bilge pump question

I replaced my bilge pump this past fall because the old one had cracked. Then I put the boat away for the winter.

Last weekend I ran some water into the bilge with a hose while the boat was still on the trailer, before I put the boat in the lake for the season. At first, the pump turned on and pumped water like it's supposed to. But then after a while, it stopped pumping water while there was still water in the bilge, but the pump kept on running. I thought it might be the automatic pump switch (a separate unit from the pump) was sticking, but when I pulled out the plug and let the water drain out of the boat, the pump shut off when the water reached a lower level. I'm afraid that if we get a big rain, the pump will run until my battery goes dead and then I'll have bigger problems.

I'm thinking the float on the automatic switch unit is lower than the pump and it's telling the pump that there is still water in the boat, but the pump is too high and can't reach the water to pump it out. Or am I missing something more obvious???

I'm going to the lake tomorrow and work on it and thought I'd see what others thought.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

may have trash in it. on all my bilge pumps that are exposed to trash I wrap them with screen wire and tie it on so the trash can't get to the impeller. trash may not be your problem but you might think about doing the screen wire thing to stop future problems with trash.

I took the pump out and made sure it wasn't plugged or blocked. The hose was clear too. Put the pump back in and put water in the bilge with the same result...pump pumped out water at first and then stopped putting out water, but kept running.

Maybe the impellor is slipping on the shaft

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Originally Posted by "G"

Maybe the impellor is slipping on the shaft

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This can happen.

That makes sense. The impeller spins OK when I take the pump out and look at it, but maybe it slips when it is trying to pump water. I think I'll replace the pump and see what happens. Thanks.

How much water is left in the bilge when the pump stops pumping? If the water gets low enough that the pump starts sucking air at its intake while there is still enough water in the area where the float switch is to keep the switch closed that could cause your problem.
When the water gets low enough that the pump stops pumping water but it is still running add more water to the bilge and see if it starts pumping again. If it does you may need to relocate the pump or adjust or relocate the float switch so it will shut off before the water is low enough that the pump draws air.
I'm assuming this could be your problem if the replacement pump is different than the old one.

:hesaid X2

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lowe rider

How much water is left in the bilge when the pump stops pumping? If the water gets low enough that the pump starts sucking air at its intake while there is still enough water in the area where the float switch is to keep the switch closed that could cause your problem.
When the water gets low enough that the pump stops pumping water but it is still running add more water to the bilge and see if it starts pumping again. If it does you may need to relocate the pump or adjust or relocate the float switch so it will shut off before the water is low enough that the pump draws air.
I'm assuming this could be your problem if the replacement pump is different than the old one.

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yep....possibility for sure