Hand operated Sink pump not working Hunter 23

[scott hall]

I have a 1986 Hunter 23 with a hand sink. There is a water spout handle that you push up and down. I took the lower part off and there is a small rubber type check valve. At the bottom it connects to a 3/8 inch water line and runs about 2.5 feet to the 5 gallon water tank. The 3/8 line from the sink connects to the water tank with a screw on plastic connector. There is no tube that goes from the top of the connector to the bottom of the water tank. Not sure if there needs to be or not. I only 1/2 way filled the water tank. Not sure if I gave to fill it all the way up.

The hand push handle seems to move pretty easily as you lift it up and down. I took the sink water line off and wet my finger and pushed the handle up and down and seemed like I got very little suction-at least not easily noticeable.

Does anyone know how these operate to get it primed or if they sell a rebuild kit or if I must somehow apply something to the prime seal inside the handle assembly as I imagine it must have one similar to a garden hand pump sprayer.

Thanks so much,

Scott

 

[Dave Groshong]

Do you have this one? The self priming nipple is usually the culprit:
http://shop.hunterowners.com/hp/part.php?m=26&c=9&p=52317
http://shop.hunterowners.com/hp/part.php?m=26&c=10&p=52727

 

[shemandr]

Sometimes when something stops working it's an opportunity to get something better. In this case if you can work out a foot pump it is a big upgrade from the hand pump. Imagine being able to wash you hands without having to use one hand to pump. Or to use one hand to hold a plate and the other to wipe it with a sponge while rinsing it. A bit more trouble to put the foot pump in but a big improvement.

 

[scott hall]

Neither looks like it Dave but I appreciate your thoughts. I will try to post a pic. It looks like a regular chrome sink spout you would find in a RV bathroom.

 

[scott hall]

it is similar to this one

 

[isaksp00]

If I recall my 23 has a hose that extends to the bottom of the plastic tank. If yours connects just to the cap and nothing extends into the water it would just suck in air.

 

[justsomeguy]

The nomenclature escapes me at the moment.
But you need to check the flexibility/lubricity of the plunger's end piece. If it doesn't seal well, it won't pump.

 

[MitchM]

i'd detach it from its hose and immerse the pump body in water so the inlet nipple is covered, then pump and see if h 2 0 comes out the spout. if it does there is an air leak in the feed line to the water tank. if it does not there is a leak letting air into the pump body...

 

[isaksp00]

I'm not near my boat (and even if I were it'd be surrounded by snow) but look at the cap on your water tank. My recollection is that there is a fitting on the bottom (inside) of the cap to attach a hose that goes down to the bottom of the tank. Before you fiddle with the faucet, take the hose from the faucet off the tank cap and stick it in a pail so it is under water. That is easy. If it pumps you know it works. You could even pull the house out through the bulkhead behind the sink so you can test it all from inside the cabin as it is easy to push back through once the sink is slid forward.

 

[capta]

Personally, I wouldn't waste my time putting in another hand pump unless you've figured out a good way to wash both hands while pumping with one. Whale makes some pretty dynamite double action foot pumps and I guaranty you will not regret changing.

 

[isaksp00]

It might be tough to fit a foot pump to the 23 due to the sliding galley arrangement. I would think you'd need to install the pedal on a bulkhead location that is fixed relative to the sink, but I suppose there may be some way.