scoutabout
Lieutenant Commander
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2006
- Messages
- 1,568
Yes, I thought the problem would be crap wedged under the float too - but this pump works in a way I'm not familiar with.
Its a Rule - Mate 500 gph of an oval design. When you pull it out of its base you see that one side of the oval housing has the impeller in it, the other has a chamber containing a small platic box, slightly smaller than a wooden match box. Something inside the box rattles and the box itself isn't attached to anything -- it just sits.
I'm assuming this is the float and when it rises to touch the top of the chamber, it somehow completes a circuit and starts the pump. There are no metal contacts anywhere inside this chamber, it's plastic on all sides. Perhaps a magnet inside the box pulls thin contacts together inside the sealed motor casing when it touches it?
Anyway, if I simulate water in the bilge by pouring a couple of buckets down the pump will kick on, eject all the water, but keep running even after the float falls. I have to pull the fuse to get it to stop.
When I replace the fuse later, the pump sometimes stays off (until I test it again) or comes on immediately. It's a complete crap shoot.
The motor compartment seems to be permanently sealed, leaving the only access the impeller and aforementioned float (which can be completely removed without shutting down the pump).
Ideas? Anyone experience this before and solve it? I'm assuming I could break the seal on the compartment and glue it up again but wanted an idea of what I might be up against in there.
The other challenge of course is those cursed people who wired my boat at the Scout factory. Damn harness is tightly wrapped, secured with ties every few inches, and generally so well installed just getting the pump out to work on will be a project. ;-)
Its a Rule - Mate 500 gph of an oval design. When you pull it out of its base you see that one side of the oval housing has the impeller in it, the other has a chamber containing a small platic box, slightly smaller than a wooden match box. Something inside the box rattles and the box itself isn't attached to anything -- it just sits.
I'm assuming this is the float and when it rises to touch the top of the chamber, it somehow completes a circuit and starts the pump. There are no metal contacts anywhere inside this chamber, it's plastic on all sides. Perhaps a magnet inside the box pulls thin contacts together inside the sealed motor casing when it touches it?
Anyway, if I simulate water in the bilge by pouring a couple of buckets down the pump will kick on, eject all the water, but keep running even after the float falls. I have to pull the fuse to get it to stop.
When I replace the fuse later, the pump sometimes stays off (until I test it again) or comes on immediately. It's a complete crap shoot.
The motor compartment seems to be permanently sealed, leaving the only access the impeller and aforementioned float (which can be completely removed without shutting down the pump).
Ideas? Anyone experience this before and solve it? I'm assuming I could break the seal on the compartment and glue it up again but wanted an idea of what I might be up against in there.
The other challenge of course is those cursed people who wired my boat at the Scout factory. Damn harness is tightly wrapped, secured with ties every few inches, and generally so well installed just getting the pump out to work on will be a project. ;-)
