This morning, I noticed the aerator for my pond wasn't working. I used a multimeter to insure I had power, but the thing wouldn't work.

Anyhow, the problem was with this little copper piece. When I pressed on it with a screw driver, the pump would run. I turned the set screw in and out a bit and it worked as it should.

Can anyone explain this piece and what it's function is?

Looks like a thermal cutout, when the unit overheats, it will shut off before it causes damage. There's another underlying problem causing the overheating.

This pump is 15 years old and I never expected it to last this long.

It's almost like thus little copper piece vibrates a connection to run the pump. It would run rough unless that set screw was adjusted right.

I'm in agreement with this. Almost certainly a thermal cuttoff. Could have become uncalibrated from vibration if it still doesn't run even when cooled, but a failure elsewhere is most likely to be the cause of a triggered thermal cuttoff.

I did clean the air filter. It's been running for about 8 hours...but it typically runs for months on end.

We'll see what happens. I appreciate the feedback.

It was used too much when it was new.

Used too much? I guess that's possible, but as I said it's 15 years old, so that seems like a pretty good lifespan for something like this.

But, it was off again this morning.

This is what it's doing immediately when plugged in. That thin copper piece is slowly burning away.

If anyone has any suggestions I'd love to hear it. I'm shopping for a new pump right now.

Scrap it when you get a new one - it's drawing too much amperage. Could have started with dirty thermal relay bi-metal points - you will never know now.

A replacement of the exact same thing is $230. Sounds like they fail or need rebuild kits about every 7 years or so, so 15 years is pretty good.

One thing I noticed is that set screw that's on there is basically doing nothing. I put a small zip tie around it and at least the burning went away, so I guess it's basically jumpered right now.

$230 for 15 years of use isn't too bad. I'm going to limp along with it for a while. Amazon can have a new one here in a couple days.

And, the diaphragms can be saved and used in the new, if ever necessary.

Jumping your thermal-overload is like putting a penny behind a screw-fuse in a fuse box.

I totally understand, but the gfci will trip and my house won't burn down.

Try using a point file , or fingernail file to clean , and refinish points . This is just a temporary fix, till you get new points delivered. old 243

Where would I find replacement points? I can't get them from the manufacturer.

If the points are not available you could put an automotive fuse of the proper amperage In place of the points . They have fuseholder' s with pigtails. That you could solder in. NOTE, this is defintly a JIMMY JACK way of fixing your problem. But will work I am assuming the unit is outside near your pond. Not in a Building. I am expecting , flack , for this suggestion. old 243

That's funny. My brother suggested the same thing. At thus point, it's about squeezing as much life out of it as possible.

Where it’s on a breaker that should trip before it burns up but I would change the pump when the new one gets there.