Foot operated clamp

[HeelSpur]

We have a 60ft x 6" diameter bore hole, with a submersible pump on a 1" bore plastic down pipe - the disadvantage is the pump swivels due to the start up torque, and touches the bore sides. With a steel pipe this doesn't happen.

Do you have any cable guards on you pipe? These help the pipe and wires from thrashing around and getting damaged.
http://www.completeplumbingsource.com/self-clamping-polyethylene-cable-guard

[Billman49]

Thanks for the link - no I do not have any cable guards - never even seen them in the UK. The cable is taped and cable tied to the pipe, so not too worried about that, but the pipe could get damaged (the well is sleeved with steel pipe to approx 20ft (which happens to be the water level) - below that it goes through chalk which is self supporting - the well is 60ft deep, the pump at about 40ft). Next time we have the pump out for repair/replacement/maintenance I'll look at getting some guards. I would guess that the pump swings way below the water line, and it just scraping against the chalk, creating a bell shaped chamber at that point... The old pump failed some years ago (it was second hand and the casing rusted through) - it didn't show any sides of damage to the sides - the new pump is stainless steel, smaller in diameter (and longer) - the pipe seemed OK when we changed it, but it would be better safe than sorry...

[JohnD]

I think the extra hole was a receptacle for a piece of pipe or whatever you might attach a jacking mechanism to. I've sold several of these clamps on eBay and they sell well, just be sure to call it a water well drilling tool in title so the right folks find it with search. I have an old McDonald catalog that shows a similar clamp with a hand operated jack attached on a short stand with 3-4 foot handle.