Water pump

[Johnny R]

Now that the van is inside, I notice that the water pump needs to be primed after about 1-2 weeks of non-use. A nice winter project - find the make, serial or model # and replace it. Unless it can be rebuilt?

[markopolo]

I think you can get kits for most of the major brands but you'd have to weigh that against the cost of a new pump.

http://www.shurflo.com/marine-products/ ... fault.html Shurflo

http://www.xylemflowcontrol.com/ Flojet, Jabsco

[Mike]

Have you tried cleaning the filter on the fresh water in side of the pump?
Drain your water system, disconnect the input water line from the tanks/system to the pump.
If it's a Shurflo, the filter is probably in a hockey puck shaped assembly at right angles to the
main motor housing. It comes apart by press and twist, like a child proof pill bottle.
Mine was really gunked up and took a while to prime. A service guy showed me how to take
it apart and rinse the plastic filter. My pump now takes about 30 seconds to prime after a
period of inactivity. Also, these things are designed to run dry for quite a while. During priming,
for example.
Save your money, it might just be plugged up.

[Johnny R]

Thanks for the 2 replies guys. Probably posted between CFL games? I did prime the pump using a suction hose on the sink faucet, that was pretty easy. After that, I turn on the pump weekly. It only runs for a second or so and all is well. I will have a peek at the filter. However, I thought ideally, during a period of inactivity, the water should not drain back into the supply tank. Which makes me think a faulty seal is the issue, rather than the filter. In any case, everything is 22 years old and age does have an impact.

[Mike]

Did we sound like we'd been drinking?
You said "ideally, during a period of inactivity, the water should not drain back into the supply tank.
Which makes me think a faulty seal is the issue, rather than the filter."

I agree. I've also found few, if any, RV systems function as well as their household counterparts.
In my experience, so far. YMMV?
I would try cleaning the filter/screen to see of it improves the "prime time", but I understand that
logically it shouldn't. However, while you're fiddling with it, you could check/tighten the connections
to the pump. Might make a difference?
I have to clean mine now that I've drained for the winter. It only takes a few simple tools and a few
minutes to complete. It saved me a few bucks, as I was ready to replace mine, too.

Good luck with it, no matter what.