1996 Champion Livewell Trouble

[ks24]

Can someone please help me find my Areator motor for my 1996 Champion Bass Boat ?

[Gunnar]

It should be behind the removable rear panel in the rear battery/gas tank area. You did not mention the model, but below pic is typical for a 1996...

[Tx Champ]

Welcome to the BBC and the Champ forum, Kevin. Your Aerate (fill) pump is located in the bilge area against the step in the pad. It takes in lake wter and pumps it to the livewells. The Hydro (recirculate) pump should be on the back of the livewells. It tales water from the bottom of the livewell and runs it back through an aerator nozzle to inject air into the water stream.



The Hydro (recirc) pump can be seen in this shot.

[Tx Champ]

Little faster on the draw there Gunnar ...


Modified by Tx Champ at 7:48 AM 4/28/2009

[ks24]

Thanks to all, I just bought this boat and the live well does not work I check the switch and it'd getting power and putting power out just not coming on. So I'm guessing once I locate the areator motor that's the only thing I need to change out also I'm thinking the gas tank has to come out ??

[Tx Champ]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ks24 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">... I'm thinking the gas tank has to come out ??</TD></TR></TABLE>

yep ... So plan on also changing your bilge pump while you are down in the bilge area whether it works or not. If you don't, it will fail first time you need it. That's Bass Boat Law ...

[ks24]

I sure will do that also, does just any boat store sell these pumps ? Are is it something you have to order from Champion ?

[Lea]

Welcome to BBC and the Champion forum. You should be able to get the pumps at any marine dealer...

[Gunnar]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tx Champ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Little faster on the draw there Gunner ... </TD></TR></TABLE>

Thus the name GUNNAR -- Damn Reggie, I'm going to stop posting my pic... It's embarrassing compared to your *Clean* bilge area...

[ChampioNman]

If you have a boaters world in your area they are going out of business and their pumps are at 50% off right now. Stock up.

[ks24]

Ok Thanks I'm not sure about a Boaters World we have local boat stores and Bass Proshops here in Baton Rouge LA, I will try one of them once I get it out.

[ks24]

I really dont understand the Livewell Fill pump are the pump out ? The thing is my old boat did not have an livewell so this Livewell thing is all new to me I bought the boat it was 5 years old and everything works but the live well there is a switch under the shift open/close I know thats to open and close the livewell when I put the boat in the water nothing goes in the livewell I'm thinking the thats what this pump will do ? I guess you would say I dont know much about a livewell the bilge pump works great.

[preacher ed]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Gunnar &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Thus the name GUNNAR -- Damn Reggie, I'm going to stop posting my pic... It's embarrassing compared to your *Clean* bilge area... </TD></TR></TABLE>

I was wondering how he kept it so clean. I certainly wouldn't post a pic of mine after seeing that. That would be a pleasure to work in that clean of a bilge! Good job.

[Wind Talker]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tx Champ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

yep ... So plan on also changing your bilge pump while you are down in the bilge area whether it works or not. If you don't, it will fail first time you need it. That's Bass Boat Law ... </TD></TR></TABLE>

Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Wait just a doggone minute!

If I want to "clean" mine like Tx Champ, and change out all of my stuff in there to new, I gotta take the gas tank out of my 181??

[Tx Champ]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Gunnar &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thus the name GUNNAR </TD></TR></TABLE>

Sorry man, I fixed it ...

Yep, if you have the center mounted tank, it has to come out. But that's easier than the first time I pulled the cover off my bilge.

I also find that removing the compartment lid allows you to lie on the rear deck between the seats and work over into the bilg area a lot easier than trying to stand on a stool and work over the side of the boat.

[Wind Talker]

Tx Champ. You are not helping my day any here.

But, I did have some work done in there a while back when I had my Garmin TD put in back there plus, one of my "holes" underneath the pad had come loose and I was close to sinking, replaced that with a wire screen drain and didn't have to take the tank out. Or am I talking about something totally different??

[Tx Champ]

I guess it depends on what year model and how the bilge area is accessable. My tank doesn't come out as you see in the pix. The open area is covered by an aluminum cover that has the batteries, oil tank and charger mounted to it. Once you remove the batteries and oil tank, you can pull the cover to gain access to the bilge area.

Here's some shots of the compartment with everything in it.








And a shot of the bilge cover.



Some of the earlier boats had the crossover portion of the tank where my batteries are. Mine crosses over under the splash well. as you can see, once everything is in there, ain't much room left over ...

[Wind Talker]

Cool!! Cause thats exactly how mine is set-up and to the letter!! Whew!!
Thanks Tx Champ!!

[ChampioNman]

My 89 is 180* out from Reggie's.

[Gunnar]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Wind Talker &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Cool!! Cause thats exactly how mine is set-up and to the letter!! Whew!! Thanks Tx Champ!! </TD></TR></TABLE>

My set up is just like Reggie's (although not as clean ) -- Once you pull the batteries and oil tank you can get to all of the pumps -- no need to pull the tank Note that if you remove the oil tank cap, you may get air in the line and will need to bleed it out from the small engine mounted tank or the low oil warning horn will come on -- Ask me how I know that Anyway, here's what mine looks like all put back together -- including the LED lights so you can see whats going on back there in the pre-dawn light...