[Brendan (chem2clean)]

Hi,i use flojet pumps to pump water from fresh water tank to my header tank.I am only getting about 7 months out of these pumps,not that long when you consider there about 180 pounds.Anyone else find these junk,any good alternatives?

[John Kelly]

Always found Shurflo more reliable. Is it actually the pump or the pressure switch on the top, thats what usually goes first. Easy to replace or bypass.

[Brendan (chem2clean)]

Thanks John,is there a shurflo washdown pump like the flojet?

[Neil Williams]

They do leak a bit of water over time so to prevent the magnets getting water in them, make sure the pump is positioned so that the body is upper most with the electrics at the bottom.
But as John said the pressure switch bit can play up.

[Brendan (chem2clean)]

Thanks Neil,i have a box of these fecking pumps.where is the pressure switch on the pump,is there a fix?
John sorry you must have modified your answer,hard to know what the problem is,as i said only months old.

[Kinver_Clean]

Water runs downwards. LOL. The motor should be at the top and the pump head at the bottom.
The pressure switch is the small box on top of the pumphead.
To check whether to motor is working, pull the two wire connectors off the pump and put them together thus cutting out the switch. If the motor does not run then the brushes may be worn out. This is unusual with 12 volt pumps as they are much bigger than 240 brushes, never could make that out.
If the pump is leaking it requires a new diaphragm. These are not that expensive and are easy to fit.
The pumps are usually available at caravan shops for 70 to 90 pounds.

[Neil Williams]

The pressure switch will be dead centre on the top of the pump where the electrics go into it. On some will be an adjuster which can be altered with an allan key.
Overall these types of pumps are easy to strip down, clean and reassemble, the tricky bit can be getting the brushes back into place.
Like I said before, the biggest problem I had with these types of pumps was water getting onto the magnets which start to rust up.

[Brendan (chem2clean)]

Thanks lads.its not the bushes and its not leaking,so if it is the switch,how do i by pass it?

[Brendan (chem2clean)]

Water runs downwards. LOL. The motor should be at the top and the pump head at the bottom.
The pressure switch is the small box on top of the pumphead.
To check whether to motor is working, pull the two wire connectors off the pump and put them together thus cutting out the switch. If the motor does not run then the brushes may be worn out. This is unusual with 12 volt pumps as they are much bigger than 240 brushes, never could make that out.
If the pump is leaking it requires a new diaphragm. These are not that expensive and are easy to fit.
The pumps are usually available at caravan shops for 70 to 90 pounds.

So if i join the two red wires together it should run the pump if its the switch thats faulty ,if its runs the pump anyway,what exactly is the switch for?

[John Kelly]

These pumps are designed to supply water to caravan, boats etc taps. The pressure switch makes them turn on when the tap is opened. The same thing happens when your header tank valve opens. Its to prevent the pump running continuously. If you bypass this its worth putting in a tee with a valve and having a trickle of water running back into your fresh water tank. This will prevent the pump overheating and stopping.

Some pumps are deisigned for heavy duty and continuous use others are not. Usually the ones from caravan shops etc are light duty.
Williamson Pumps are the importers of Shurflo there website will give you the spec of the dozens of different models available. Expect to pay over 150 + vat for a heavy duty pump.

[Brendan (chem2clean)]

Thanks John.

[M.Acorn]

Has anyone tried the new 150 psi induction pumps from Prochem ?