Hi Cruisers, any guidance that could be provided on this issue would be very appreciated. My Spectra 150T system is behaving as follows:
Hour 1
LPH starts at 27 and gradually comes down to 20
Feed Pressure 4.1
Hour 2
LPH starts around 20 and comes down to around 15. Show some instability in that the figure jumps around periodically.
Feed Pressure jumping about slowly from 4.1 to 4.6
Hour 3
LPH starts around 15 and comes down to around 12. Shows more instability in that it will jump from one to the other regularly.
Feed Pressure jumping from 4.1 to 4.6 more frequently
MPC5000 reports prefilter
alarm - despite prefilter being clean. Restarting the system later will make this
alarm go away until about the third hour again.
I have noted that at hour 3 the analogue pressure gauge shows what looks to be the clark
pump shifting asymmetrically. On one stroke the pressure is 50PSI and rises to 60PSI before shifting. On the other stroke the pressure remains at 50PSI and there is a small spike as the
pump shifts.
I am unable to identify any unusual noises from within the pump on either shift (can this
rule out the annular rings?).
I have opened the test port and there is what appears to be more than 2 drips an hour but nothing substantial coming out (can this
rule out the piston
seals?)
Battery voltage remains good (12.8+) throughout tests.
I am at a bit of a loss as to where too next. In
Australia I can have this pump rebuilt at considerable cost >$1500 AUD. Or do I pull it down and see what I can find - perhaps one of the pistons or cylinders is obviously shot?
The MPC reports the unit has >3000 hours. Not sure if this counts when it has been left doing fresh
water flushes, or that is 3000 hard hours making
water?
I am currently trying to avoid running the unit and making for a marina where I can pull it down or ship it back to the Spectra distributor in
Australia.
Unit is circa 2006.
Cheers!