ShurFlo Water Pump??

C

chesapeakedan

Member
exMember
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
RO Number
12234
Messages
34
My water pump seems to be pumping water initially and then it stops (as it should) when it builds up pressure in the system. The problem is that it then starts running again after a few minutes. I've checked the system after the water pump and it appears there are no water leaks. On the supply side, the line is intact from the water tank to the pump, but it appears that the siphon is being lost between the water tank in the pump. The water drains out of the hose supplying water to the pump and therefore the pump continues to run. Is the pump bad? Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.
 
How old is the pump? Check the diaphragm, they wear out, crack,sending water in the pump body
 
I believe the pump is original...the boat is a 1999 Cruisers Yacht. I won't be on the boat until Friday, but it sounds like I may need to pull the pump apart to check the diaphragm.
 
It it's original, yes pull the pump, remove the top and check the diaphragm as well as for debris stuck between the valve
 
Checking the diaphragm might or might not tell you anything. I had the same symptoms this summer. After checking every water connection in the boat (you know that a leaking fitting is the most likely culprit, right?), I looked up my pump model and called Shurflo.

CS person said yes, the diaphragms can harden over the years. I ordered the valve assembly and replaced it... and, it worked. For the record, tho, the old diaphragm LOOKED fine.
 
Well if looked closely in the groove, you will usually see thin cracks
 
quote:
Originally posted by chesapeakedan

............ it appears that the siphon is being lost between the water tank in the pump. The water drains out of the hose supplying water to the pump and therefore the pump continues to run.
Click to expand...

You have been given solutions to a common pump problem but from your description, I would suspect a leak on the supply side of the water line at the highest point. A leak that will let air in but not let water out (because it is not pressurized at this point).

Water cannot drain out of the hose unless air can get in to replace it.

If there's a filter on the inlet side of the pump, the O ring may be leaking.
 
Thanks for the advice thus far. Ron, I too thought it must be a leak on the supply side since the only way for water to drain back into the tank would be if the siphon is released by air getting into the hose near the pump. So I replaced the entire hose from water tank to pump, put on new hose clamps, and eliminated the pesky little screen filter entirely (just eliminating the possible weakest links). Still no improvement. If it were a leak AFTER the pump, it would be pumping water somewhere and the supply side hose would likely not lose its siphon pressure. I'm leaning towards replacing the diaphragms. John, I think I will follow your lead and call Shurflo today. The boat is in Annapolis and I live in Philadelphia, two hours away. I'll update y'all after this weekend. (Maybe an alternative is just to buy a new million dollar boat at the Annapolis boat show on Friday!! :.)
 
Many boats have a check valve on the intake of the pump to prevent this, and /or one at the tank. I had this issue and replacing the check valve solved the problem.
 
Just replaced my 1999 water pump as well. IMO, it's more than served it's useful life.

I relocated mine to a far more accessable area. You may want to R/R the pex fittings. I had several in the ER fall apart due to age and heat. The new ones are much easier to deal with than the old.
 
Revisiting this thread, I found unexplained water in my bilge recently and while looking around, I could see water leaking from the potable water pump and dripping into the bilge. Not a serious leak, but a leak just the same. It seems to be leaking out of a joint in the case of the pump just above the water connections.

I meant to remove it and bring it home for inspection yesterday but I forgot. I may go get it tomorrow. And with this leak, the pump cycles every few minutes. I turned off the power and opened a faucet for now.
 
Likely to be a ruptured diaphragm causing water to leak into the pump body. Some pumps (shurflo) don't have a weep hole and water gets pushed into the motor
 
quote:
Originally posted by PascalG

Likely to be a ruptured diaphragm causing water to leak into the pump body. Some pumps (shurflo) don't have a weep hole and water gets pushed into the motor

Click to expand...


I'll probably remove it tomorrow and bring it home. It's a replacement and I still have the one it replaced so maybe I can make one good pump from the two. I would have thought it would have lasted longer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top