Waterous or Hale? Which Would You Choose?

[Firefighter4life91]

Hi people. If you were looking to equip your pumper with a new pump, would you choose a Waterous or a Hale? I know that both are good pumps, but feedback wouldbe appreciated. Anyone who is familiar with both pumps, please let me know which one you would choose.

Thanks.


Signature: I'D RATHER BE CUMMIN' THAN STROKIN'
THERE IS NOTHIN BETTER THAN A CUMMINS.

[FIREMECH1]

As a mechanic, I prefer using the waterous pumps over the hale pumps. I've got both, but for repairs and all the components that come with them, the waterous ones wins.

FM1

[Rescue101]

We're all Hale(minus our one remaining and LAST Darley).NO troubles with our Hales once we converted their POS "oilless" primers. Our neighbors to the South have Waterous,again trouble free.If I had started with Waterous,I'd probably stay there,oldest Firepump builder in the USA. We've been Hale since before I joined and the pumps have given us no reason to change. Did that help?hehe T.C.

[retiredtruckman]

Darley, Waterous and Hale all make fine pumps. The best pump to purchase is one that your manufacturer is extremely familiar with and one that your service shop recommends for their ease of maintenance and repair.

99% of these new firefighters out their have no clue as to the difference of any brand of pump that is working behind their gauge panel.

[fyreline]

We have used both, we are now entirely Hale. It's what we know, and what we stock parts for. They are pretty much trouble-free when properly maintained. Ours see a good amount of heavy service, and I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone.

[rm1524]

We have both. I prefer to work on a Waterous. Customer service from Waterous seems a little better than Hale at the factory level, our Hale rep comes by about once every 3 or 4 months. Both are good pumps and I wouldn't be afraid of either one of them. For awhile we was going through Hale oil-less primers like candy, but have not had alot of problems lately.

[txgp17]

Waterous CMU 2-stage

[VanIsleEVT]

Go witness a pump test of both brands and I think you'll choose the Waterous. Hale's straight cut gears in their pump trans whine like crazy.

Having said that, we've got both brands and both have performed well. Last three trucks are Waterous and so will the next one. Besides, our 1899 Waterous still pumps like new so why change

[Command6]

I wouldn't turn my hand for the difference.

I like the inner workings of the Waterous, and as mentioned they are less noisy due to the chain drive. Hale has the edge in the components: relief valve, changeover valve. Parts availability.

You'll be happy with either brand.

I'd suggest you avoid two things on either brand. Stay away from oil-less primers and mechanical pump seals. Those 2 things alone will cost you thousands in extra maintenance cost over the lifespan of the truck.

C6

[fyreline]

Ditto on the mechanical seal. We had a dozen of them and I wouldn't have another. Save yourself a lot of trouble, stay with traditional pump packing.

[donethat]

Hale and Waterous are both fine pumps. But the Hale oiless primer, and the Waterous electric pump shift do not have steller reputations.

[Rescue101]

A Trident will eliminate ALL problems with the Hale oilless,useless primer. Although we have converted some of ours(Hale oilless) back to oil type and they work well. Got our first Trident last year and I think everything from here on out will have one. VERY nice primer. T.C.

[Rescue101]

Go witness a pump test of both brands and I think you'll choose the Waterous. Hale's straight cut gears in their pump trans whine like crazy.

Having said that, we've got both brands and both have performed well. Last three trucks are Waterous and so will the next one. Besides, our 1899 Waterous still pumps like new so why change

There's people here on the Forums that whine louder than a Hale pump.hehe T.C.

[AFDCaptainRet]

I know this doesn't answer the question but I thought I would mention this just for S's and G's.
My old department has an American LaFrance, 1957 800 Series that they keep in reserve (it had quite an extensive foam system installed in the 70's) and for parades with a 750 gpm pump, a 5 speed non-syncro tranny and a six/eight (???) cylinder Continental gas engine that still pumps close to 1000 gpm 50 years later! I was "raised" on the American LaFrance pump and they are still my favorite. Just wanted to mention them since they have fallen on hard times. Thanks for reading.

[firesale]

Ask where are the parts made. Several companies now buy castings from china. Waterous makes um here. All american employee owned company. With that said, Hale makes a nice pump.

Later

[GTRider245]

I have worked on both and prefer the Waterous over Hale. For whatever reason, the trucks with Waterous pumps seem to sit at barley above an idle while the Hale trucks are screaming through the roof the pump the same amount. And like mentioned above, we are on our 3rd oilless primer on my paid department engine.

The whole issue with Hale's tank fill piping being placed where it is and robbing the water from the pump when fully opened is what really put me over the edge with Hale. No thanks.

[npfd801]

I know this doesn't answer the question but I thought I would mention this just for S's and G's.
My old department has an American LaFrance, 1957 800 Series that they keep in reserve (it had quite an extensive foam system installed in the 70's) and for parades with a 750 gpm pump, a 5 speed non-syncro tranny and a six/eight (???) cylinder Continental gas engine that still pumps close to 1000 gpm 50 years later! I was "raised" on the American LaFrance pump and they are still my favorite. Just wanted to mention them since they have fallen on hard times. Thanks for reading.

Sad thing is, if you could get an ALF pump now its just someone else's pump badge engineered for the "new" ALF. I forgot who is building it for them...

[VanIsleEVT]

I have worked on both and prefer the Waterous over Hale. For whatever reason, the trucks with Waterous pumps seem to sit at barley above an idle while the Hale trucks are screaming through the roof the pump the same amount. And like mentioned above, we are on our 3rd oilless primer on my paid department engine.

The whole issue with Hale's tank fill piping being placed where it is and robbing the water from the pump when fully opened is what really put me over the edge with Hale. No thanks.

I would say the Hale pumps had the wrong gear ratio in the pump trans or a number of other things. In theory, all things being equal, the rpm should be very close.

Any tank fill is "robbing" water from the pump. That water has to come from somewhere. Have you ever considered how much water flows through a 2" smooth bore at 100 psi, because that's basically what you are "robbing". It's over 1000 gpm. Besides, it's also a good way to crack you booster tank.

[Rescue101]

I have worked on both and prefer the Waterous over Hale. For whatever reason, the trucks with Waterous pumps seem to sit at barley above an idle while the Hale trucks are screaming through the roof the pump the same amount. And like mentioned above, we are on our 3rd oilless primer on my paid department engine.

The whole issue with Hale's tank fill piping being placed where it is and robbing the water from the pump when fully opened is what really put me over the edge with Hale. No thanks.

Dunno who's Hale you're using but mine just putter away AT CAPACITY,they don't work any harder or more Rpms than my neighbors Waterous. Our Ladder runs the whole shooting match at less than 1100 Rpm/ T.C,

[fyreline]

I agree. If your Hale pump is "screaming" at the same RPM's your Waterous is "barely idling", there's either something wrong with the pump or the operator.