AERATOR PUMP HELP

[crankdawata]

Hey guys,

I need help troubleshooting an issue with my aerator livewell pump. I recently purchased a new 500 GPH Attwood aerator pump for my 17FT Alumacraft MV. The old one burned up. I installed the aerator correctly as shown in the diagram. Its connected to the push/pull rod system that open and closes the valve to the aerator pump. I can not for the life of me get water to flow into the livewell through the spray head in the live well I turn on the live well switch and can hear the aerator running, but no water coming into the live well. I heard about airlocks...so I filled my live well up with water on the lake with a bucket, then turned on the aerator...nothing...what could be the issue?

[AmesHusker]

Could you please describe your pump/hose setup a little more? You say you have a valve on the same hose your aerator pump is on? Exactly where is this pump located, and where does the hose enter the livewell?

Thanks

[crankdawata]

AmesHusker,

Yeah there is a valve box type unit that is attached by the (Attwood) hose connector on the bottom of the pump. The live well controller push/pull controller rod is attached to it. A hose runs from the transom mount to the live well controller unit (valve box unit) attached to the bottom of the pump. The hose runs into it and out the other side to the livewell (Im guessing). Another hose runs out the side of the Attwood pump to the livewell. The pump is located on the back center, about 6 inches left of the drainage plug inside. The thru-hull connector sits like 3-4inches next to the drainage plug. I hope this helps explain it better...let me know if you need more detail. I cant figure if its a airlock, a kink in the hose line or the pump itself?? Look forward to hearing back from you

[AmesHusker]

Thanks Jon. I just thought it was strange to have a valve on aerator hose - made me think it may actually be a drain hose for the livewell. But, from your description, it does indeed sound like an aerator/fill hose and pump setup.

So lets check some basics....Make sure that valve is opening up to let water through it, and that it is not clogged. Make sure none of the hoses are clogged up. Then make sure the hose going from the pump to the livewell is going "uphill" all the way. Airlock will occur if the hose has a dip in, sort of like the pea-trap under your kitchen sink. The hose should go from the aerator pump to the TOP of the livewell where it will connect to the spray head.

Let me know if that all looks good and we'll go from there.

[bass57348]

If you have Flow - Rite valves, look here
http://www.flow-rite.com/marin...enu=1

It will explain the different valves and how to plumb them..

[crankdawata]

Ameshusker,

I looked over valve seems to be working fine. Checked the hoses...no clog. I did find a T in the hose line that runs to a front of the boat livewell. The hose was arched down to the T...then from the T a hose goes to the live well. The hose runs up hill until it gets to the T then arches down to meet the T in the hose line. I decided to remove the hose line from the T (which cuts off the hose line to the front livewell...which I wont use anyway) and ran the hose line straight from the pump to livewell. Hopefully that will do it. Whats your thoughts?

[AmesHusker]

If the problem was airlock, that should fix it. That little dip in the hose might just have been the problem. If it is, but you still want to use the front livewell, you'll have 2 choices:

1. Install a 2nd aerator pump and hose that is dedicated to the front livewell only (this may require another hole through the transom, which I would be scared to do, but maybe you're not.)

2. Keep that 'T' in the line, but find a way to route the hoses so they do not go below horizontal.

Let us know what happens!

[crankdawata]

Ameshusker,

Thanks for your help...Im taking the boat out today to test the aerator pump. Hopefully the problem is fixed. I'll let you know.

[crankdawata]

Ameshusker,

Took the boat out last night to a local lake to test the aerator pump...unfortunatly its still a no go Im back to square one... The hose from the pump is straight to the live well and it still doesnt shoot water??!!? Whats your thoughts? Im going to take out the pump and open and close box unit and see if the connections are clogged or the hoses are leaking??!!

ps.. On a good note...I did catch just nice bass after giving up on working on the livewell.

[dfishin]

Did you put a hose up to the pick up on the transom to make sure water gets to the pump. The pump should be below the the water line and have no reason not to get water to it. The pump will pump the water up over and down. Motor pumping in right direction? I know you probably checked these things, but like you said back to square one.

[WOTman]

If it is wired backwards, it will run backwards.

[TheMAYOR]

10-4 on what WOTman said. Might be wired backwards.

[unclemark]

+1 on what they said.

[csurp]

brown wire to positive on most of them I think