I have just replaced the pump head on the Whale water pump in my caravan using the Whale service kit. All it is is a replacement head, so fitting involves disconnecting the inlet and outlet pipes, removing four screws to release the old head and reversing these steps to fit the new one.
Problem is that while the new set-up works fine all it does is pump out air, not water! Much faffing about and I have found that even if the inlet is disconnected and blocked off it still just blows air. The head is a sealed unit with only the in and out ports, so where can the air come from? No damage or cracks to the new head unit, and the mounting screws do not pass through the wet part of the head.
What ideas as to what is happening?A vaccine does not stop you catching a virus, or passing it on, or getting ill from it, really ill. It does reduce the likelyhood of you dying when really, really ill. Stay Alive - KEEP AWAY FROM PEOPLE.
17th Mar 2024 5:45 pm
waterbuoy
Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: Argyll
Posts: 2915
Sounds like there might be an airlock in the system?
Are you able to connect a short length of pipe to the inlet side of the pump, hold it higher than the pump and then pour some water in to check that the pump works? That is what we often have to do with our boats when changing pumps and/or strainers.
Alternatively, do you have an inline strainer upstream of the pump (there should be!). If so then it is also quite common for these to be frosted and a harline crack lets in the air - often not possible to see if tucked away in a dark space.Currently 2009 Disco 3 SE, 2013 MY D4 HSE and 2016 D4 SE
Previously:
TD5 Defender 110 CSW (230k miles)
300TDi Disco 1 (289k)
4 RR Classics (300-350k each, 2 manual, 2 auto)
110 V8 CSW (220k)
S3 109 hi cap pickup (ex RN)
S2A 88 Safari SW with lpg conversion (bloody lethal)
Thanks for the priming suggestion. Nothing happens as there is no suction at pump inlet. However it keeps blowing out air - even with the inlet blocked off completely. Now starting to strip pump head from motor to look at hidden surface of head.A vaccine does not stop you catching a virus, or passing it on, or getting ill from it, really ill. It does reduce the likelyhood of you dying when really, really ill. Stay Alive - KEEP AWAY FROM PEOPLE.
18th Mar 2024 11:55 am
waterbuoy
Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: Argyll
Posts: 2915
I'm more familiar with the Jabsco pumps than the Whale ones - is it possible that the head might have been fitted the wrong way round?
If you are blocking the inlet then the pump is not going to be able to pump anything as it is effectively strangled. The priming suggestion was to see if water would at least pass through it in the right direction!
What was it that caused you to replace the head in the first place?Currently 2009 Disco 3 SE, 2013 MY D4 HSE and 2016 D4 SE
Previously:
TD5 Defender 110 CSW (230k miles)
300TDi Disco 1 (289k)
4 RR Classics (300-350k each, 2 manual, 2 auto)
110 V8 CSW (220k)
S3 109 hi cap pickup (ex RN)
S2A 88 Safari SW with lpg conversion (bloody lethal)
Can't fit wrong way around as head is not symetric. Blocking the inlet was to prove air was not being drawn in at inlet. Actually makes no difference to amount of air coming out! And pump does not draw water or air through inlet.
Head was replaced as it kept running after reaching pressure.A vaccine does not stop you catching a virus, or passing it on, or getting ill from it, really ill. It does reduce the likelyhood of you dying when really, really ill. Stay Alive - KEEP AWAY FROM PEOPLE.
18th Mar 2024 12:36 pm
waterbuoy
Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: Argyll
Posts: 2915
Currently 2009 Disco 3 SE, 2013 MY D4 HSE and 2016 D4 SE
Previously:
TD5 Defender 110 CSW (230k miles)
300TDi Disco 1 (289k)
4 RR Classics (300-350k each, 2 manual, 2 auto)
110 V8 CSW (220k)
S3 109 hi cap pickup (ex RN)
S2A 88 Safari SW with lpg conversion (bloody lethal)
from a position of someone with zero experience of these so happy to be told I'm wrong ...
would these pumps have a safety feature so they don't cause water tank to collapse ? thinking that if inlet is blocked, it would draw air through casing to avoid creating a vacuum.
A couple of days ago I also had zero experience - and it's just got worse since.
Pump is designed to run dry or with no input. In a caravan one would normally drain all the water at first hint of frost so pump has to cope with that situation. Unlikely to get enough pressure up to crush tank as they don't seal and it is a low pressure high volume application.
Now got pump head off motor and tried blowing into inlet. (things are getting desperate for ideas!) It does not come out of outlet but instead blows out around sides of pump head. Wish I had tried this when it was screwed to motor unit. I don't want to keep fitting it on and off as it is metal screws into plastic holes and experience has shown one gets no more than two shots before something strips.A vaccine does not stop you catching a virus, or passing it on, or getting ill from it, really ill. It does reduce the likelyhood of you dying when really, really ill. Stay Alive - KEEP AWAY FROM PEOPLE.
Try forcing air or even water into the OUTLET pipe and see if it resets a safety valve ?.
Dean
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2011 D4 XS - OBD port protection, RLD spare wheel protector, All LED interiors lights, Timed Climate enabled, iiD tool paired.
2011 D4 Landmark - Stolen from same dealer before I paid for it
2011 D4 GS - Stolen whilst at dealer ... All LED interiors lights, DRLs, Spare Wheel protector.
1996 300Tdi - Eaten by tin worms
18th Mar 2024 2:43 pm
BBDisco3
Member Since: 23 Nov 2008
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 3646
Neither air nor water will go into the outlet port - which is what I would expect.
The picture from BBDisco shows the part. Seems almost identical to the one I removed.A vaccine does not stop you catching a virus, or passing it on, or getting ill from it, really ill. It does reduce the likelyhood of you dying when really, really ill. Stay Alive - KEEP AWAY FROM PEOPLE.
18th Mar 2024 4:28 pm
BBDisco3
Member Since: 23 Nov 2008
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 3646
Did you replace the whole head as shown in the previous picture or just the 2 valves. If the head, is the grey gasket in place correctly. If the valves, did you use new seals ?
I replaced the entire head unit. I did not know one could replace seals alone. If seals can be replaced then it must be possible to open the head unit. I had assumed it was a factory sealed unit, but with the "blow" coming out I wonder if it was properly closed in manufacture.
I'll look at opening the unit but I don't see any screws or clips holding it together. Maybe it is just a push fit?A vaccine does not stop you catching a virus, or passing it on, or getting ill from it, really ill. It does reduce the likelyhood of you dying when really, really ill. Stay Alive - KEEP AWAY FROM PEOPLE.
18th Mar 2024 5:03 pm
BBDisco3
Member Since: 23 Nov 2008
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 3646
I'm reluctant to try the old one back on because the fitment is steel screws into plastic, and experience shows that one gets but two goes at replacing screws before something strips.
The old pump head had reduced flow that quickly became no flow.
I'm begining to think of carefully pressing the two halves of the new pump head together in a vice. If it is a press/clip fit and it hasn't been done fully then an air leak at the side is a probable outcome.A vaccine does not stop you catching a virus, or passing it on, or getting ill from it, really ill. It does reduce the likelyhood of you dying when really, really ill. Stay Alive - KEEP AWAY FROM PEOPLE.
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... All LED interiors lights, DRLs, Spare Wheel protector.
