Shower pump failure

[NYSail]

Hello all

so I have a jabsco pump for my shower….. bet it’s original at 20 years. 2 weeks ago all of a sudden won’t pump water. Motor sounds fine. So I pull it out and replace it with one I removed from our aft head, also 20 years old, that we don’t use to shower in and probable got limited use it’s whole life due to the shower in that head being small. All good….. pump works great for 2 weeks but yesterday go to take a shower and not pumping….. again motor sounds fine. Coincidence that they both fail? I did open the first one and saw one of the valves was shot and did buy the rebuilt kit. But just think it’s funny that they both went. Age related rubber failure? I did make sure filter and flow was unobstructed out of the boat.

also can I push water past these pumps without damaging them…… like with an air pump to clear a possible clogged hose / fitting?

Greg
s/v Souleil

 

[NYSail]

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

Here’s the datasheet. It shows (parts diagram on right of page 2) it’s a diaphragm pump. If the diaphragm and valves are intact it would probably damage them if you push water past it. However, if the motor is running and it’s not pumping the problem is likely either a) the eccentric drive is slipping (labeled #2 in diagram) or the rubber diaphragm and valves have degraded (more likely).

https://defender.com/assets/pdf/jabsco/502336_jabsco.pdf

 

[NYSail]

Yes the one I took apart has a bad diaphragm…… will rebuilt and replace. Find it funny they both went. Was trying to think what else may have went wrong…..

 

[NYSail]

No not diaphragm I meant valve……

 

[BigEasy]

When I replaced a Jabsco fresh water pump a few years ago, the replacement rubber diaphragm and replacement valve assembly was approximately 75% f the cost of a new pump. I opted to replace the pump With a new one.

 

[kloudie1]

Being a positive displacement pump, the check valves are set "toward" the discharge.. Air or other fluids can easily and safely go through the pump if pushed from the suction side.. but don't use any more pressure than is needed to get flow.. otherwise, the diaphragm could be damaged..