Deep well jet pump question

[Elza]

How common is it to have to pull the ejector (mine is cast iron) out of the well for maintenance/failure? How reliable are foot valves?

(Extended reading for those interested)

I live in a small town in a house that is about 130 years old. I worked out a trade with a friend and got the use of his backhoe for a few days. While removing a tree stump I chanced upon the old water well. It had been plugged, buried, and forgotten about.

Since there is a good possibility that the casing could collapse I decided on a jet pump. If it does collapse all I

[tech]

I just had to pull my mom's ejector/foot valve...again. The last time I was still in high school...this time was over 30 years later - and I was the only one that correctly remembered where the well casing was :) They usually don't give too much trouble, but the spring had become weak so the foot valve was replaced with a new one....BTW, her Meyers jet pump is the same one that came with the house in the late 1950s. It had a couple cracked parts (shield and impeller), but everything was still readily available.

Good luck...a good well is always a benefit.