Henderson Mk V Bilge Pump

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Babylon

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Having stripped, replaced parts and reassembled my Henderson Mk V bildge pump during winter maintenance, I now find that it won't draw water up from the bilges. I've spun the cover off to check everthing is working, which it is, and there's definately water in the bilges. I didn't think these pumps needed any kind of priming. Any advice?
 
I had the same problem - I can't remember the precise details but there were a number of small screws that either held the diaphragm in place or closed the casing and I had omitted one of them. But you are rght that it should be self-priming.
 
Thanks peeps.

No, I've re-checked the diaphram and valves, all the screws were correctly re-inserted, etc.

Its possible that the hose end isn't reaching as low into the bilge as it was before the engine was removed then repositioned before relaunch (I wonder if the engineers re-routed the hose?) but its difficult to see because of the tight configuration.

My problem now is that I subsequently dropped the inspection-cover into the aforementioned deep bilge and it sank. Urrrrrr! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Does the handle go solid when pumping?
If so - sea cock closed or blocked strum box.
Do you have a non-return valve elsewhere in the pipework?
If handle moves then does one of the jubilee clips needs tightening. i.e. air getting drawn in.
 
Remove suction side hose and place hand over pump inlet. Now operate pump to see if vacuum is really created ... it working good - one stroke is max you may get ! before hand is stuck hard to pipe.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Does the handle go solid when pumping?
If so - sea cock closed or blocked strum box.
Do you have a non-return valve elsewhere in the pipework?
If handle moves then does one of the jubilee clips needs tightening. i.e. air getting drawn in.

[/ QUOTE ]
No, handle doesn't go solid when pumping, and no seacock...

...but this reminds me what to do when the other Mk V pump fails to clear the Lavac heads and just sloshes the waste back into the bowl (like when trying to leave the boat on Sunday pm just after my little boy had to do 'a big one'): in these cases I close the outlet seacock, give the pump a couple of strokes until it goes hard, then open the seacock - with a sudden 'whoosh!' the 'blockage is clear.
 
Errrm - you have put in back in the right way around haven't you?

I only ask, because once I didn't, and happily pumped air into my bilges for a few weeks, congratulating myself on how dry the boat was, before bilge water sloshing about made me check everything.

(please see my sign-off line!)
 
[ QUOTE ]
Have you fixed it yet? What was the cause? Please tell.

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Not able to now get down to the boat for another week now, so not yet fixed and can't yet share the outcome with my fine fellow forumites.

However, my plan is to:
1. remove the inlet hose and apply the suction-test by placing my palm over the inlet; if this isn't the problem then -
2. withdraw the inlet hose and check it isn't blocked; and -
3. if the inlet hose isn't long enough and/or there isn't a strum-box fitted, then replace with a longer hose and fit a strum-box.

PS I telephoned Whale in Bangor yesterday and they're sending me a replacement inspection-cover.
 
[ QUOTE ]


Its possible that the hose end isn't reaching as low into the bilge as it was before the engine was removed then repositioned before relaunch (I wonder if the engineers re-routed the hose?) but its difficult to see because of the tight configuration.
/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Blow down the pipe from the pump end and listen for bubbles (or hiss if the bilge is dry).
 
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