[Bob Govan]

Hi Guys, my brand new (November) replacement Shurflo pump decided to quit water output mid way through my last job on Friday and I cannot seem to fix it:
1. I was getting a couple of CS messages and several more Dead Ends so after fiddling with flow rates without success I gave up the job and went home.
2. Temperature very cold so warmed all input/output pipes in case partly frozen.
3. Recalibrated pump using auto calibrating (32 flow)
4. Water into pump fine, pump motor operating fine with no Dead Ends but no output from pump when output hose taken off pump.
5. Tried the usual gentle tapping and cranking motor to max plus hose into output for extended sucking to draw pump into primed but no success.
6. I don't really want to have to disassemble a brand new pump to check diaphragm or buy a new micro switch because it's difficult and time consuming and no guarantee of a solution.

Does anyone have a similar experience and maybe some advice or ideas I might attempt before I go the disassembly route please? All comments and contributions gratefully appreciated as I'm getting panicked now having lost a couple of days and Christmas coming...
Bob

[DJW]

Frozen somewhere most likely.
What was wrong with the old one?
Have you got a strainer? Have you checked it?
Not much in a pump to go wrong. If the motor is spinning then my money is on a blockage.

[dazmond]

Air lock or ice blockage is my guess.

Run your pump on full and up the calibration and see if that clears it (whilst connecting and disconnecting your pole)

Don't forget to put a heater in your van overnight every night in this weather!

[NWH]

I would defrost everything first see if it’s ice.

[Spruce]

Hi Guys, my brand new (November) replacement Shurflo pump decided to quit water output mid way through my last job on Friday and I cannot seem to fix it:
1. I was getting a couple of CS messages and several more Dead Ends so after fiddling with flow rates without success I gave up the job and went home.
2. Temperature very cold so warmed all input/output pipes in case partly frozen.
3. Recalibrated pump using auto calibrating (32 flow)
4. Water into pump fine, pump motor operating fine with no Dead Ends but no output from pump when output hose taken off pump.
5. Tried the usual gentle tapping and cranking motor to max plus hose into output for extended sucking to draw pump into primed but no success.
6. I don't really want to have to disassemble a brand new pump to check diaphragm or buy a new micro switch because it's difficult and time consuming and no guarantee of a solution.

Does anyone have a similar experience and maybe some advice or ideas I might attempt before I go the disassembly route please? All comments and contributions gratefully appreciated as I'm getting panicked now having lost a couple of days and Christmas coming...
Bob

I would check that the motor is getting power by by-passing the pressure switch. Remove both connectors on the pressure switch and carefully bridge them together with a piece of wire.  That test will check if the pressure switch is faulty.

Then you need to put a multimeter on that join and the other probe to earth to test if there is current getting to the pressure switch from the controller side.

Only one of our Shurflo pumps has a working pressure switch, not connected up and the other 3 have blown pressure switches from pre controller days.

[Ian Sheppard]

As you have pieces of Ice in the strainer it is likely the pump + hoses are frozen the pump diaphragm may also be frozen. That would also fit with why you are seeing PS and DE on the controller over the previous days. Ice will create a blockage and cause the pump pressure switch to activate. Partly frozen hoses wil restrict flow and may see DE appear unexpectedly. It may just be a case of slowly warming everything to clear the ice

[Bob Govan]

Makes sense,  thanks Ian. I was thinking of getting the wife's hair dryer to blow on pump exterior but worry that may cause mor damage; what do you think?
Many thanks for your advice and suggestions! Bob

[Ian Sheppard]

Makes sense,  thanks Ian. I was thinking of getting the wife's hair dryer to blow on pump exterior but worry that may cause mor damage; what do you think?
Many thanks for your advice and suggestions! Bob

Hi Bob. Yes that could help. Just be careful about heating the pump to fast as the pump head might crack as the outer part wil warm quicker than the inner part. 

[NWH]

The Dead ending is also due to the shrinking of the microbore I am recalibrating when the hose is cold and then the same again when it’s heated up and expanded,this solves the problem.

[simon w]

You could be there for a seriously long time using a hair dryer. If you have a electric fan heater rig it up facing pumps and just leave it running over night then after a proper thaw out check and recalibrate in the morning

[NWH]

A small heater 2-3 feet away from the pump and pipes would take 20 or so minutes to do the job.

[Bungle]

Has OP tried disconnecting the hose going from the pump to the reel? If water flows then he knows it's not a problem with the reel and can work back towards the pump.

It could also be a battery issue as you say it died whilst working. I'd doubt your system would freeze up if you've managed to work all day with it. Have you got a multimeter to check the voltage?

[windowswashed]

 Had enough of pump stop working in winters past so set it up to be able run two separate pumps to the hose or recycled back through the tank, both using the John guest fittings and plastic hose to the tank and hosereel so never without a pump.

Always recalibrate the pump when the weather drops so more water goes through with  a higher volume and higher pressure running through 12/10mm flat hose so even if it froze (which it never has), all I'd have to do is release the water from the tap at the end of the hose to drain it and the hose would become flat releasing all the water inside.