may be able to purchase a vacuum pump locally for a little more than the shipping cost. An automotive brake bleeder pump is pretty heavy duty and you can get them pretty cheap if you shop around.

Lap pump = harbor freight tools pump

Heavy duty brass pump is still $19.95

Thanks, I’ll look for an alternative :-)

Yes, the shaft does have a groove.

Are you sure the tangs on the lock washer are engaging the grove? I would think if you could push the tangs of the lock washer into the groove there would be no way it could fall off.

Quite sure. Visibly, plus it clicks into place and is ‘looser’ once it has been pressed back on. The problem is that it pops off again as soon as I start to pump.

Perhaps you could wrap a thin piece of wire into the groove and then press on the lock washer so its tangs click in behind the wire, giving it a little extra to hold on to. Just to make sure, I should also ask that you have the lock washer on in the right direction?

Yup :-)

I’ll check out the local auto parts store. The mfgr. insists that the only way to fix this is to send it back.

I just think your spring washer is sprung. Hopefully the auto store will either have one, or know where to get one.

This just happened to me, how did you fix it?
I can’t find the washer anywhere, it pinged off and vanished!

It broke pretty much straight away, I’m really dissapointed with LAPDIST. It looked like a solid piece of kit but it’s useless now.

Anyone fixed this? Please tell me how to fix it? I’m not an experienced DIY guy, so you’ll need to explain in simple terms.

cheers,

G.

Guys: It’s simple Circle Clip. C-Clip. Available at any hardware for about .02. Take your pump and just get one.

One of the most important things to remember and something that guys not used to working on cars and home improvement often forget. Take the broken thing with you if at all possible.

But make sure yu have a good story if the guy says - What do you use it for!

“My brother’s—something to do with bleeding brakes”…That’s the truth………….sometimes