Having issues with My live wells/aretors

[dhall95]

It's a 85 bass champ, just got the motor in good working order.. Now i am new to boating and im not really for sure how to fill the live wells.. the guy i bought it from said the bilge fills the wells (now i always thought the bilge pumps water out?) i tried that, it diddnt do anything.. i tried flippin the aerator on, that diddnt do anything.. though i did hear it working when i flipped it on.. now both of my live wells have 3 holes total in them.. A drain, aerator, and another hole next to the aerators.. can anyone tell me what the problem is? or what im doin wrong? i have out a pic up of what switches i have, thanks

 

[sportsmanphil]

Re: Having issues with My live wells/aretors

These can be set up a few different ways. Is the aerator attached to the livewell or to the transom?

Some pump in and pump out, the rest pump in and drain out.

Mine has an aerator attached to the transom. It pumps lake water into the livewell through 2 nozels at the top of the livewell. At the bottom of there is a hole/drain. I have a pipe that attaches to that that bends upward. Once the pump fills the livewell to the top of that bent tube, it drains it back out, keeping the level of the livewell water right at the top of that bent tube.

When I want to drain the live well I pull the bent tube and it drains out the bottom.

Some areators have to be primed as they will not pump air. Sometimes you have to back up your boat and turn on the pump.

Now some livewells only pump its own water which means you have to fill the livewell up by hand.

Hope this helps.

 

[idrownworms]

Re: Having issues with My live wells/aretors

you might have to shut the drain at the bottom of the livewell, at least that is the way my bass boat is set up
If I don't shut the drain the livewell will fill up but as soon as I shut off the pump it just drains back out

 

[5150abf]

Re: Having issues with My live wells/aretors

First of all confirm the boat has a livewell pump, it would be a thru hull low towards the center of the transom, if so then diagnose from there, I have had those pumps pick up a small rock and burn out.

If you have a pump and it actually works look to your plumming, a fitting could have broken and the pump is working but the water isn't going in to the livewell.

 

[dhall95]

Re: Having issues with My live wells/aretors

I think it does have a pump, im not for sure what a transom is but im gonna take it as that is the lowest part in the hull of the stern? but my switches do not have a live well fill.. i already mentioned that there are three holes in each live well.. i think next to the aerators are a second drain for high water levels to keep from overflowing.. now once i hit the aerate switch shouldnt that fill them? im sorry im very new to this. i will take a picture of the 2 pumps in the hull and post them on here

 

[idrownworms]

Re: Having issues with My live wells/aretors

The transom is the back of the boat that the motor hangs on. Down near the drain plug look for another hole look on the inside and you'll see that there is a pump mounted there; however, you could also have a remote mounted pump and then you'll see a hose that leads to the pump.

The live well when you look into it , every livewell is different but I'm going to describe my setup, you will see at the bottom a tee mounted with a tube leading to the top spray tube. at the bottom tee you will see a valve that controls whether the water is pumped into the bottom or top, valve closed top valve open bottom, with the valve open the livewell will fill but will drain out again as soon as you shut the pump off.

But before you go out check every thing it is possible that the lines to the livewell have a leak somwhere and the previous owner has them blocked off, check the pump is it clogged with debris,

Your boat may be different but it gives you a place to start.

Just remembered , it's been all winter since I played with mine, there is also a valve on the sprayer bar at the top so if I have all the valves closed the pump will run but no water in the livewell

 

[dhall95]

Re: Having issues with My live wells/aretors

thanks man, that does help me... yes there is a pump next to the drainhole, i will check it and the lines.. i guess just because i hear a noise when i turn it on doesent necessarily mean that it is working

 

[dhall95]

Re: Having issues with My live wells/aretors

just wanna say thanks to the fella that told me to try reverse to prime the pump, it worked.. i put er in reverse for a lil bit, hit the aerate button the started fillin right up!! thanks buddy