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Ray Jones · 04-03-2017, 08:00

Hi, I have a Bavaria 33 2014 fitted with a Jabsco 2.9 and all has been running smoothly. Until recently, when I turn off the tap the pump starts and stops intermittently unless I isolate at the panel. I have searched for and cannot find any leaks in the system.
I have searched previous threads but cannot find anything related to my problem
Any ideas?
Many thanks for reading.

delmag · 04-03-2017, 08:04

sounds like the pressure switch on the pump is no longer working.

Ray Jones · 04-03-2017, 08:07

Thanks for that. Can I assume that they are easy to replace?

PDScott · 04-03-2017, 08:15

If you ran the tank dry before filling there may be an air bubble in the system. Try bleeding the line at the pump. I get this sometimes at my whole house carbon filter. Fortunately it has a bleed valve. Good luck

**nigel1** · 04-03-2017, 08:19

Is it this pump
https://www.jabscoshop.com/marine/pu...olled-pump.htm

Another likely cause is the internal valves are no longer sealing.

**TrentePieds** · 05-03-2017, 08:19

Very simple. This pump is a diaphragm pump. The little flaps on the diaphragm are no longer sealing completely because there is a tiny spec of dirt on one of them, or they are simply worn out. Water leaks back into the supply side of the pump thereby reducing pressure in the delivery side of the pump, and the built-in pressure-sentitive switch will start the pump. That raises the pressure on the delivery side where the switch is, and the pump turns off again. An so on ad infinitum, ad infinitum, ad...

Just strip it down and clean/replace the diaphragm. Every sailor relying on electric conveniences of every kind needs to learn to do these sorts of maintenance jobs - and have spares on hand - because these sorts of devices meant for the "hobby" market are intrinsically unreliable.

TrentePieds

SaltyMetals · 05-03-2017, 08:21

Ray, if you have already been running the taps i would have guessed that any airlock would already have been expelled but try running a bit more.

If that does not fix it it sounds to me that your pressure accumulating cylinder no longer has any air in it. there is an upper bladder in the chamber which must have air in it and this is what gets compressed when the pump runs so that it will have accumulated some pressure for the next few uses of the tap. If there is no air in it (or the bladder is broken) the pump will cycle on/off because it cannot accumulate any pressure. Solution is to get out a bicycle pump and you will find a valve on the top of the cylinder. Pump it many times and then try your taps again. Let us know if this fixes it.

I do not think it is the low pressure cut-off in the pump since the pump does cut out. Saves you having to strip and dismantle the pump.

AJ_n_Audrey · 05-03-2017, 08:45

Just had this problem. I have transparent hoses and could see the air bubbles. The culprit in my case was that when the new accumulator was installed, one of the hoses was fitted over a threaded port without putting teflon tape on the threads. Do you have transparent hoses so you could see the air bubbles if the system was sucking air through a pinhole? When I had this issue, there was no leak, but the system would suck air in through the threads, and the water pump would run and run, but there very little to no pressure.

Qayaq · 05-03-2017, 09:04

Hi Ray.
Pretty sure that Baveria run a drain pipe from the hot water cylinder pressure relief valve back to the supply line that feeds the water pump. If the relief valve starts leaking it makes it look like the pump is faulty as there are no visible leaks. Cycling the relief valve a few times often cures it as it may have a bit Calc holding the seat open. Probably has a little red knob, just turn it round a few times.
Simon

RolfP · 05-03-2017, 10:29

In addition to the electric pump I have a hand pump also on my fresh water, it often takes a few pumps with that to clear the line and get the electric pump to stop cycling.

rms95835 · 05-03-2017, 12:43

I had the same issue. Turned out to be a compressed o-ring on the small filter that is on the inlet to the pump. As it is on the suction side of the pump, there is no water leak, but because air was getting in past the seal, the pump would not create enough pressure to shut off automatically. Try a piece of electrical tape around the edge of the clear plastic cover on this filter to seal it up and see if it solves the problem. I have not been able to find a source for replacement o-rings, which is beyond frustrating, but instead bought a replacement filter and used the o-ring from the kit.........problem solved.

HopCar · 05-03-2017, 13:49

When you have a pump that cycles on and off, and can't find any leaks, it's almost always bad or dirty valves. They allow water to leak back from the pressure side to the supply side. Open the pump and check the valves. Clean or replace as needed.

Dave22q · 05-03-2017, 16:46

I have a related problem; pump cycles for 10-30nsec , cuts off and repeats 15 min later. Pretty obvious it is a leak. Being a tad lazy, I have adapted by shutting off the pump when not using water in the galley. My plan is create a hose block by placing an clamping a block in a short piece of water line. Then I will do a systematic search for the leak starting with closing off the pump outflow, next all hot water, etc. PITA but I'm not smart enough to think of an easier way. Brilliant ideas most welcome.

Elie · 05-03-2017, 17:37

In general, this problem points to a leak somewhere in in your water system. I had this trouble before and after much searching id discovered that my deck shower fawcet was leaking just a bit.. Easy to fix...