FRESH WATER PUMP AERATION

[Robert & Sandy]

My Euro built 43 (#317) has developed a nasty habit of spitting air and water on all tap outlets; obviously there is an air leak somewhere on the suction side of the system.  Additionally last week, and for the first time I discovered about 6 litres of fresh water in the saloon bilge sump.

Before I begin dismantling the floor and checking the entire system has anyone had similar trouble?. The air leak occurs when drawing from both tanks and is not altered by the amount of water in the tanks.

Bilgolabands

[Gavin White]

Hi  There are a few discussions on the site that might assist you, see "Quality Control" issues and "Aft Tank Leak.  You may also want to check the seal on the third tank (spare) plug in adjacent to the pump and both live connections in this location.  I had a slow leak here once.  Don't rely on your gauges to tell if the tanks have water in them, fill them both and start from there.  Good luck. Gavin

[Robert & Sandy]

 

Thanks Gavin.

First trip to the Liberte on Saturday I will check those items. They were part of a preliminary plan I have prepared though it was good to have them confirmed by another owner,

Bob

[James Taylor]

Check the bilge under the water pump for water. The US versions are notorious for leaking at the intake and out take fittings. The water in the bilge could be coming from anywhere like the salon shower sumps that are known for leaking around seatimgs. The water tanks are also known to leak but that should be pretty easu to determine by looking in battery compartment under aft berth sette (battery). If theres water in there rear tank might be leaking but no guarantee. If there is water under the bilge under the pump and water heater you will normally just have to reseat the connections in the pump to stop the leaks.

[Robert & Sandy]

Thanks James and Gavin

This weekend I followed the advice given and it appears the culprits are the almost too clever snap fittings by both Johnson pumps and Whale.

I dismantled the lot, except for the in line Johnson filter which was locked tight, and after a serving of Vaseline and a 'well aimed wiggle' the problem seems solved.

We will see!

Bilgolabands

[Robert & Sandy]

As I finished my previous reply with "we will see" I was not too confident with the hopeful fix.

It did not work in the long term though I have now located the culprit.

The Johnson in line filter, that is an original component of the pump, accumulator tank and filter unit had at sometime been over tightened resulting in the wedge shaped clear cover developing a small crack; enough to let water out and air in.

Looks good but "we will see".

Bilgolabands

[Robert & Sandy]

Well it appears the fix has satisfactorily taken place.

Rather than replacing the Johnson filter, at an exorbitant cost a Jabsco filter with identical attachments has done the job admirably.

Bilgolabands