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house water pump trouble shooting [message #337839] Sat, 13 October 2018 16:42 Go to next message
Deb is currently offline  Deb   Canada
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Registered: October 2016
Location: Logan Lake, BC
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I have gotten all of the pink stuff into my plumbing, except into the filtered water tap (ran out because i do not have the water heater bypass installed yet. Went to do that & there were so many connections and T's and Y's that I didn't want to start messing around with it on the off-chance I screwed something up and wasn't able to get it all back together before the freezing weather hit. Wanted to get the winterizing done). Last week everything ran just great! I have the pump converter kit and sucked it straight out of the jugs. Today I went to do a just in case run on the filtered water and it wouldn't draw into the pump. Blowing out through all of the house lines though - air &/or pink seems to be moving through the system although seems a bit puny for pressure.

I uninstalled all of the pieces from the kit and tested them one at a time for "air-tightness" and they are all fine. Pulled the filter off the in-coming side of the pump and it was also nice and tight (and filthy!!! Cleaned it while it was out). While everything was off I turned on the pump and put my hand over the ingoing port. Got some suction, but minimal.

Seems like I have a leak somewhere in the pump housing, or a bad diaphragm? Would this be worth pulling out and trying to track down the source of the problem, (I have all winter now) or just replace it? Could there be an air-lock inside the pump? Seems unlikely since it is pumping out and I can't see it being able to pump out without being able to suck something in first. Should I find a clean funnel and try pouring some pink directly into the pump through the bypass hose and see if that does anything?

Any chance that it could be a simple fix? Not worried about putting a new pump in there. It's been there a while! Just a bit of frustration since it was perfect last week, and today, Phth-t-t! If it has given up the ghost I am just happy that it did it now and not in the middle of a trip next spring.

Thanks for any insight.


Deb McWade Logan Lake, BC, CAN GMC Alumnus It's Bigger on the Inside!
Re: house water pump trouble shooting [message #337864 is a reply to message #337839] Sun, 14 October 2018 09:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
Senior Member
Deb wrote on Sat, 13 October 2018 17:42
<snip>
Seems like I have a leak somewhere in the pump housing, or a bad diaphragm? Would this be worth pulling out and trying to track down the source of the problem, (I have all winter now) or just replace it? Could there be an air-lock inside the pump? Seems unlikely since it is pumping out and I can't see it being able to pump out without being able to suck something in first. Should I find a clean funnel and try pouring some pink directly into the pump through the bypass hose and see if that does anything?

Any chance that it could be a simple fix? Not worried about putting a new pump in there. It's been there a while! Just a bit of frustration since it was perfect last week, and today, Phth-t-t! If it has given up the ghost I am just happy that it did it now and not in the middle of a trip next spring.

Thanks for any insight.
Deb,
If it is the old PAR belt drive pump, chances are good that it got frozen and one point and that bent the plates that make it do anything at all. The repair kit can cost as much as a new/modern pump. You can fight with it for days and you may not win. While the more modern pump may not last as many years, it may well last as long as you need it to.

Matt


Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Re: house water pump trouble shooting [message #337871 is a reply to message #337864] Sun, 14 October 2018 11:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Deb is currently offline  Deb   Canada
Messages: 349
Registered: October 2016
Location: Logan Lake, BC
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Senior Member
Thanks Matt. I have the 2088 ShurFlo pump in there. Don't know the actual date of installation. It didn't freeze, since last year and this i did get everything winterized before the freezing temps hit. Since everything before and after the pump seems to be fine, there's obviously something wrong inside (and it did seem to be a fair bit noisier than usual, tho it's hard to say, since it's generally covered by a bed!). So I have ordered a replacement - Shurflo 4008 - which seems to be a very common replacement pump that I've noted in the forum, and for $120 seems to be a decent price. Will be here in plenty of time to get it in before it gets too cold out there.

I will dismantle the old one just to see what's in there just for fun Smile


Deb McWade Logan Lake, BC, CAN GMC Alumnus It's Bigger on the Inside!
Re: [GMCnet] house water pump trouble shooting [message #337872 is a reply to message #337871] Sun, 14 October 2018 11:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JerryW is currently offline  JerryW   United States
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Registered: August 2018
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There is often a problem with the diaphragm in the pump which can easily be replaced.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick, CO

> On Oct 14, 2018, at 10:09 AM, Deb McWade via Gmclist wrote:
>
> Thanks Matt. I have the 2088 ShurFlo pump in there. Don't know the actual date of installation. It didn't freeze, since last year and this i did
> get everything winterized before the freezing temps hit. Since everything before and after the pump seems to be fine, there's obviously something
> wrong inside (and it did seem to be a fair bit noisier than usual, tho it's hard to say, since it's generally covered by a bed!). So I have ordered a
> replacement - Shurflo 4008 - which seems to be a very common replacement pump that I've noted in the forum, and for $120 seems to be a decent price.
> Will be here in plenty of time to get it in before it gets too cold out there.
>
> I will dismantle the old one just to see what's in there just for fun :)
> --
> Deb McWade
> Logan Lake, BC, CAN
> "Li'l Sister"
> '77 Kingsley, 403, EBL EFI;
> TZE167V101404
> It's Bigger on the Inside!
>
>
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Re: [GMCnet] house water pump trouble shooting [message #337876 is a reply to message #337872] Sun, 14 October 2018 13:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Deb is currently offline  Deb   Canada
Messages: 349
Registered: October 2016
Location: Logan Lake, BC
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Senior Member
Thanks Emery. Went out and checked the date on the pump - she's a '97 manufacture date. I think that after possibly 20 years service she doesn't owe me anything. I am just happy that she gave me that one afternoon in order to get the pink into the system. I will replace it with the updated Shurflo 4008.

I am going to open it up and see what's up with it tho'. Might be some crap in the diaphragm (or could be totally blown in which case I will track down a diaphragm kit on sale). But since I will have to remove it completely just to open it up (due to placement of the pump & plumbing) it will be easier to replace it and possibly service this one and use it for other things at home - like pumping the sanitizer into the system. I no longer have a passive water input. The PO reconfigured the plumbing in order to expand the service bay and removed that port. I only have the city water port and with the check valve in it, anything going in through that has to be under some pressure. This spring I had to work under the bed and disconnect some lines to be able to pour 3 gallons of bleach solution into the fresh water tank. Awkward and spilled some - at least the coach smelled clean Smile.


Deb McWade Logan Lake, BC, CAN GMC Alumnus It's Bigger on the Inside!
Re: [GMCnet] house water pump trouble shooting [message #337890 is a reply to message #337876] Sun, 14 October 2018 15:58 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
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Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
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Senior Member
Deb,

I also eliminated the gravity water port (if the Birchaven ever had one).
When I need to add something to the tank, I just funnel it into the water
hose before hooking it to city water. That way I don't have to disconnect
anything except the hose.

Ken H.

On Sun, Oct 14, 2018 at 2:59 PM Deb McWade via Gmclist <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:

> ... The PO reconfigured the plumbing in order to expand the service bay
> and removed that port. I only have the city water port and
> with the check valve in it, anything going in through that has to be under
> some pressure. This spring I had to work under the bed and disconnect some
> lines to be able to pour 3 gallons of bleach solution into the fresh
> water tank. Awkward and spilled some - at least the coach smelled clean
> :).
> --
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] house water pump trouble shooting [message #337895 is a reply to message #337890] Sun, 14 October 2018 16:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Deb is currently offline  Deb   Canada
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Registered: October 2016
Location: Logan Lake, BC
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Hi Ken. My city water port has a check valve right at the inlet. Not sure what your configuration is. This past spring I tried to pour the bleach solution in through the hose (or a shortened version of it) and it just backed up (thats when I discovered the check valve Sad ). That valve needs to be pushed in for anything to get past it. I can push the little button in with my finger, but nothing happens if I just screw on the hose. I need to add some water pressure.

I suppose I could try to make a somewhat stronger solution of bleach that won't quite fill the 50' hose and try that. It's a 6 of one situation I suppose. Dilute the bleach first (making 3 gallons), add that to the tank, followed by city water till full, or add a hose worth of more concentrated bleach and push it in with city water. Final concentration ends up the same. Maybe I'll do a measurement and find out the volume of a white 50' fresh water hose.

Just did the math (well, UC Davis did). Have to check but if it's 5/8" ID it's 0.8 gallons. If it's 1/2" than it's a bit under 0.5 gallons. Need to see which I have! Can't remember.


Deb McWade Logan Lake, BC, CAN GMC Alumnus It's Bigger on the Inside!

[Updated on: Sun, 14 October 2018 16:53]

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Re: house water pump trouble shooting [message #337902 is a reply to message #337839] Mon, 15 October 2018 08:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jhbridges is currently offline  jhbridges   United States
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Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
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Senior Member
My city water port is capped because the (aftermarket cheeeep PVC) check valve froze and split last winter. Very seldom used it anyway, because I had to go turn the spigot off whebn I left the coach at a park. Visions of coming back in the evening to several inches of water in the coach. Fill the tank and run the pump is me.
I have a December '07 2088 I took out, if you want it. Shipping from Georgia probably costs as much as an Amazon Prime buy though.

--johnny


Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons. Braselton, Ga. I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
Re: house water pump trouble shooting [message #337905 is a reply to message #337902] Mon, 15 October 2018 11:48 Go to previous message
Deb is currently offline  Deb   Canada
Messages: 349
Registered: October 2016
Location: Logan Lake, BC
Karma: 2
Senior Member
Thanks Johnny, but I think you're right about the $ of shipping a pump. $120 for the new one from amazon. But I appreciate the thought.

I also never use the city water - always fill the tank and use that instead. Might fill it at the campground and save myself some weight while traveling. One of my biggest reasons is that, since the level indicator for the black tank doesn't work, like most folks, I empty the black tank and fill the fresh tank at the same time so i know when the black tank may be getting full.

My question regarding the check valve was really about figuring out how to get something other than water into the tank (like the bleach solution) past that check valve. But I can make it work again. managed last year.


Deb McWade Logan Lake, BC, CAN GMC Alumnus It's Bigger on the Inside!
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