United Kingdom
205 Posts
Posted - 23/05/2010 : 18:46:25 nickbd's nickbd's
We just got back from a lovely day on the water and only one glitch presented itself. After filling the water tank I turned on the galley tap and nothing happened - the water pump no longer seems to be working - I don't know whether this would be a blown fuse or a knackered pump.
I looked under the tap and the connections are OK. It still seems to operate OK as a switch - I hear a click when I turn it and the light dims slightly on the 'water system' light, so I assume it's working. However, nothing is being pumped through.
The 'water system' light has a trip switch on it which trips after a few seconds of leaving the tap on.
Does it sound like a new pump is required? Or could this be something simpler? I couldn't see anything obvious. There appears to be no corrosion on any of the connections.
Thanks in advance.
==============
Nick B-D
1974 Fin Keel, Yanmar YSE 12
http://sabre27.wordpress.com
http://www.tinstar.co.uk
Sunfly
United Kingdom
51 Posts
Posted - 24/05/2010 : 12:09:53 Sunfly's Homepage Edit Reply Reply with Quote View user's IP address Delete Reply
Sounds like a blockage to me. Unlikely your pump would fail and exhibit these symptoms. Check the pump, filter and tap are clear would be the first port of call
Nothing - absolute nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats
http://sunflythesabre.wordpress.com
sabre27
178 Posts
Posted - 24/05/2010 : 19:55:03
Hi Nick,
I agree with Toby.
What type of a pump is it?
What noise do you hear the pump make when pumping normally?
What noise is it making now before it trips out? If no noise now, the pump is jammed, this will increase the electrical current flow, hence the trip switch activation.
The most likely cause will be a foreign body in the pump chamber. Give the chamber a few sharp knocks with a pair of pliers or similar before turning on, this may unstick it. If not, open the chamber and turn the impellor removing any obstruction found. Then find out how it got in there!
There is a small chance that the motor is jammed, unusual and getting more difficult to solve.
For further info from this scource, use the phone.
Paul Howard. S27OA Technical Officer.
nickbd
United Kingdom
205 Posts
Posted - 25/05/2010 : 20:14:39 nickbd's nickbd's
Thanks to both of you - more information as follows:
I tapped the pump lightly this morning but to no avail. I'll check the pipes to the tap next, but a cursory glance reveals no obvious blockage. Failing that I'll look in the chamber as you suggest.
In answer to your question Paul, when working, the pump makes a constant pumpy kind of noise. Now it makes no noise whatsoever. A picture of the pump in question is below:
- pump.jpg (193.33 KiB) Viewed 3534 times
Nick B-D
1974 Fin Keel, Yanmar YSE 12
http://sabre27.wordpress.com
http://www.tinstar.co.uk
Sunfly
United Kingdom
51 Posts
Posted - 26/05/2010 : 11:38:38 Sunfly's Homepage Edit Reply Reply with Quote View user's IP address Delete Reply
Nick, just to be a little clearer about how your system is set up - do you have an accumulator tank? Will probably be a blue cylinder about the size of a water mellon, in line between the pump and the tap. Also you say the tap connections are OK - I'm guessing you have a tap that isn't a valve but in fact an (electric) switch disguised as a tap. The alternative, which I think is often the case with these pumps, is that the pump has a pressure sensor, which detects when you open the tap.
If the former, it would be worth completely ruling out the tap as the source fo the fault -(always check the simple thngs first) disconnect the wires and test with a multimeter on buzzer function.
failing that, go with paul's point of taking the top off the pump. thish shouldn't be to complicated, have a look at this:
http://www.shurflo.com/files/4-Content/ ... 0Parts.pdf
It might be that the pressure switch on the pump, or diaphragm has failed, but my money is still on a blockage, most likely, as paul says, in the pump.
Good luck!
Nothing - absolute nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats
http://sunflythesabre.wordpress.com
nickbd
United Kingdom
205 Posts
Posted - 26/05/2010 : 19:12:22 nickbd's nickbd's
I took the pump out today and checked all pipes just in case. All clear. I found it difficult to believe there was a blockage in the pump chamber, because there's a hefty filter sieving the water as it enters - but I began to dismantle it. Once I had the chamber off, I tested the motor and to my relief, it worked. I dismantled the chamber, and after some puzzling realised that the drum which is turned by the spindle had rusted up and completely seized.
It took a while for me to realise this, because until I saw a tiny bit of play in it, I had no idea it was supposed to turn at all (bearing in mind that this was my first visit to the interior of a water pump and that anything immovable was, I assumed, supposed to be thus).
Anyway, after some brute force and axle grease, I got it turning - and voilà!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuPHt-hf5mU
Thanks to both of you for all your tips.
==============
Nick B-D
1974 Fin Keel, Yanmar YSE 12
http://sabre27.wordpress.com
http://www.tinstar.co.uk