Hey Tellie, you around? Low pressure pump leak

[MV Wanderlust]

Morning all, especially Tellie or Rich Boren.

New-to-us boat, first watermaker. Went to flush it today and discovered a steady stream coming from what appears to be the pump side of the low pressure pump. After the flush cycle stopped, the stream dwindled down to a slow drip and I closed the seacock.

This is the manufacturer's plate on the pump:


A shot of the steady leak. In the photo, it's the white, snot-looking blur coming off the white plastic case (impeller housing?).


This is hard to describe and not a great photo. There was kind of a foaming, gurgle thing on the top of the white plastic housing, which might be where the leak was originating. This stopped as soon as the flush cycle ended.


Is the pump shot? Is this just a matter of pulling out the pump and rebuilding it with a gasket set? Advice or recommendations appreciated.

Thanks.

John

[Stu Jackson]

I'm not Tellie or Rich, but there are definite rust stains on the low bolt on that housing. I am sure you must have noticed it, too.

[MV Wanderlust]

I called the company headquarters and texted the photos to a guy there. He said it’s a March TE5C pump and there is no rebuild kit for it but March sells a replacement pump head. It’ll be here tomorrow.

[RaymondR]

Thats not a very kosher arrangement on the suction side of the pump. There's a square root relationship between diameter and area, you double the diameter and get four times the area or treble it and get nine times the area. What you have there looks like the pump would starve if worked it it's rated volume?

[Snore]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

Thats not a very kosher arrangement on the suction side of the pump. There's a square root relationship between diameter and area, you double the diameter and get four times the area or treble it and get nine times the area. What you have there looks like the pump would starve if worked it it's rated volume?

Good catch! @captjohneasley the total surface area of the intake lines must be equal to or greater than the intake fitting. There is a reducing bushing at the pump into which to tee is connected. If that is 3/4”, then (3/4 / 2) X 3.14(squared) must be greater than the radius (1/2 diameter) Times pie squared.

If the total volume of water supplied is less than the intake, then as Raymond estutely noted, you will starve the pump and have issues.