What is this dohicky?

[Boondocker]

So here is the deal: under my gaucho near the pump is this clear dohicky in the waterline. Is this a filter or trap for sediment? It looks like it has a fair amount of gravely looking stuff in it. Should I take it apart in clean it? Replace it? or just pretend I never saw it before?

[bill benton]

Looks like a filter to me. But it looks more like a sediment strainer of some kind.

[cosmotini]

Sure, that's the fuel filter from my lawn tractor.

Really, it looks like a sediment filter. Is that the water pump in the foreground?

Dennis

[Boondocker]

Originally Posted by cosmotini

Is that the water pump in the foreground?

Yes it is

[lewster]

Usually a strainer to pre-filter your water before entering the pump to prevent clogging or pump damage.

[eubank]

Yep, ours has the identical doodad. I think it's a sediment filter.

By the way, our original pump -- just like the one in the edge of your picture -- started leaking, so I had to put in one of the modern ones. Totally without the panache of the original, even if it is out of sight! (I kept the original with the idea that someday I might be able to seal up the leak and put it back into service.)

[Tin Can]

Originally Posted by Gen Disarray

So here is the deal: under my gaucho near the pump is this clear dohicky in the waterline. Is this a filter or trap for sediment? It looks like it has a fair amount of gravely looking stuff in it. Should I take it apart in clean it? Replace it? or just pretend I never saw it before?

Rodney,

It it a filter of some type. If you can take it apart and clean it then that would be the thing to do. If , on the other hand, it is a sealed unit then replacement would be the only option. An old trick by manufacturers to get your money. Hope this helps.

Tin Can

[Action]

Originally Posted by eubank

Yep, ours has the identical doodad. I think it's a sediment filter.

By the way, our original pump -- just like the one in the edge of your picture -- started leaking, so I had to put in one of the modern ones. Totally without the panache of the original, even if it is out of sight! (I kept the original with the idea that someday I might be able to seal up the leak and put it back into service.)

Mine leaked and I took it apart under the guise that it wasn't gonna hurt anything. It already leaks. Found a "O" ring and replaced it. Doesn't leak now. and still pumps water.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

[eubank]

Originally Posted by Action

Mine leaked and I took it apart under the guise that it wasn't gonna hurt anything. It already leaks. Found a "O" ring and replaced it. Doesn't leak now. and still pumps water.Action

Ah, good tip! I'll check that out when I get that far! Unfortunatly, I get the feeling that one of the inlet pipes cracked; it happened at the same time that the main water line under the couch cracked as well. Ugh!

Lynn

[2airishuman]

hi gen disarray and others.....

sure ignore it, that's always the first option....surely it was a pre/sediment filter for the pump....but now that it's full of gravel....it's become a gizard for your trailer....muching the solids so you don't have to chew your water....

prompted me to look for a pic of mine...left upper corner.

airstreams never change....except for owners.

cheers
2air'

[DreamStreamr]

Yeah, Cosmotini, my first thought was it was off my 1975 BMW 2002's fuel line! Except no plastic stuff on the beemer would have lasted this long.

It's pretty cool this forum can quickly and successfully generate good feedback for questions like this. What a team!

[ticki2]

It's an inline sediment filter . From the looks of the color you should really replace it , pretty cheap at almost any RV store , if it comes apart you may be able to just get an element . It started out clear if that tells you anything.

[AirstreamGypsy]

I feel pretty good about the gobbledy gook of pipe under my goucho after looking at GenDissaray and 2air's photos!

I wish my Bambi still had the old pump and filter. It came with nothing.... Replacing the o ring is a great idea but remember the old adage "if it ain't broke etc." I have had to replace both the pump and the accumulator and they were only in there since I first installed them in '99. Ah modern technology.

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by AirstrmGypsy

I feel pretty good about the gobbledy gook of pipe under my goucho after looking at GenDissaray and 2air's photos!.

hi airstrmgypsy

did you say gobbledygook?

here a shot of the street side plumbing in mine.....before the interior went in....
and another of the whole shebang just as they started to hide it.....

amazing really.....and that most of the critical spots can still be accessed...i hope.

click on the pix for a larger view......

cheers
2air'

[Boondocker]

This past weekend while I was de-winterizing the Trade Wind, I removed the filter and disassembled it. It was held together with 4 small bolts. Inside was a small screen like that used in screen doors. The screen was all gunked up with sand to the point I am suprised water flowed at all. I gave it a quick cleanup and put it back in service. By the way, the red cast in that pic is photograhic artifact.

[Action]

It is amazing to me the amount of sand in city water. Check your kitchen faucet. I clean mine every now and then and get amazed again as to the sand that I find.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action