When I went through the spring commissioning I found that my bilge pump would turn on but wouldn't pump the water out of the bilge. I spoke to a marine electrician who told me that the Rule 1500 pumps run based on the amount of current applied to it and that over time the motor will run but be weakened and not pump properly. I figure with the boat being a 1988 that after 13 years a new pump was probably in order. So after buying a new 1500 Rule from BoatUS and installing it I found the same problem. The pump would work intermittently sometimes pumping and sometimes not even though the motor was running. Could this be a hole in the hose between the pump and the through-hull? This is to important a piece of equipment that needs to work "all the time when needed" rather than intermittently. Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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blockage?
Is it possible that something has built a home in your through hull and is blocking the flow?
Is it possible that something has built a home in your through hull and is blocking the flow?
Prob'ly a wiring problem
Unless you have a blockage in the hose from the pump, the problem has to be electrical. If you used wire nuts to connect the hoses, you shouldn't have...they corrode. And, they don't meet safety standards. Use only electrical tape to connect electrical wires. If you didn't use wire nuts, you prob'ly have a short or corrosion somewhere.
Unless you have a blockage in the hose from the pump, the problem has to be electrical. If you used wire nuts to connect the hoses, you shouldn't have...they corrode. And, they don't meet safety standards. Use only electrical tape to connect electrical wires. If you didn't use wire nuts, you prob'ly have a short or corrosion somewhere.
I had a similar problem
on my H-34. The factory design had a check valve. I replaced the check valve and found I sometimes still had the same problem. Turned out the pump (a Rule 2000)and it's replacement would sometimes not start the flow against the head of pressure behind the check valve. So I removed the check valve--new problem; the drain hose was so long that the amount of water flowing back in would turn on the float switch and restart the pump; and repeat and repeat... Peggy suggested I relocate the drain hose to be shorter...too hard on a H-34!! Instead, I mounted the switch two inches higher and added a small Rule 360 with a seperate switch. I was able to find a path for the smaller drain hose. While I was about it, I added a buzzer across the Rule 2000 to notify me something is not normal, because any small puddle will only start the small bilge pump.
on my H-34. The factory design had a check valve. I replaced the check valve and found I sometimes still had the same problem. Turned out the pump (a Rule 2000)and it's replacement would sometimes not start the flow against the head of pressure behind the check valve. So I removed the check valve--new problem; the drain hose was so long that the amount of water flowing back in would turn on the float switch and restart the pump; and repeat and repeat... Peggy suggested I relocate the drain hose to be shorter...too hard on a H-34!! Instead, I mounted the switch two inches higher and added a small Rule 360 with a seperate switch. I was able to find a path for the smaller drain hose. While I was about it, I added a buzzer across the Rule 2000 to notify me something is not normal, because any small puddle will only start the small bilge pump.
Gunk holing
My bilge is the ultimate "gunk hole". I started cleaning it out, pouring in some water, high tech cleaner, etc. and much to my delight/ dismay the slime started to slough off and clog the bilge pump. Major mess. I have a manual bilge pump (whale or similar), so I'm going to pump it clean with that and wipe out the bilge and remove the electric pump and clean it too. I've not had a problem with the check valve or back pressure that I know of.
My bilge is the ultimate "gunk hole". I started cleaning it out, pouring in some water, high tech cleaner, etc. and much to my delight/ dismay the slime started to slough off and clog the bilge pump. Major mess. I have a manual bilge pump (whale or similar), so I'm going to pump it clean with that and wipe out the bilge and remove the electric pump and clean it too. I've not had a problem with the check valve or back pressure that I know of.
Ed...the solution to you problem is simple
Clean the bilge...don't just dump in some bilge cleaner and hope for the best--really CLEAN it...then rinse till the water coming out the bilge pump is clean enough to drink. If you have a lot of slime and gunk in your bilge (which you wouldn't have if you cleaned it more often!), you have have to don rubber gloves, take a bucket, and sit beside the bilge pump scooping it up till you get it all. Not only will your bilge pump work a lot better, but your boat will smell a LOT better!
Clean the bilge...don't just dump in some bilge cleaner and hope for the best--really CLEAN it...then rinse till the water coming out the bilge pump is clean enough to drink. If you have a lot of slime and gunk in your bilge (which you wouldn't have if you cleaned it more often!), you have have to don rubber gloves, take a bucket, and sit beside the bilge pump scooping it up till you get it all. Not only will your bilge pump work a lot better, but your boat will smell a LOT better!
Check Valve
Mickey. My boat came with a less-than-adequate in-line check valve. It has a 3/8" orifice on a Rule 1500. I replaced it because it finally failed and caused back pressure. Thereby, not pumping. The new , larger check valve solved the problem. Try this - remove the check valve, turn the pump on and let the pump output pump back into the bilge. This will either eliminate the pump as a problem or prove that it is a problem. Then try it with the check valve. You will then isolate the problem area.
Mickey. My boat came with a less-than-adequate in-line check valve. It has a 3/8" orifice on a Rule 1500. I replaced it because it finally failed and caused back pressure. Thereby, not pumping. The new , larger check valve solved the problem. Try this - remove the check valve, turn the pump on and let the pump output pump back into the bilge. This will either eliminate the pump as a problem or prove that it is a problem. Then try it with the check valve. You will then isolate the problem area.
check valve
For the record, Rule recommends against using a check valve with the 1500. (Found this out after I'd installed my check valve.)
For the record, Rule recommends against using a check valve with the 1500. (Found this out after I'd installed my check valve.)
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