More Water Pump Woes

Jim Bennett

Jim Bennett

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2008
Posts
15,778
Location
Calgary
I have done a search and read lots but nothing seems to fully address my problem or at least cure it. I watched Reace's video too.

Last year I developed a problem where my water pump often ran on after the taps were shut off. I have removed and adjusted the set screws according to the recommended amounts. In all cases I have backed the pressure adjustment screw off to no avail.

A few things;
- On city water all works great.
- On pump water does get through but the pressure is low, I can easily block the flow out a tap with my finger. I tried it on city but not a chance blocking the flow.
- On pump there is a lot of air with the water.
- I did the priming trick according to Reace but seeing I have some water flow could that even be the issue?

Some other looking online suggests a leak in the system somewhere, but there is nothing when on city.

I am headed out for a 12 day stint on Thursday evening or Friday morning and will be using pump water other then when at the Escape Rally.

I am very close to buying a replacement. I the SHURFLO 4008-101-A65 the right one?

Thoughts, idea?
Thanks.
 
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We had a thing the other day, first time, when M. heard a sound, air? and the pump was slow to shut off.

I opened the hatch and listened as the pump ran. I thought that I could hear air and I reached down and pushed on the top of the pump and the sound stopped. The top has several screws around the perimeter and two were on the loose side. Snugged them up and all is well.

Ron
 
Last year mine was slow to shut off, but at first eventually stopped shutting off. I tried tightening the 8 screws and barely got them to move at all. Pressing and beating (lightly) on the top has done nothing.

It makes sense that it is somehow the pump, maybe that filter unit but I have the cap on tight.

Possibly pull the pump apart to have a look see, but I can't imagine what it is.
 
I had the same problem & was not able to adjust it away, although I had good pressure when running. I lived with it until the back flow valve in the pump quit & I kept overflowing my fresh water tank when on city water. A new pump solved both problems. Took the old one apart - a fair amount of fine "grit" throughout - I cleaned it up & keep it as a spare. My replacement was a SHURFLO 4008-101-A65. Some come with a new filter - probably a good idea.
 
Vermilye said:
I had the same problem & was not able to adjust it away, although I had good pressure when running. I lived with it until the back flow valve in the pump quit & I kept overflowing my fresh water tank when on city water. A new pump solved both problems. Took the old one apart - a fair amount of fine "grit" throughout - I cleaned it up & keep it as a spare. My replacement was a SHURFLO 4008-101-A65. Some come with a new filter - probably a good idea.
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I am going to go the route of getting a new pump and filter off Amazon. I may try only the filter swap first and if by chance it works, return the pump. I really need this to work and soon. I know there has to be a place air is getting in and there was a wee drip where the filter connected onto the pump, and the leak was very tiny, but air is thinner.....
 
By coincidence, I watched an escape video today in which he separated the two halves of the pump to display the diaphragms and said that debris could cause the problem. OP could probably fix it by taking it apart and cleaning it out.
 
bicyclist said:
By coincidence, I watched an escape video today in which he separated the two halves of the pump to display the diaphragms and said that debris could cause the problem. OP could probably fix it by taking it apart and cleaning it out.
Click to expand...

I might try that. I will have some time this weekend as we will be with family and friends at our rec land. I am still putting in the order and will return it or at least the pump if I get it working.
 
Not sure if you tried this, but my two cents is open all the valves hot and cold. Everything shower the outside shower the sink the toilet if you can keep your foot on the pedal. Turn on the pump and then slowly start shutting everything back down. I’m guessing you got air in there somewhere or like the previous gentleman said those diaphragms sometimes get a little bit of crud in them and it won’t shut all the way. You might want to get another pump anyway, just for a spare, eventually it’s gonna go out if you use it a lot good luck
 
Ron in BC said:
I see a big bonfire coming this weekend. :)
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You know it. ;D
Grasshog said:
Not sure if you tried this, but my two cents is open all the valves hot and cold. Everything shower the outside shower the sink the toilet if you can keep your foot on the pedal. Turn on the pump and then slowly start shutting everything back down. I’m guessing you got air in there somewhere or like the previous gentleman said those diaphragms sometimes get a little bit of crud in them and it won’t shut all the way. You might want to get another pump anyway, just for a spare, eventually it’s gonna go out if you use it a lot good luck
Click to expand...
The thing is that with using city water everything is fine. When I switch to pump the air and low pressure start up when the lines are clean.
MrLynn said:
Jim, see the thread I started yesterday:
https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f9/yet-another-pump-problem-26250.html#post468694

My problem seems to have been a crack in the strainer/filter clear plastic.

If you just get a strainer, look at the number on it. Surflo has about six different styles.
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I have pulled the cap off and it looks fine. The first thing I will do when I get the new pump and filter tomorrow is to swap out the filter and see. The filter I am getting does not have the twisting cap connection to the filter, but a solid one to turn the whole thing onto. The other side is a hose connection which the trailer uses.
 
The replacement pump and filter arrived last night.

Today I took the pump apart and when I pressed on the check valve and it was stuck a bit for whatever reason. It did not take a lot of pressure to free it, but it kinda popped free. It then pushed in real easy after that.

I put it all together and it pretty much worked fine but there was a wee water leak where the nut on the filter attached to the pump. I tightened it really hard too. I took the filter off and put on a new one that had the male threads built into the body of it and a hose connection on the other side. Everything worked great and I adjusted the pressure check valve about 1/2 turn clockwise from running on.

So, it was two issues. The first being the stuck check valve, the second a failing connection on the filter.

I'm still packing the new pump to take just in case, but I feel quite confident it will not be needed. Still.......
 
Make sure you have the correct (identical) thread type on your pump, lines, fittings, etc. Different makers use different threads; NPT vs NPTF vs IPF.

I have an older Seaflow pump with NPT threads on the intake and NPTF on the exhaust side; they are dissimilar enough to cause air intrusion into the lines and the pump to sporadically cycle.
 

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There are no pipe threads on the Shurflo pump parts. They use a type of flare fitting, no tape or dope required.

For great and no leaks now. 😁
 
Jim Bennett said:
The replacement pump and filter arrived last night.

Today I took the pump apart and when I pressed on the check valve and it was stuck a bit for whatever reason. It did not take a lot of pressure to free it, but it kinda popped free. It then pushed in real easy after that.

I put it all together and it pretty much worked fine but there was a wee water leak where the nut on the filter attached to the pump. I tightened it really hard too. I took the filter off and put on a new one that had the male threads built into the body of it and a hose connection on the other side. Everything worked great and I adjusted the pressure check valve about 1/2 turn clockwise from running on.

So, it was two issues. The first being the stuck check valve, the second a failing connection on the filter.

I'm still packing the new pump to take just in case, but I feel quite confident it will not be needed. Still.......
Click to expand...
Hi: Jim Bennett... You just have to stop using so much Lime in de Coconut. There's enough in the water to gum up the pump!!! :facepalm: Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie;) (usually)
 
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