Waterpump gone?

[JollyRodgers]

Waterpump: Flojet R2100 (discontinued)
Accumulator Tank: Jabsco 1Litre

Hello again,

I think I spoke to soon when I told my Dad that I was happy to have almost finished all the jobs on my boat .. haha

I went to do the washing up last night, switched the water pump on and it made it's usual groaning sound. Normally it does this for a few second and turns off and if I leave the tap on it will keep doing it every 10 seconds or so. This time it just stayed on for around 30 seconds but no water was coming out. I looked at the water tanks and they were quite low, so I figured that perhaps there wasn't enough water in there to build up the pressure.

I topped up the water to full and tried it again, but had the same issue. Loud groaning sound for 30seconds + until i turned it off and no water.

I screwed the lid of the wooden box that the water pump was attached to and from what I can make out it works as follows;

1) There is a pipe that connects the flexible water tanks and the water pump together, which runs under the floorboards. The pump sucks in the water through this.
2) The pump does his thing and then spits the water out with pressure out of the other pump, which then goes through the accumulator and into which ever tap is open.

From what I can see, the water is no longer being sucked up in from the first pipe. Would that indicate that the water pump was busted and needed replacing? Or would it indicate that there is a loose seal or a split pipe, which is making the pump useless because it's just breathing in air?

As you can see from the photographs, the pump is pretty ancient. No idea how old it is, but judging from Google it has been discontinued some time ago.

Not entirely sure what the accumulator does either, but I dont think there is a fault with that, because water isnt even reaching the pump and the accumulator is on the other side of that.

Does anyone know roughly what would be causing this, or had a similar problem?

Thanks.

PS: if it helps, I think that there maybe a slight leak from connecting pipe because there is usually a little bit of fresh water under the floor boards. Originally I thought that this was rain water, but after redoing the seals in the cockpit and no rain getting into the engine bay I dont think this is the case. I also didnt realise at first that the water tank has a pipe that runs through the floorboards to the water pump (sounds obvious now, but I never thought about it). Something that I need to fix whatever the issue with the water pump..

 

[RichardS]

The pump will not pump air and therefore will not self-prime. It sounds as if you have an airlock in it so you have to get some water through to the pump.

Try sucking some water through using a bit of hose over the lowest cold tap in the boat whilst the pump is running. This should get it started.

Richard

 

[JollyRodgers]

The pump will not pump air and therefore will not self-prime. It sounds as if you have an airlock in it so you have to get some water through to the pump.

Try sucking some water through using a bit of hose over the lowest cold tap in the boat whilst the pump is running. This should get it started.

Richard

But if there was an airlock, wouldn't that be somewhere between the water tank and the water pump? Wouldn't sucking on the lowest cold water tap relieve an airlock from between the accumulator and the tap? I'll give it a go when I am next down though, thanks.

Are airlocks common problems on boats with the water pumps?

 

[RichardS]

But if there was an airlock, wouldn't that be somewhere between the water tank and the water pump? Wouldn't sucking on the lowest cold water tap relieve an airlock from between the accumulator and the tap? I'll give it a go when I am next down though, thanks.

Are airlocks common problems on boats with the water pumps?

I'm thinking that if the tank was low it might have sucked in some air. When that slug of air gets to the pump the vanes are suddenly surrounded by air and it can stop pumping. When I run out of water and air gets in I refill the tank but I then cannot get it past the air lock by opening the galley tap as the bridgedeck is too high on my cat. The pump just keeps running until I open the bathroom tap. These are much lower and after a bit of spluttering the air lock clears.

Hope this helps.

Richard

 

[theoldsalt]

Richard,

I don't think it helps.

1. These pumps self prime (see spec) http://www.asap-supplies.com/marine/water-pressure-pumps-12v/r2100-flojet-pump-509404

2. These pumps are diaphram pumps not vane pumps.


JollyRodgers,

You seem to have been having trouble with the pump for some time.
Throw it out and buy an new Jabsco - they don't cost the earth and are very easy to fit !

 

[RichardS]

Richard,

I don't think it helps.

1. These pumps self prime (see spec) http://www.asap-supplies.com/marine/water-pressure-pumps-12v/r2100-flojet-pump-509404

2. These pumps are diaphram pumps not vane pumps.


JollyRodgers,

You seem to have been having trouble with the pump for some time.
Throw it out and buy an new Jabsco - they don't cost the earth and are very easy to fit !

Although my Jabsco is also a diaphram but it won't self prime to the galley tap. However, if priming it manually doesn't solve it then I agree that it must be a split diaphram as the motor sounds as if it's still running.

Richard

 

[JollyRodgers]

Richard,

I don't think it helps.

1. These pumps self prime (see spec) http://www.asap-supplies.com/marine/water-pressure-pumps-12v/r2100-flojet-pump-509404

2. These pumps are diaphram pumps not vane pumps.


JollyRodgers,

You seem to have been having trouble with the pump for some time.
Throw it out and buy an new Jabsco - they don't cost the earth and are very easy to fit !

I bought the boat in Feb and today was the first time that I had any problem with the water pump. Always worked perfectly fine before.

Because the pump is self priming, does that mean that sucking on the tap whilst the pump is on will be useless?

I presumed that the water pump is circa 15-20 + years old. Which model jabsco would you recommend ? And would changing the water pump definitely fix the problem?

Would I have to replace the accumulator tank too?

Although my Jabsco is also a diaphram but it won't self prime to the galley tap. However, if priming it manually doesn't solve it then I agree that it must be a split diaphram as the motor sounds as if it's still running.

Richard

Yeah the motor in the pump is still running and still making a sound. That's why my first thought wasn't to replace it. If I turned the pump on and nothing happened then I would know it's that which needs replacing. I just didnt want to shell out £200-250 on a new pump and have the same problem, all because the connecting water tank/pump pipe had split or something.

 

[HunterWanderer]

Its probably some debris under the rubber valve seats in the pump.
They normally are quite easy to strip out and clean.
The inlet to the pump should have a filter to prevent this. Jabsco do a good one.

 

[JollyRodgers]

Its probably some debris under the rubber valve seats in the pump.
They normally are quite easy to strip out and clean.
The inlet to the pump should have a filter to prevent this. Jabsco do a good one.

I'll try all the methods in the thread so far and then try this one as a last resort - purely because I will probably take the pump apart and forget the order haha.

If it still doesn't work, should replacing the waterpump with a new jabsco one definitely fix it? Which jabsco waterpump would be best? I have 4 taps/2 sinks and a shower on board (although never use it), so don't think it needs to be overly powerful.

If I am replacing it, I just want something that isn't really low powered, is quiet and reliable.

 

[nedmin]

I'll try all the methods in the thread so far and then try this one as a last resort - purely because I will probably take the pump apart and forget the order haha.

If it still doesn't work, should replacing the waterpump with a new jabsco one definitely fix it? Which jabsco waterpump would be best? I have 4 taps/2 sinks and a shower on board (although never use it), so don't think it needs to be overly powerful.

If I am replacing it, I just want something that isn't really low powered, is quiet and reliable.

I have used Flowjet for over 20 years they are good pumps and quiet.Looking at your photo there should be a pressure relief valve built into the end cap.So how does the pump cut out when it gets to pressure? the pipe work is pretty simple. 1 -water tank 2-filter 3- pump 4 to cold side of hot water tank 5 tee off this pipe to cold taps with accumulator off also.I think Flowjets are about £100.If you have a separate pressure relief valve you need the one without a PRValve built in

 

[JollyRodgers]

I have used Flowjet for over 20 years they are good pumps and quiet.Looking at your photo there should be a pressure relief valve built into the end cap.So how does the pump cut out when it gets to pressure? the pipe work is pretty simple. 1 -water tank 2-filter 3- pump 4 to cold side of hot water tank 5 tee off this pipe to cold taps with accumulator off also.I think Flowjets are about £100.If you have a separate pressure relief valve you need the one without a PRValve built in

I haven't compared the noise to any other waterpumps, but mine isn't that quiet currently? I joke to guests that it's my subwoofer for the speakers when it turns on

The pressure relief valve will presumably be on the other side of the pump, which may be hard to get to/see. I'll have a play around with it when im next there.

If I have to replace the waterpump (this is sounding likely) then which jabsco model will be best for me and would I need to replace/update the accumlator tank at the same time?

Also, would I have to pick a 12v as the existing one was 12v? Or would it matter if I got a 24v?

 

[JollyRodgers]

Think according to what it says on the Jabsco website, I would be best off with a 2.9, which gives up to 11 litres/minute open flow (2.4 gallons/minute) and suitable for galley & toilet with small diameter shower. Only usually have 1 tap on at any time anyway.

http://www.jabscoshop.com/advice-and-support/jabscoshop-about-pressurised-fresh-water-pumps.htm

 

[theoldsalt]

I have just replaced my SurFlo with a Jabsco Par Max 2.9. I have 2 heads, a shower and galley. excellent pump and very easy to install..

http://www.marinescene.co.uk/produc...system-pump/?gclid=COyalNShy8UCFSrpwgod_pgANA

 

[Heckler]

t

I'm thinking that if the tank was low it might have sucked in some air. When that slug of air gets to the pump the vanes are suddenly surrounded by air and it can stop pumping. When I run out of water and air gets in I refill the tank but I then cannot get it past the air lock by opening the galley tap as the bridgedeck is too high on my cat. The pump just keeps running until I open the bathroom tap. These are much lower and after a bit of spluttering the air lock clears.

Hope this helps.

Richard

Flojets are diaphragm pumps,
http://www.allpressuresprayersdirect.co.uk/flojet-2100-series-2-piston-demand-diaphragm-pumps
They dont have vanes, so no impellor or vanes. Positive displacement so dont usually give problems with priming. If the tank is full I would be looking at the suction side, is there a blocked filter.
S

 

[Heckler]

Although my Jabsco is also a diaphram but it won't self prime to the galley tap. However, if priming it manually doesn't solve it then I agree that it must be a split diaphram as the motor sounds as if it's still running.

Richard

Why talk about vanes then? Ive just rebuilt one, fitted a new SS bearing, if the diaphragm goes then water leaks out.
S

 

[RichardS]

Why talk about vanes then? Ive just rebuilt one, fitted a new SS bearing, if the diaphragm goes then water leaks out.
S

I've not said anything about vanes. I've talked about my diaphram pump which doesn't self prime very well so it's worth a try for the OP to trying priming his pump manually before deciding it's shot.

Tip from me ... if you've nothing constructive to say, it's best to saying nothing at all. :encouragement:

Richard

 

[theoldsalt]

I've not said anything about vanes. I've talked about my diaphram pump which doesn't self prime very well so it's worth a try for the OP to trying priming his pump manually before deciding it's shot.

Tip from me ... if you've nothing constructive to say, it's best to saying nothing at all. :encouragement:

Richard

Richard,

Check your post #4 where you use word "vanes".

 

[Heckler]

as theoldsalt says post #4, that was what was puzzling me, no vanes in a Flojet :encouragement: xx
S

 

[Steve Clayton]

Possible, but unlikely, the water tank breather could be blocked - remove filler cap and see if pump now works.

 

[duncan99210]

The OP has flexible water tanks, so no vents. However, if the filler pipe cap,is not done up tightly enough, then there is a good chance that, even with a full tank, the pump will suck air through from the tank via the filler pipe. Make sure that the cap is tightly home and has an o ring fitted to seal it. Also check the hoses haven't collapsed: the hose in the picture looks kinked and might be part of the problem.