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I have your standard West Marine fresh water pump for all my boat needs. Everything has worked normally for the last 1-1/2 years.
I need some help with diagnostic suggestions for what has been happening recently. Before I replace the $160.00 pump.
About 3 months ago I realized the joint on the pump housing was leaking when pressurizing... no big deal, I only powered it when I needed to run water, after a few weeks the seepage at the joint stopped. Great! Everything has been working normally up until about a month ago. Upon boarding I usually turn on the water power switch, it pressurizes and everything has been normal.
In the last 2-3 weeks when I power up, the pump turns on but does not pressurize and stop. Tanks are full. I go thru the priming procedure... open all faucets and turn pump on until it evacuates any air and water begins to flow from faucets, once water is running no sputtering air I close all the faucets and the system pressurizes, and works normally.
Here's the weird part... now.. the pump has pressurized the system and holding and not turning on to keep pressurizing. Within 30 minutes If I turn on the galley faucet, the pumps starts and the water in the line runs out of the faucet line and the pump just runs and won't pressurize untll there is no water anymore. Pump just runs. I go thru the priming procedure and it works again....???
My first thought was I have a leak somewhere, losing my pressure. No water leaks I can find yet. Tank is full. If sit there the pump does not come on indicating a loss of pressure.
Another thought is I have an air bubble somewhere... but it always primes and all faucets work.
Any idea's what could be causing this?
It may simply be time to replace the pump?
Leo
SV Paper Moon
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Pumps. A never ending problem on a boat. It is amazing how many pumps there are on a boat. It sounds like to me you have a small internal leak inside the pump. This could be caused by deb re partially opening one of the valves inside the pump, or a slight tear in the diaphragm or one of the valves of the pump. I would purchase a repair kit for that pump before I would purchase a new one, and I would also clean the filter that should be before the intake of the pump. Cheers and beers,
Jim
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Thanks.
One other thing I noticed, when I'm in the priming process, the filter (large clear) has swirling bubbles that don't go away.
I have surmised that the pump joint leak may actually be sucking air into it as well. I think what happens is once its primed and working again (and doesn't pump up after sitting) may be due to an air bubble migrated back and in front of the pump exit side and the bubble is holding the line pressure. I contacted the mfg'r to see if they make a rebuild kit for this specific West Marine branded pump. Waiting to hear from them. A new pump is $149.99.
Leo
SV Paper Moon
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You could be on the right track with that air leak. One product I carry on the boat for these types of repairs is called SPLASH ZONE. Not cheap but can be used underwater, sticks to most things, gets hard as a rock, has a long shelf life. Just wear gloves mix between your fingers with a little water. Cheers,
Jim
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