HELP! 2003 2200V PF with the leaning post livewell option. I just got this boat and you all have been quite helpful.
The leaning post livewell pump housing was cracked so I’m not sure if the pump and water lines ever worked properly. I replaced the pump and it works great except I may have “airlock?” I have to take the hose that goes to livewell off of the pump and blow the water out into the livewell. Then the pump will work great at that time however as soon as I get under way the water will not pump into the livewell. The pump will cycle on then cycle off.
An “airlock” on a livewell pump should be impossible as long as the pump intake is mounted below the waterline of it’s source. I would lean towards a restriction in a line. I have also seen deteriorated conductors (including wire, fuses and holders, series switches, etc.) supplying livewell and bilge pumps cause similar issues. You could rule that out with a couple of jumpers.
2013 Ranger Z21 Intracoastal 250 hp Yamaha VMAX SHO
This is the standard livewell set up on a Pathfinder. The other pump is 3inches away and works great. I’m thinking it has something to do with the hose from the pump to the livewell since when I remove it from the pump and then blow it out (there is some water in it) and reconnect the livewell everything works great. The issue then begins again after I’ve gotten underway and turn it on again. I will try the jumpers direct from the battery and see what happens. Thanks.
An air lock is possible even if the pump is mounted below the wateline if the discharge plumbing can trap air. I had a pump that was getting airlockand an it is in bottom of the vee 12" below the wateline. I found the discharge was pointed downward then ran up. It was enough to trap some air. Even though it was on the discharge side, the pump impeller would pull the air into it and not prime. Rotated the dicharge up and never had a problem.
The discharge points straight up but then I bet at some point the hose to the livewell dips down given the set up. You think that may be the problem since I can blow water out of the outflow line that’s probably trapped in the low section?
Thanks
BKW
Have you tried to “back down” trick? If the pump works and it’s getting air bound, a lot of times if you back down hard you’ll force water into the lines. I have a 22TE Pathy and mine locks up as soon as the boat hits the water. I have learned that if i unscrew the strainers enough to get a little water flowing through them the pump(s) will work fine.
I will try that. Is yours set up the same as mine where there is an angle thru hull, seacock, strainer, pump all connected together? Maybe a design flaw on older PF’s?
There is a difference between airlock and a pump that has been overburdened by resistance to flow whether on the suction side or the outlet side. A pump has two very important properties that we must keep in mind. GPM (flow) and head (usually measured in ft.), which is how much work it can do before it will not transfer the medium. Everything after the outlet point works against the head: hose distance, fittings, bends, trash in line, etc. If plumbed properly, the impeller of these pumps should always be wet and the pump should push whatever bit of air out. If it is not doing this, you should first look for trash in the line. If the lines are clean and the pump is known to be good, then most of the time these problems have been in existance for quite some time and the plumbing is the most likely culprit. Tight bends, or 90 degree fittings within a short distance of a pump outlet are a pump’s worst enemy. You could try a more powerful pump if you are opposed to replumbing. Sometimes a larger line size will help because it offers less resistance to the pump.
there is a 90deg bend about 12" above pump. There must be some kind of dip in line on way to leaning post. The pump is new 1100gph and when it works (after I’ve blown out the line to livewell ) it will shoot water all the way across the leaning post livewell. There is no blockage in the line. Thanks.
BKW
Here is the pump description so the cycle on and off is normal.
BKW
Computerized anti-airlock aerator pump. If an airlock is detected the pump automatically shuts off and turns on until the airlock is cleared. Features moisture-tight seals and water cooled motors with stainless steel shafts to provide extended life and performance. Silent running and vibrationless.
Thanks. On that forum too. Last idea there tonight was good. Simply switch the old stern pump and the new leaning post pump since the most likely issue is the dip in the line that holds a little bit of water on the leaning post line and the new anti airlock feature might not overcome the issue before it shuts off. The stern livewell only has an inclined 12’ hose to it so the new anti airlock Rule 1100 gph pump should be fine. Maybe too much technology…
I called Maverick and they said the design has inherent airlock issues sometimes because the hose has to dip before it gets to leaning post. Redesigned in 2008… Mine is an '03
It’s fixed. I simply switched the hoses. The old pump (without the anti airlock feature pumps to the leaning post livewell. The new “fancy” 1100gph pump has to pump about 10" up to stern livewell now.
I guess anti airlock technology isn’t good for long runs with low spots in the line.