Whale Vers 6 Galley pump

Refueler

Refueler

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I have a Whale Vers 6 vertical hand pump for galley water ... the volume this thing pumps is awesome when you look at the overall size etc.

BUT it leaks like crazy out of the top gland ... which is really bad ... the pump was replaced years ago - but has never seen the amount of work its designed for. I would estimate that its survived maybe 1 years actual work ...

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I've stripped and checked all .... so maybe that top U packing is worn out ... but when I checked for a 'service kit' - WOW !!

Whale V Pump Mk5 Mk6 Tap Service Kit for Caravan Motorhome Boat AK0618 | eBay

By time I pay postage as well ... its near 4x the price of a new unit from China .....

Sink Water Hand Pump Caravan Trailer Camper Motorhome Faucet Water Tap Tool | eBay

I can live with the leak for a while waiting the new Chinese unit !!
 
I have the same problem- pump leaks from the top gland. Great performance but poor engineering. I tried replacing the seals but found it impossible. The only solution is to replace the pump every few years!
 
We have same.
We wrap a J cloth around when pumping to soak it up and drain into the sink. Minor hardship as it's the same J cloth for wiping plates.
 
I know its no consolation - but glad to hear its not just mine !!

But what I cannot believe is the price for the Whale Pump ! For a PoS that basically leaks day one !

I see prices of 40 to 50 quid for one ... while a Chinese version I found - which most likely will not leak - is under a tenner incl shipping. All I have to do is create a blanking plate to cover the screw holes etc. that the Whale pump had.
 
Mine also leaked. In a moment of frustration I smeared Fernox LS (leak stop) around the top and, at least for now, it no longer leaks.

p.s. I now remember I also added an o-ring
 
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When you look at the design .. its obvious why it leaks ...

The Packing sits in the main housing sealing the plunger in its up / down strokes. But the water passes out of the outer tube and bypasses the packing which is set too low. If the packing was modified to seal the plunger in the top snap in part - the problem would be solved. A taller packing that was slightly compressed by that top would be enough. Or add an O ring ?

GVbQwnp.jpg


Its that the plunger is not sealed to that top and water is free to pass there.
 
Refueler said:
When you look at the design .. its obvious why it leaks ...

The Packing sits in the main housing sealing the plunger in its up / down strokes. But the water passes out of the outer tube and bypasses the packing which is set too low. If the packing was modified to seal the plunger in the top snap in part - the problem would be solved. A taller packing that was slightly compressed by that top would be enough. Or add an O ring ?

GVbQwnp.jpg


Its that the plunger is not sealed to that top and water is free to pass there.
Click to expand...
Hi, have tried the extra o ring and it works well, most of the leaking is stopped. Pump is a bit stiffer to operate. O ring needs replacing every so often. Cheers.
 
Matador said:
Still might get a chinese pump as a back up!
Click to expand...

At less than a tenner .... why not ?

OK - because my boat is at bottom of my garden ... I strolled on down and added the O ring to the top seal. It works - as you say - not 100% but at least its significantly reduced the waterfall ! But being stiffer to work the plunger - the locking tab is having hard job keeping main tube at set height.
But it will certainly help till my Chinky pump arrives.
 
We had the same problem. Leaked like a sieve from new last year. Whale sent a service kit to me when I complained to them, which actually stopped it leaking for about 2 months, but as soon as we've started using it this year it's leaking again.

I'll have to try the O ring trick, that sounds like a good compromise, because getting the tap out is a real faff of a job, which I don't fancy doing having just got back in the water.
 
Having fitted the o ring ... I think that indicates that the original packing gland is too short. It only needs a slight increase in length so that it engages both top and bottom and problem would be solved. The O ring is just a little too much and makes the plunger stiff to work ...

Another possibility is putting a thin nylon / plastic washer below that packing ? The base in there has castellated form to allow the water to pass out - so the washer should be OK. The washer being just enough to cause the packing to press against the top .....

We just need to make the packing act as a seal on the plunger as it exits top of housing.

It may sound daft to work on this - considering I have a new pump coming - but its one of those things that 'niggles' and I'm sure a solution can be found. If I or another can solve it - even if I replace with the chinese pump - it can help others ....
 
Having fitted the o ring ... I think that indicates that the original packing gland is too short. It only needs a slight increase in length so that it engages both top and bottom and problem would be solved. The O ring is just a little too much and makes the plunger stiff to work ...

Another possibility is putting a thin nylon / plastic washer below that packing ? The base in there has castellated form to allow the water to pass out - so the washer should be OK. The washer being just enough to cause the packing to press against the top .....

We just need to make the packing act as a seal on the plunger as it exits top of housing.

It may sound daft to work on this - considering I have a new pump coming - but its one of those things that 'niggles' and I'm sure a solution can be found. If I or another can solve it - even if I replace with the chinese pump - it can help others ....
 
I‘ve fitted an O ring under the U packing and inverted the packing so the open part faces up. Also added some silicone grease.
So far no leaks and a smooth action- thanks for all the advice?.
 
The hand pumps do not have a great reputation.

Whale foot pumps are very reliable, with no leaks, especially if you eliminate the problem of a loose main axle.

If it is practical to install a foot pump on your yacht, as well as better reliability, it leaves both hands free, which is a major advantage.

IMG_8506.jpeg
 
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