I have a very old Silca Impero on my Cooper that has been slipping in performance over the last couple of years. It is now to the point that when I push in the plunger it often goes all the way to the bottom of the barrel with no resistance (and no pumped air) and only with repeated rapid pumping can I get it to work. I've pulled it apart and dribbled various oily substances on the pump leather, and tried flaring the leather out a bit but this doesn't seem to get me very far. I see that Silca sells new pump leathers for their floor pumps, but not for the Impero. Has anybody else encountered and resolved this situation?

your methods are familiar. My only difference is that I use grease on the leather washer... usually Phil grease.

Not to be a pessimist, but have you checked for cracks in the pump barrel?

Steve in Peoria

I've always used mineral oil as prescribed by who knows who way back along the way.

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the two possibilities which come to mind are that the leather may have become too limp to hold adequate shape, or else a leak in the system as mentioned above in the form of cracks in the body

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there are likely numerous forum members who have kept broken impero bodies on hand against possible future use in cannibalisation

you could post a WTB notice in the C&V sales forum and one should no doubt be coming quickly forward...


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