Hi everyone,
I have a 45 year old domestic well, with a submersed pump. It has a split top well seal that is loose and sort of pushed up in the center slightly, instead of flat, and appears to have had one side of the donut rubber gasket under the top plate split. It looks something like this, except a lot older:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBwgHBgkIBwgKCgkLDRYPDQwMDRsUFRAWIB0iIiAdHx 8kKDQsJCYxJx8fLT0tMTU3Ojo6Iys/RD84QzQ5OjcBCgoKDQwNGg8PGjclHyU3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nz c3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3N//AABEIAFAAZAMBIgACEQEDEQH/xAAcAAABBAMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAAQFBgECAwj/xAA/EAACAQMBBQMIBggHAAAAAAABAgMABBEFBhIhMVFBYXETIjJCgZ Gh0QcUFZLB0hYjQ1JUYnKCJDNEU6Kx8P/EABkBAAMBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIDBAEABf/EACARAAMAAgICAwEAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMREiEEQRMxUSL/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/ADjWDSJxUTrOu2mlruysXmIysS8z49K77MppLbJU8qa3WoWdoC bi4ijP8zDNUDVNqL2dXZ5DDABkpDwOPGu9vrGzTQIzNGpZf2il nB76y3x xU5eX0WSbarTI CGWX lOHxpv l0DMBFZynPLLAZqnTSwyzO9qpW3ZiE3jzHX21Ea1cX0QT6qXRD zkQbxU HSnTCa2T15Fb0Ek7Wonp2Mij sV0j2ss2OJIpk7wAaGulXN24/wATcNcZ9EGPd3epNS29ug5547K1wgZ8iwhW2u6dOQEuVVj2SDd/7qRR0YAqwIPIg0ONA2h0UI8F9GqSqxzI67wbu7qc3OsWyzpJoc romPP3QQufA0hPdcUVfJqdsIGayKq2lbUqxEeoIFPZKg4e0dlW eKRZEDowZSMgjkaJrQc2qXRvSrGazWBlc2q177NhEFsR9bkBwS PQHU0P3laVzJI7M78WYkkmtdWvpdS1Ge7MpCStlEKg7q9gzTdR J2yt90fKqZhI8zNk5UOWG8pBGQRg5FM005I87igKTXbdf/eb7o VLycn8Q/Hoq/Ki4/ojlr2dt O2gJZkSNBksTwFQGp7V2keVigaUg83O6DXbaWG5 yZGiMkxQhmQKvv4DsoZXd2pbnkniSTgZ/Ggq9FGHF8nbLrBtxHDId7T B57k3H41Z9G1 x1dSLWQiVRlonGGA694oLtOT6yjpxqwbDpcXOvQGBnQRAtJKmP NXGMdOORQK22Ovx0p2E SwgeYzFE3j6w4GnFvCIUIUAdvCm/1eT NuR9z8tIQSD/XXH/D8tO17Ik/Q De pjQdafT5ljkYm2Y cv7vePlVZ qy5z9fuh9z8tI2838fPw6qnyrNJjIri9phjjcSIHUgqeIOeYrF VzZLU0TRo4biXeeFim8x4sOBB NKp3OmeirTQOACmUYecp3T7OFbhqmdstLbTtWeVFxb3LF0I5Bv WHv4 2oI5KkDmeFVS99nlZJ1TRZ9C0q1ubNLq63n32ICZIGM4zwpxqu j2MdpLPbK0XkkLEBiQemc1QLTWdW0O6ASOWWAt6o3xx6r2 yn8 t6vqjlJhNHaBslThAf7Bz9tRcMryffRbvEsemuyRs4HvJlSMY7 Sx44H/uyn91fbKbK2zBrS3kuZWJdI4VLserHFV3SNpE0/XlW7O7aSlUZj6pzwb38 6oj6RNC1C01Oa7jglnsp234p4xvrg9T2HnzoM9VWTT hni41EbJyPbrZua4xdaWlumfS8gr 8EVOrb6XqNib7QoreNj5zLAgQSdeA9agKFuJp9xIZpHzgKiFjn 2UWNhrC72Z0Oe81VWhurhwLW0b0uHrHp8qxzwacvsfaVQ9khA0 LXUEE86QCRwu 54cauLbMWapukz749bf/ChltDZS6jAWR8Tg73Hk3UHuNP9O2q2mtEiibflCAKVdVYHs55z T805W/5IcPwzL5E1qlm2nXXkmbeVhvI3UU1B7elcjJPPI89y 9LIcsc/DwrZFLsFUbzMcY61RCfFciWtOnxJnSLG6ubd3hJCh93l24FKrt oGn/Z lxQOP1npSH Y86VIddnoTifFGdd0uPVtOktZeBPnRv2ow5GhVqNjPpl01vdIV ccieTDqKM5Gag9rNIOq6XJHCF soN6Fjx49PA8q6bchZsCyIFu7njWcVGfaiwTtb3ga3mRiCko4c Oh7PbT1blO04HXmPeKoWRM868Vz6ITabTXuIi0PPnXXRdp9SsL JIGu5oXXzTGwLIe8Hs8CKmsxuvmkEdxpu1svPcXj4UF4ZsZj8m 8a0cbfbLVjLuwyRp/OcfguacT3MupXaXMzyMVXALnj3nHZ0x2VotthuCqPACnEaBR0r o8eZe2Zl8qrXFI6KtbKi88VgFf3l8BxNYlu7aD/PlVT2KT5x9nOjrIpFRjun0hzGpfzVGT0q67KaB5ErfXi/rOcaEej31A7H2cus3Ky SMVhH5xZh50vcOgolIuKnrLy6Rfh8ZT/AEzI5Uq2pUBWKtWXNbUq44pW22w9tryNPbCOK94E7wwsvj0PQ0 HtU0HV9EuWRfLQOP2bnAPgeRr0rjjmm17Y219CYbyCOaMj0JFy K4Fzs8zHVNRg4XMSnH70f4il kEnJoI/ZIRRq1H6N9KnkL2U09oT6gO g9h4j31Bz/RZcliUvLSQdnlIiDRbfoW4/UDRdoZV9GAHxmPyrZdbunx5OCJSe4tRHj i26BG9LYjwjJ/Cpqw ji2ix9YvM9RDGF Nc2/0zgvUgniXWr8gJI8aN/YPhV22W j2aeVLnUciPOcsMZ8BzPiaI2mbNaXppDwW4aQcpJTvN8eVS4FB pBpP2cLGzisoFhgGEXlTmlSrRgqVKlXHH//2Q==

There is chipmunk poop sitting on top of this broken seal!

There is a pipe extending from the pitless adaptor through the center hole. It extends about 3 inches. I looked at well caps and there are new ones that are more like a turtle cap that seal on the outside of the casing, which seems more protective, as they cover the entire top with a solid metal surface. https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBwgHBgkIBwgKCgkLDRYPDQwMDRsUFRAWIB0iIiAdHx 8kKDQsJCYxJx8fLT0tMTU3Ojo6Iys/RD84QzQ5OjcBCgoKDQwNGg8PGjclHyU3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nz c3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3Nzc3N//AABEIAGQAZAMBIgACEQEDEQH/xAAbAAABBQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwQFBgcCAf/EADsQAAIBAwICBwYCCAcAAAAAAAECAwAEEQUhEjEGEyJBUWFxF DKBkbHBQqEHFSMkUtHh8DNDYmOSsvH/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA/8QAFBEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8A3GivCwHMgU2ub 1tZEjubiOFnBKdY3CGxzwTQOqM1XrrpXadcbfTIpNRuB GAdgercvlmozUtd1SEfv15ZabncQwr182P v0oLnmvay bpRc8XYvtRk8y0cY/wCIQ/WuE6Waihwt3dfFo2 qUGpZFGR41mlz0w1Cewkt0uI0kdeEydVwuB5ENjPwFJWPTHWHn srS56iHhmTrrgjHEnEOfcBjOTQajRXisrKGUggjIIPMV7QFFFF AUUUUFe6cW1xPope0n6iW3kEvHxcOAAc/XlWW3F/e6xqSde7zMOyWb8AznAq4/pEuxdapZabxt1cSGadQdsk9keux dQEl0ighQoXwAxQSl7rUel2QtdLVYmYe8Bv6nxNVZ5jIxeRyzE 5LE5JNI6hOZLlt9hTcvtjOKBd7jfC/Omz3cjkrEfVvCkizS7LsnefH0rrAUYUYxQKLI6AcMjbeJzUjpe qNbyg9Wjjk0Ui8SOPt8NxUUBk7nA8aUVwpODwjlnY/Gg0vSb2a2s/b9BL3FkD 8adI2WhPfwH /5W7S9StdUtFubSTijOxB2KnwI7jWO9GNcNhqYCsyRSdlsnme41 aTqH6nvhq1iM20pAvIF5N/qA8f776DRaKTglSeJJYnDxuoZWHIg8jSlAUUUUGNdIboz9JtVl zyn6seiAL9qi5pwASTS3SVzBr2onGBJMZV9G7X3qFdy53oFHl6 xya8I49idu8eNJgV13ZoFBjlXoHe2y NJh/wCIZrtyzrx8IAAC7bAn/wAoOg6A8UqExDPZVuE8vHB lNpX4mONl7tsV654jtXJFB5tgg5wR3d1S k668INrfEMjKRxHvFRFcugcYPwPhQbH jTUfadJnsmfjNlMUQ/7bbr9x8KuFY7 i3VoNM1W5t7 dYVuYwqs5wpYHbfu2J lbCrAgEEEHkRQe0UUUGR9M9Hu5Z5rmC2lkS3kkSSVBlQvEWX1w GwfDhNUwYBq rql3YaPfaZeRiS6HGitIx4gPTHmx5/1plzaNFhuan8QFA3rocxg1zgmulG KCW0 1gdS1xbC4AOTwSmNseOdx VMrxLZZGFqsyLn3ZJA 3qAM75p3ZrJ7O2HZFG5JOBg7U1ulImcAhgDzB50DZeFWIYDBGM kHbzpRrQtvGQe/hPf6Um3OnNpIGXq25jlQMSCDgjHlXh8qmGjWRQJF48DAB7qYy2 bLvH2h4Y3oOLG6ksbuO5iwXQ/kdj6bVpHQ3pLcat0g9nt45fZfZi06yYwj52II XdnnjasyK4JBGCNsGpfonrc h6vFPGSYZGCTx52ZSfqOY/rQbuOVFFFBjV/qN3e9GNQiv3hNxJeqSWDdb3EqNsY PIEeFRenubRHWeE yE4zjdPM7bithn6M6RPcm4ktf2jHiOHYAn0BplrPRO0uYs6eqW 8wHu47D vh60GX3OmI46y1deFt1Gdj6GmqWrRt 0bqmyOEsNvnyqXv9HvNKuWQK1s5OSjDMb Y/mKTW6kXa5s25e/CeIfLn9aBP9XXq24eONpozzeJldRnxKk1FujqxLqQfPvqWZtMm btvCrn PsN eK8e1s3H IpA5YmyB dBCNj1ryMnjHCcE7d9SzW mwqWeRTju60En5GkrPq4L2K9tI5JIEYcSgbjPPHnigSeS4s5eC 9iaPKgjK4NOEYOoal lmrR6pNALWB4Yo84Mj5JzgDPhy5U2SCWCNTG4mGMtwjlQdycEq kTIkngxHaX0PP4cvKmqWqRyqQcgEEcVLsT1ZkwOENwkg5wfMcx 8QKatPg4QZY8qC/6B02gs7ae31KR5WS4fqmO56s4IBPfgkj0AopLop0FS50hbnVWk jnmcuqY3C92fPmfjRQaTRRRQJXNvDdRmO4iSRDzV1yKrt/0MsZiWtJJLdj H3l R3/OrPRQZ/cdCb4DsSwTADHMqfkR96j36E37N2tOjbz40/nWoUUGVXnQnUVtn6uzRNv8plYn4c/lUN0ehjsZ9Rk1IR4htzwQyOy9Yc7YI7x9zW3VB6v0W07VZTLOr xyN7zRYHF6gg0GMJ7frMkUKws7cXZRF24u6py80vU9EZItRtGM Le5MmGI8jjn9a1TStB0/SgDawjjxjrH3b nwp/PBFcRGKeNJI25q65B FBiM1zp7nglkifh/iU/cVJ9GrSO/1COLS7bme3OY8LGved9yfyrRG6J6Ez8Z0 Pi8mYfepS0s7ezj6u1gjiTwRcUCkaBI1RdlUYFFd0UBRRRQFFF FAUUUUBRRRQFFFFAUUUUBRRRQf//Z


However, the pipe extending from the pitless adaptor must be removed.

Is it safe to get rid of this vertical pipe? Does this pipe extending up from the pitless adaptor have any stabilizing effect? The well is almost 500' deep so there is a lot of weight hanging on the pitless adaptor. I would think this vertical pipe would prevent the pitless adaptor from tilting in the casing. If this is removed would the old pitless adaptor start leaking?

Or instead of the turtle cap, should I just replace the split top seal with an identical new one?

Thank you so much for any help!!
Marilyn

That piece of pipe from the well cap to the pitless adapter is there so the well man will have something to attach to to pull the pump. I can't see what your cap looks like but the simplest thing to to would be to get a piece of PVC pipe and a pipe cap large enough to fit over the well casing and long enough to reach from the top of the pipe to the ground and sit over the pipe and the well casing.

Hi HKStroud! I was hoping you were still here. You helped me before on the well line leak problem. The pictures showed up when I first placed them, but disappeared when I hit save. I tried to attach pictures in various ways, with no luck. I have pictures of the actual well head, if there is a way to send them to you. Here are some links to similar pictures I found on the web: The link below shows a split cap watertight seal, simlar to the one that is currently in place from decades ago.http://www.simmonsmfg.com/index.php/our-products/well-seals/well-seal-single-drop-pipe/The next link shows a watertight turtle cap, the type I am thinking of using. Since the top is solid, the 3" pipe to the pitless adaptor (the 'lift out device") has to be removed. http://www.simmonsmfg.com/index.php/our-products/well-caps/watertight-well-cap-2/I understand that the pitless adaptor has a threaded hole in the top that the vertical 1" pipe is attached to, and that it's somehow used to pull the pump up when necessary. I guess my question is whether that vertical pipe also provides some stability to the pitless adaptor, since the 1" pipe is held firmly in place once the bolts (on the split top seal) are tightened, that rubber donut gasket squeezes out and forms a seal with both the inside of the casing, and also the outside of that vertical 1" pipe.In some diagrams as shown below, they call that vertical pipe that extends out of the seal as the "support pole" as well as the "lift out device". I did a Google search for 'picture of well seal with pitless adaptor'. Here is a link to one of the pictures, calling it a support pole.https://www.google.com/search?q=picture+of+well+seal+and+pitless+adaptor&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=635&tbm=isch&imgil=wmNSbTwtneowyM%253A%253By375xw1VcjBM3M%253Bh ttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwekuwart.tumblr.com%25252F pitless-adapter&source=iu&pf=m&fir=wmNSbTwtneowyM%253A%252Cy375xw1VcjBM3M%252C_&usg=__XG2dJkKxDEASueck97c2jzoGZEw%3D&ved=0CDcQyjdqFQoTCKSHo8vu3ccCFUMMkgodxHYJQA&ei=bs_pVaSYIsOYyATE7aWABA#imgrc=wmNSbTwtneowyM%3A&usg=__XG2dJkKxDEASueck97c2jzoGZEw%3DI would think that the pitless adaptor might tilt due to the weight of the pipe below, and this vertical extension would service to stabilize and center the weight. It would not carry the weight, but it would help to keep the pitless from tilting... (Maybe?)

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I have a similar setup in my well at a home on the GA mountains. The split top seal is 2 steel plates compressing a rubber donut that is also split. When everything is in place, lift bar and wiring, tighten the top bolts and the seal should be very tight. If it needs replacement, just unscrew the bolts and remove the seal and replace with new. What covers the pit adapter? I have a fiberglass" boulder" that further seals the top and nothing gets on the well cap.