Hunter 27 1983 Fresh Water System

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Bryan

I just purchased a 1983 Hunter 27 can anyone explain how the fresh water system should work? The pump works but I get no water, the holding tank is full. Am I missing something? Thanks Bryan
 
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Dan Bryant

air in the lines?

The pump is located at the back of the locker under the v-berth. If air gets in the line it can spin like anything and still not work. Try opening both taps and letting it run for a minute or two. If that doesn't work, take out the pump (its easy) and make sure stators haven't come loose and that the pump gasket is OK. In the worst case, you can get a new Shur-Flow pump for $80 or so.
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
also

Bryan: Dan is correct. If you have any air in the line, the pump can't pump. I would also make sure that you do not have something in the line that is blocking water flow. There may be a blocked strainer or a kink in the line. If you can blow air from the pump back to the water supply you should be able tell if there is any obstruction. If the pump is bad you can get them rebuilt for about half the price of a new one if it is not shot.
 
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Peggie Hall/HeadMIstress

Sounds like the pump just needs a new diaphragm

West Marine carries the kits...they're inexpensive...just be sure you know the make/model/year, 'cuz they're all different. I'd also recommend you replace the valve at the same time. Or, you can do what I did...just replace the pump. It's an easy job, and a Shur-Flo pump will run you well under $100. Then I rebuilt the old one to keep as a spare.
 
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Peggie Hall/HeadMIstress

If a water pump is more than 5 years old...

runs, but doesn't pump any water...99.999 times out of a 100, there is no air leak in the system...the diaphragm in the pump has failed. First it the pump will start to cycle for a few seconds every now and then for no reason...the intervals between the times it runs will get shorter...and then it stops pumping water. You can hear it running...it sounds fine...so because it's logical to assume that a pump running for no reason must be due to a leak somewhere, the boat owner goes bonkers checking all his plumbing and his tank trying to find it. There IS a leak...but it's in the pump, not the plumbing..,and a diaphragm kit will fix it. If there's a leak in the tank or the plumbing, you won't have any of the warning signs...when the tank is empty, the pump will just run continuously--until you refill it. Then a sound pump will re-prime and work fine until the tank is empty again. However, if it runs continuously after you refill the tank, but refuses to prime and start pumping water again, the ONLY possible cause is the diaphragm in the pump.
 
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Ken Palmer

You can prime the pump

Disconnect the input hose, pour in fresh water using a funnel until the hose is full. Put your thumb over the hose opening, and quickly attach to the pump input. Tighten the hose clamp VERY TIGHT. Apply voltage to the pump and turn on a faucet. The pump should prime and get the water flowing. If you turn the faucet off and the pump cycles, make sure the hose clamps are tight. My fresh water pump uses an impeller, so I am not sure about the diaphram that Peggie spoke about. Ken, S/V Liberty
 
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Peggie Hall/HeadMIstress

If the pump is an impeller pump...

The first thing that should be checked is the impeller, especially if the boat's been sitting for any length of time. All impeller pumps are alike--they don't pump if the impeller is shot. It's especially important that an impeller pump be close--within a foot, 2 at the most--to the tank and at or below the the same level as the bottom of the tank...'cuz when impellers run dry, friction burns them....that time has to be minimized to the maximum.
 
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