Bilge Pump Not Working? Here's How To Troubleshoot the Problem

Bilge Pump Not Working? Here's How To Troubleshoot the Problem | BoatUS

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3 жыл бұрын

Is your boat's automatic bilge pump not working? BoatUS Magazine's Mark Corke shows you how to troubleshoot the problem. He'll show you common automatic bilge pump problems and how to look for them. He'll also show you how to fix common reasons your bilge pump won't work. Learn more about bilge pump troubleshooting at www.boatus.com/expert-advice/...
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Пікірлер: 24

@Captdal 3 жыл бұрын

Great info Thanks

@boatus 3 жыл бұрын

Happy New Year, Dal!

@sgdpsu Жыл бұрын

I have a smaller bilge, with the impeller that is spinning, however there is no water pumping out. Is it possible the impeller has worn down? It's also in a terrible location to replace :) Thank you for any feedback.

@boatus Жыл бұрын

Hi Shane. That's a pain all around! If you hear the impeller spinning but don't hear the rattle of broken parts, it's unlikely the impeller is worn down. Bilge pumps do get air locked from time to time. A quick blast from a washdown hose will sometimes solve the problem, so that may be the first thing to try. Other things that should be at the top of the troubleshooting list include checking all the hoses and their connections to make sure there are no kinks, splits, partially disconnections, or blocked discharge hoses. Another possibility is low battery voltage. If the pump does need to be replaced, the good news is that in most cases it will unclip and pop out of the basket strainer, and you can clip a new one right in place. So, though it's tough to reach, you may not have to worry about a tough mounting job with the new one. Here's an article that might be helpful: www.boatus.com/expert-advice/expert-advice-archive/2016/april/bilge-pump-troubleshooting Best of luck, and let us know if you figure it out.

@mudassir_nazir 2 жыл бұрын

Pls. Advise , how can I get its drawing to dismantle completely for inspection/repair ?

@boatus 2 жыл бұрын

Do you mean a parts diagram, Mudassir? If so, you might want to look on the manufacturer's website or reach out to the company's customer service department. If you're looking for a wiring diagram, we've got one here: www.boatus.com/expert-advice/expert-advice-archive/2012/july/installing-bilge-pump Let me know if I have misunderstood your question.

@mudassir_nazir 2 жыл бұрын

@@boatus thanks for considering, actually my rotor is stuck i.e can not move the shaft freely . Drawing of complete pump is the best way to understand , how to dismantle the casing and electrical part for inspection /cleaning to move free the rotation of shaft.

@boatus 2 жыл бұрын

@@mudassir_nazir Thanks for the clarification. You may first want to check for a string or something wrapped around the underside of the impeller. If it's not something simple like that, bilge pumps are inexpensive. Your best bet is to just replace it if you can.

@pamelafairley1262 11 ай бұрын

We have a Rule impeller pump. A small piece of debris (styrofoam) has lodged itself inside, and so the impeller senses resistance, and stays on. If there is water, it works very well. But it shouldn't run 24 hours a day. Is there any way to disassemble it, so we can clean out the debris?

@boatus 11 ай бұрын

Great question, Pamela. That definitely needs addressing. Keep in mind that without being there in person, we can only advise based on the info you provided. First things first, disconnect the battery before proceeding. The most you should disassemble your pump is to remove the strainer (the blue “grate” at the bottom) to expose the impeller. That should give you access to remove any debris that might have gotten sucked up in there. The impeller should spin freely. If it doesn’t, and you don’t see any debris that is blocking it, replace the unit. It's too important to mess around with, and bilge pumps are inexpensive. We have a tutorial on how to do this: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/b8ljfZaaudaufqs.htmlsi=mZptIgGD2ortsTD6. If you have a fully automatic pump, those do have several sensors that may need to be cleaned. There are videos online showing where they're located and how to clean them. Here’s one: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gNmIjK-Zqr6xZHk.html (As an aside, if you do have one of these pumps, you might consider changing it out. There are many reports of issues with them, and the company only sold them for a few years before discontinuing them.) There may be other causes of your bilge pump staying on, such as wiring issues. Bottom line here: If in doubt, swap it out. It's cheap peace of mind. And if you can’t run down the cause, consult a qualified mechanic.

@skooby_doobie_doonkann3334 2 жыл бұрын

I have seen one problem many times that I don't hear talked about often enough. I have seen the float switch fail to shut off the pump when there is no longer enough water to be pumped causing the pump to drain the battery

@boatus 2 жыл бұрын

Yup, that's an issue, too, Skooby. Thanks for watching and sharing your experience!

@JackJohnson-mc7ki 2 жыл бұрын

@@boatus What causes the bilge to turn on and off when there is no water to suck up? Thanks

@boatus 2 жыл бұрын

@@JackJohnson-mc7ki Thanks for the question, Jack. There are a number of potential reasons, depending on how your pump is installed. It could be a bad float switch, or it could be a bad switch at the helm. It could also be a wiring issue somewhere in-between those switches and the pump. Since this is a bilge pump we're talking about -- a critical item if there ever was one -- we'd recommend taking the boat to a shop and having it professionally diagnosed and fixed. Let us know what you find out!

@JackJohnson-mc7ki 2 жыл бұрын

@@boatus Ok thanks so much for your response!

@sushidog7323 Ай бұрын

I have a rule impeller pump and it is wired up but when everything is powered on and the float switch is lifted nothing happens. The float switch and pump are brand new. My only thought is that it may be a problem with the wiring how do I know whats wrong and how to fix it? Thanks!

@boatus Ай бұрын

Thanks for the question, Sushidog. It's nearly impossible (and potentially dangerous) to troubleshoot wiring issues from afar, but the first thing we'd suggest is trying the bilge pump with the leads connected directly to a charged battery just to make sure the pump itself wasn't dead on arrival. That does happen occasionally. Beyond that, we recommend finding a trusted technician to have a look at it for you.

@sushidog7323 Ай бұрын

@@boatus problem was solved it was corroded fuses blocking power from the dash to the bilge

@markmaugle4599 3 жыл бұрын

My bilge pump also has a bypass for the float switch. I always check that pump runs with BOTH the switch and float.

@boatus 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching and sharing your experience, Mark!

@sigmachi5803 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Alan M/V SIGMACHI

@boatus 2 жыл бұрын

You're very welcome! Thanks for watching, Sig.

@danielnicolosi 10 ай бұрын

I have a rule 500gph bilge pump with a float switch that is contained in a water proof box. When the float switch engages the pump doesn’t always fully engage. I will press the float up and down then it engages

@boatus 10 ай бұрын

Daniel, I may be wrong, but I think that bilge pump design (Rule-Mate?) is one that is known to have some serious flaws. You might consider swapping it out for a pump with separate float switch, especially if it's giving you trouble like you describe. It's fairly inexpensive peace of mind. If you're up for a DIY project, we have videos on how to replace a bilge pump and a float switch.