Jabsco pump problems

[Conrad]

Hi has anyone had any problems with jabsco pumps, I have a brand new pump which despite making loads of noise and the impellor operating does not pump water out of the hull, now it has worked before but it just seems odd that barely a month out of the packet it should be innefective.

Any thoughts?

 

[Adamastor]

Which pump have you got?

 

[Conrad]

The 500gph model, submersible, 12volts.

The strange things is this morning it has decided it will pump water, bit worrying.

Probably when my bank manager says I will have to get a replacement unless I can find the reciept, can't have an unreliable bilge pump.

Can anyone recomend a more reliable make or is this unusual for Jabsco?

 

[sarabande]

have you spoken with Jabsco tech support ?

I have found them to be really friendly and competent. There's a web page
http://www.jabsco.com/support/index.htm

with a phone number (0)1992 450145

 

[tobble]

does the impeller have a brass insert that fits onto the drive shaft? common problem with this design is that the insert parts company with the rubber. when the tops off there'll be less friction on the impeller so it can rotate. With the cover in place it'll still go round a bit, making it look like its working when you take the cover off again coz its moved...

If that's the case then the bank manager needn't get worried! Still, poor show that it's gone so soon.

otherwise, I presume you've checked for blockages in the lines/strainers etc? valves all open?!

 

[Conrad]

[ QUOTE ]
does the impeller have a brass insert that fits onto the drive shaft? common problem with this design is that the insert parts company with the rubber. when the tops off there'll be less friction on the impeller so it can rotate. With the cover in place it'll still go round a bit, making it look like its working when you take the cover off again coz its moved...

If that's the case then the bank manager needn't get worried! Still, poor show that it's gone so soon.

otherwise, I presume you've checked for blockages in the lines/strainers etc? valves all open?!

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks, this sounds like the rubber impellor in my engine coolant pump which did have this problem.

The impellor in my bilge pump is plastic.

 

[tobble]

ah, the centrifugal type? or diaphragm? got a model number? Assumed by impellor you meant is was the rubber star type ones...

Looks like Jabsco don't directly do the centrifugal ones, only impeller or diphragm but think they own Rule who make the 'usual' sort of centrifugal bilge pumps, hence my confusion. sorry not helping much!

 

[Conrad]

Its one of these

'21R' 'Rule 800 Round Submersible.'

http://www.jabscoshop.com/show_item_image.asp?ls=&v=54F9382A1128486F931510AB6A1573D3&id=1935

 

[Billjratt]

Have you cleaned it out, and cleared debris from the bilge area?
Little bits of gubbins can often spoil the flow enough to render the pump unable to raise water to the required height.
Also, check that the voltage is good, at the pump, when pumping (under load.)
Low power has a similar effect of reducing the head (of water) capability.

 

[VicS]

1st observation, the 21R is a 24 volt one but earlier you said 12 volts! Hopefully you really have the 12volt 20R?

If its a plain ordinary common or garden centrifugal pump, there are no obstructions, its immersed deeply enough, the impeller is undamaged and rotating in the right direction its got to pump!

So check those things.

Maybe the impeller is not turning,. Check that it is properly secured to the shaft.

It has worked so that eliminates the possibility that it's going backwards because its wired wrongly (even if it will).

You haven't fitted a non return/check valve in the discharge?

You're not trying to make it pump higher than 2m

 

[tillergirl]

Sounds like the air lock I used to get on mine. The exit pipe should run continuously upward. I had a slight drop at one part and that was enough to ensure it wouldn't work.

 

[KenMcCulloch]

I have an almost identical (Rule 20R) bilge pump and I recognise the symptoms you describe. Shortly after installation (having worked fine for some weeks) it failed to self-prime and just whizzed round doing nothing useful. I disconnected the discharge hose and poured some water in the pump outlet. After that it worked OK; I surmise that some bit of debris was dislodged from the pump somewhere it had been causing enough of a blockage to prevent the pump from operating. It has been working fine ever since. I have a non-return valve in the discharge hose and that doesn't seem to present a problem.