just worked it out! I connected the garden hose to the pump inlet and water should pass through the pump to the high pressure outlet if all is well.. This didn't happen so I had to free the inlet valves which were sticking what with being laid up all winter! once finger pushed free and given the once over I connected my garden hose again to the inlet of the pump and pushed some water through which this time went all the way through the pump. That confirmed that the valves were the culprit. P washer all set up and ready for the new season...