Sink pumps loosing prime.

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Nancy Berg

We had a problem with our new H260 faucet pumps loosing their prime. We could see the air filling the hoses under the sink but could not find a leak. It turns out that there were tiny particles of plastic, fiberglass, or caulk that were in the tank/lines. These would make their way to the pump and get between the anti-syphon "gasket" (wafer) and keep it from seating. Unfortunately, these fittings do not come apart for cleaning. But after the 3rd time, rather than have the dealer replace the valve again, I discovered the problem and figured out how to blow and rinse until the foreign matter was disloged and the prime would hold. I have to asume that eventually, the lines and tanks will be thoroughly flushed and no more crud will block the seat on the anti-syphon thing. (This is our 3rd refill of the water tank and no problems to far.) When it works it works GREAT! But when 1 doesn't work, neither will work. Nancy Berg H260 Ay Chihuahua ( no longer Zia) Albuquerque, NM
 
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Ken Shubert

Foreign Matter (ugh)

When we washed the dishes on our H23.5 one evening, I noticed a chunk of grease that didn't come from the food. Being a little curious, I took the pump apart to find that the seal that kept perfect prime was made by a big glob of silicone grease. It won't really hurt to injest the stuff but it's not very appetizing either. The only water we drink from the sink is for coffee. I cleaned all the grease out and polished the ball with steel wool and it has worked fine since. No grease required. Ken S/V Wouff Hong
 
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Tom M.

Same prob...

Nancy, We are having the same problem. Have replaced both faucet check valves and, like you say, neither of them will work. What I have done at this point is to seal the faucet in the head. This allows the faucet in the galley to operate correctly. I will be removing them to check for foreign matter like you mentioned. We are on our first tank fill. I'll see if I can get to the second fill this weekend. Thanks for the info. Good sailing Tom M.
 
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R. Palaia

How did you rinse it???

You said that you figured out how to blow and rinse the small particles out so the gasket would set better. How did you do it?? Would appreciate the method so I can try to do it on my water pump. Thanks, Roc
 
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Nancy Berg

Rinsing Pump

We took the white plastic part off the pump (threaded on) and disconneceted the hose(hose clamp). Shake it a little and the disk/wafer will move a little in its capsule. Then we rinsed and shook and blew on it until the small white plastic bits fell out. If you get it to the point where you can't blow thru from one end or suck air thru from the other end , you have a good seat. However, one of the check valves had gotten a piece too large to get out stuck in it and we had to replace the whole plastic valve.(too big to get out but not too big to get in?) We could actually see it from the lower end. I'd love to get a couple of spares while they are still available. Sorry for the lack of technical terms here but IT WORKED! Bill and Nancy Berg H260 Ay Chihuahua Albuquerque, NM
 
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Steve

Convert to Pressure System

Convert to pressure water with 10-20 gallon flex type water bladder under sink or v-berth.. You and the family will be much happier. Not as expensive as you might think!
 
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Ralph C. Regar

Steve: Pressure System

Could you give us the particulars on this conversion? I have been thinking of doing this myself. Thanks! Ralph C. Regar S/V Shambala
 
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Steve

A Quick HOW TO

Place a SURFLOW type pressure pump under the sink wired accordingly. Use a flexable bladder placed under the sink or in the v-berth. Now pipe, with approved drinking water hose between the bladder and the pump. Use new sink single faucet (take out the pump type) at both sinks and pipe to the pump from these locations. The galley is easy, the bathroom must be routed under the rear sole area and in under the sink. It can be dome with a little thinking and drilling of non crtical areas. You could even branch off and put a recessed aft deck shower in (cold water). The fill hose off the bladder has to be routed to the deck either aft or fore depending on your bladder location. One way is to fill inside, thus avoiding the deck connection. Just bring the garden hose in to the bladder and fill. A lot simplier then carring those silly under sink plactic jugs! I hope this will get you started, the pump, faucets, hose, and bladder are avaialble through all the big marine chains..
 
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