Shurflo water pump

urbanextreme · 10-07-2005, 05:44 AM

Will not prime or something. I ran out of water and the pump ran for a few hours. Now I refilled and it doesn't build enough pressure to shut-off. Do I need to bleed something besides my wallet?

balrgn · 10-07-2005, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urbanextreme

Will not prime or something. I ran out of water and the pump ran for a few hours. Now I refilled and it doesn't build enough pressure to shut-off. Do I need to bleed something besides my wallet?

I did the same thing, I loosened the inlet clamp to bleed the air to assist in priming. Worth a try, worked for me.

juel · 10-07-2005, 07:17 AM

This may sound stupid (of me), but I had the same problem and went around the trailer to find water running out the back. I left a drain open.

urbanextreme · 10-07-2005, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juel

This may sound stupid (of me), but I had the same problem and went around the trailer to find water running out the back. I left a drain open.

That was the first thing I did. no water anywhere, it's just not building up pressure.

nickcrowhurst · 10-07-2005, 04:02 PM

This can be caused by an air leak between the tank and the pump. One way to see if the pump is OK is to detach the pipe from the pump back to the tank. Then attach a short length of hose to the pump inlet, and put the other end in a bucket of water. Open a faucet, and if the pump runs, and water emerges from the faucet, you have an air leak in a pipe or union. If the pump doesn't draw water, then you have a pump problem, and a repair kit or replacement pump will be necessary. Good luck.
Nick.

Buttercup · 10-08-2005, 05:53 AM

SHURFLO says that the pump can run dry. The only thing the pump can’t do is pump debris. I am assuming that you had an inlet filter of some sort? If not it is possible that you sucked up some debris when the water level got low and damaged the diaphragm.
They do have kits to replace the diaphragm and whatever...

scf31 · 10-08-2005, 08:13 AM

I have done the bucket trick and it works,

**john hd** · 10-08-2005, 08:28 AM

check your inline strainer for air leaks.

bubbles in the dome are a clue, bubbles = air getting into the suction side of the pump causing it to lose it's prime.

there is a thin o ring under the dome, easy replacement at a well stocked hardware store.

as pointed out above, cleaning out the screen is a good idea while you have it open.

john

nickcrowhurst · 10-08-2005, 11:56 AM

If the filter is not leaking air, then it could be a leak at the pipe unions to the tank and filter, or a split in the pipe. Look for wetness along the pipe and at the unions. One final thing which caught me out once is the breather plug under the flap for the water filler. Lift up the flap and make sure that the small plastic plug (to keep out dirt and critturs when the trailer is stored) is removed. If the plug is left in, the pump will not suck water out of the tank. Good luck.
Nick.

urbanextreme · 10-13-2005, 12:11 PM

I appreciate all the help but found that the problem was due to my stupidity. I left the tank fill valve open enough to suck air or return the water to the tank(no water on ground), whatever was happening, closing the valve solved it.

smily · 10-13-2005, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickcrowhurst

One final thing which caught me out once is the breather plug under the flap for the water filler. Lift up the flap and make sure that the small plastic plug (to keep out dirt and critturs when the trailer is stored) is removed. If the plug is left in, the pump will not suck water out of the tank. Good luck.
Nick.

Hmm, I was under impression that this plug was to allow the tank to breathe while filling the tank. The "Plug" is to be replaced upon completion of filling.
The tank is not under pressure when drawing water from the tank. The tank does not have to be airtight to provide water to the pump. The pump is operated by impellar not pressure.

nickcrowhurst · 10-13-2005, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smily

Hmm, I was under impression that this plug was to allow the tank to breathe while filling the tank. The "Plug" is to be replaced upon completion of filling.
The tank is not under pressure when drawing water from the tank. The tank does not have to be airtight to provide water to the pump. The pump is operated by impellar not pressure.

Ken, I don't understand why the plug is to be replaced when filling is completed. I was under the impression that in order to pump water from a tank, air or water must be allowed to enter the tank to replace the water. By removing the plug, the breather is allowed to vent the tank so that water may be pumped out when the trailer is relying on its own fresh water tank and pump, rather than being connected to city water. The breather also acts to vent air out when the tank is being filled. Removal of the plug ensures that the tank is not airtight, so that the pump is not fighting a vacuum. Is this correct?
Nick

urbanextreme · 10-14-2005, 10:00 AM

My RV has a vent, other than the cap. After I filled the tank I have to manually close the fill valve. and if I keep running the water after it is full, it shoots out of the vent on the tank.

53flyingcloud · 05-18-2006, 11:18 AM

For future references:
Let me see if I can post a link to the picture of it.
You'll need a Adobe Reader.. to handle the file.
BTW, it works perfectly and, now I have a spare unit..

ciao
53FC