Out of the blue, my manual bilge pump suddenly stopped pumping. When I move the handle up and down, I can hear some air come out the stern but no water even though the bilge has plenty. I inspected the diaphragm by hand and couldn't discern any noticeable tear or rip although I can't be 100% sure of it since I didn't remove it to look at it visually. I removed the hose that goes from the pump to the bilge, and when I put my hand to the pump where the hose goes on and operated the pump, the suction was minimal. That, of course, makes me think the diaphragm is bad despite my limited inspection of it. On the other hand, when I took the hose and tried to forcefully blow throw it, I couldn't. No bubbles came out in the bilge. It was like blowing into concrete. I thought maybe there was an antisiphon valve which prohibited reverse flow so I then tried to suck on the hose. Still nothing. I inspected the filter where it sits in the bilge and it seems clear. Any ideas? Any things I should do to further test it?
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some thoughts
Rick: It is possible that there may be several failure modes going on all at once. The anti-siphon valve may be blocked or, more likely, stuck in the closed position. The diaphragm may be cut or, possible the linkage which causes the deflection of the diaphragm may be broken. To investigate the anti-siphon valve I'd go to the pick-up end of the bilge pump line and blow with a low pressure pump to see if air flows through the hose. Perhaps a dingy inflation pump will serve. My O'day 28 has a fitting afixed to the bilge where the hand bilge pump picks up water. If your boat has a similar fitting then there may be debris clogging it; unlikely but worth looking at. To check out the pump itself I'd disassemble the pump and inspect it. If it is damaged or broken most companies have a rebuild kit for it. The housing, unless it's cracked is pretty much bullet proof but I'd look at that as well. That's about all I can think of. Perhaps others will chime in. Good luck, Mike
Rick: It is possible that there may be several failure modes going on all at once. The anti-siphon valve may be blocked or, more likely, stuck in the closed position. The diaphragm may be cut or, possible the linkage which causes the deflection of the diaphragm may be broken. To investigate the anti-siphon valve I'd go to the pick-up end of the bilge pump line and blow with a low pressure pump to see if air flows through the hose. Perhaps a dingy inflation pump will serve. My O'day 28 has a fitting afixed to the bilge where the hand bilge pump picks up water. If your boat has a similar fitting then there may be debris clogging it; unlikely but worth looking at. To check out the pump itself I'd disassemble the pump and inspect it. If it is damaged or broken most companies have a rebuild kit for it. The housing, unless it's cracked is pretty much bullet proof but I'd look at that as well. That's about all I can think of. Perhaps others will chime in. Good luck, Mike
diaphragm pumps have two flapper valves
one on the suction side and one on the discharge side. either one can fail to work if there is a bit of trash in it. The hose to the bilge should be clear and easy to blow through. if it isn't pull it ut and inspect it there should be some sort of a screen on the pick-up end make certain that isn't fouled.
one on the suction side and one on the discharge side. either one can fail to work if there is a bit of trash in it. The hose to the bilge should be clear and easy to blow through. if it isn't pull it ut and inspect it there should be some sort of a screen on the pick-up end make certain that isn't fouled.
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