Price Pump RC300BF CIBF56C Head — Cast Iron Bronze Fitted Centrifugal Pump End for NEMA 56C Motors
The Price Pump RC300BF with CIBF56C head is the bare pump end of the RC300 close coupled centrifugal series, supplied without a motor so it can be mounted directly to a NEMA 56C face motor you already own or specify separately. The CIBF56C designation tells you exactly what you are getting: a cast iron volute paired with a bronze impeller in the bronze fitted configuration, machined for the 56C frame. It is the practical answer when a volute has worn thin, a seal chamber has been damaged, or an existing pump has a perfectly good motor that simply outlived its wet end.
Construction follows the RC series pattern that has kept these pumps in service across plants and shops for decades. The 3" FNPT suction and 3" FNPT discharge ports handle substantial flow without the pressure loss of a necked down inlet, and the semi-open Francis vane impeller passes solids up to roughly 0.380" so light debris does not turn into a shutdown. A 5/8" 316 stainless hex stub shaft drives the impeller, and the standard 5/8" Type 6A Buna mechanical seal runs carbon against ceramic — a proven, serviceable pairing that most maintenance crews can rebuild without special tooling.
Because it is a close coupled design, there is no baseplate to shim, no coupling to align, and no separate bearing frame to lubricate. The head bolts to the motor face and the impeller threads onto the motor shaft extension, which keeps the footprint tight and the installation short. RC300 pump ends are found in coolant circulation on machine tools, chemical transfer, cooling tower and process water loops, parts washer recirculation, aquaculture systems, and general industrial transfer work. Bronze fitted construction adds meaningful corrosion resistance on the wetted impeller while keeping the cost and rigidity of a cast iron body.
Key Features
- Bare pump head assembly for the Price Pump RC300BF close coupled centrifugal pump — motor not included
- CIBF56C configuration: cast iron volute with bronze impeller, machined for NEMA 56C face motors
- Bronze fitted construction improves corrosion resistance on the wetted impeller versus all iron
- Semi-open, high efficiency Francis vane impeller for stable flow and reduced clogging
- Close coupled design eliminates coupling alignment, baseplate shimming, and separate bearing housing
- 5/8" 316 stainless steel hex stub shaft transmits torque without shaft sleeve wear
- Standard 5/8" Type 6A Buna mechanical seal, carbon versus ceramic, field serviceable
- Direct drop-in replacement for a worn or damaged RC300BF wet end on an existing 56C motor
- Compact footprint suits skid mounts, tanks-side installations, and tight equipment bays
Applications
- Machine tool and CNC coolant circulation
- Chemical transfer and process fluid handling
- Cooling tower and closed loop process water circulation
- Parts washer and circulating washer recirculation
- Aquaculture and water recirculation systems
- Industrial plant utility water transfer
- Filtration system feed and booster duty
- General purpose OEM equipment pumping
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Price Pump Company
- Pump Model: RC300BF
- Head Part Number: CIBF56C
- Product Type: Centrifugal pump head / bare wet end assembly (no motor)
- Series: RC Series, close coupled horizontal centrifugal
- Suction Port Size: 3" FNPT
- Discharge Port Size: 3" FNPT
- Volute Material: Cast iron
- Impeller Material: Bronze (bronze fitted configuration)
- Impeller Type: Semi-open Francis vane
- Maximum Impeller Diameter: 4.62"
- Motor Frame Compatibility: NEMA 56C face
- Stub Shaft: 5/8" 316 stainless steel hex (7/8" optional on series)
- Mechanical Seal: 5/8" Type 6A, Buna elastomer, carbon vs. ceramic
- Optional Seals (series): Type 21 Fluorocarbon, Type 8, Type 9 PTFE, Type 2106 double
- Maximum Solids Handling: 0.380" (9.6 mm)
- Maximum Temperature: 300°F (149°C) with standard materials
- Maximum Working Pressure: 75 PSI (5.2 bar) with standard Type 6A seal; up to 350 PSI (24.1 bar) with Type 9 seal
- Nominal Series Speed: 1750 RPM and 3500 RPM configurations
- Fasteners: Plated steel
- Gasket: Synthetic fiber
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the RC300BF CIBF56C head come with a motor?
A: No. This is the pump head only — the volute, impeller, seal, and stub shaft assembly. It is designed to bolt onto a separately supplied NEMA 56C face motor, which is why it is commonly bought as a repair part for a pump whose motor is still sound.
Q: What does the CIBF56C part number actually stand for?
A: CI identifies the cast iron volute, BF identifies the bronze fitted build with a bronze impeller, and 56C identifies the NEMA 56C motor frame the head is machined to mount on.
Q: Can I fit this head to a 143TC or 145TC motor instead?
A: No. The 56C designation is frame specific. A larger frame motor requires the matching head variant for that frame, since the mounting bolt circle and shaft extension differ.
Q: What is the difference between the BF head and the AI head?
A: The AI version is all iron, with both volute and impeller in cast iron. The BF version keeps the cast iron volute but uses a bronze impeller, which resists corrosion better in water and mildly aggressive fluids and is often preferred for circulating service.
Q: Do I need special tools to install this pump head?
A: Generally no. The impeller threads onto the motor shaft and the volute bolts to the C face, so a standard wrench set and a shaft holding tool are usually sufficient. Always confirm rotation direction and prime the pump before startup.
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