Re: jet drive noise??
Berkeley jets are easy to rebuild. The grinding sound is likely a combo of the main bearing being shot and the impeller rubbing against the wear ring. I have no idea what the popping noise is unless you've got some sea weed up in the housing and the impellor is popping it. The hardest part of a rebuild is getting the impeller off the shaft. A two arm gear puller is required (and a brass hammer to send some vibration through it). It's been a long time since I was in a Berkeley jet, but I believe if you take the nozzle off you can reach in and grab the impellor. If it moves laterally at all, the bearing is likely gone. Once you get the impellor off, you can heat the big stainless wear ring to soften the plastic gasket that holds it in place. These pumps are mechanically simple with few parts (a couple of seals, one bushing, the main bearing, the shaft packing, the plastic gasket, the wear ring, the shaft and impellor). I'd replace everything with the exception of the impellor (inspect the outer surface for extreme wear and the blades before deciding to reuse). To put the new wear ring and gasket in, you line them up and sit them on the housing. Place a 2 x 4 on it and gently tap on one side then the other, then back to the first, etc. until the assembly is started back into the housing squarely. Then use the end of the 2 x 4 and pound a little harder side to side until fully seated.
