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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: stevieg on January 11, 2010, 04:46:26 pm

Title: pump,running but not pumping/help?
Post by: stevieg on January 11, 2010, 04:46:26 pm
As title states i have a shurflo pump which is running but not pumping.
I have taken it apart and everything seems ok,(when i switch it on the central spindle spins)
There are no blockages as i use a filter and all pipes before and after are clear.
I think i have covered everything so any ideas?
Title: Re: pump,running but not pumping/help?
Post by: paulben on January 11, 2010, 04:56:40 pm
have you checked for ice or an air lock
Title: Re: pump,running but not pumping/help?
Post by: lee_dewing on January 11, 2010, 04:59:43 pm
yep,
Airlock would be my guess.

Is it on van mount system,trolley or back-up.

I'm no expert but others on here are.
Title: Re: pump,running but not pumping/help?
Post by: lee_dewing on January 11, 2010, 05:01:34 pm
sorry back-pack.

on re-reading sound like van mount
Title: Re: pump,running but not pumping/help?
Post by: JSMC on January 11, 2010, 05:12:00 pm
can ye buy servic ekits for shurflo pumps?
Title: Re: pump,running but not pumping/help?
Post by: s.hughes on January 11, 2010, 05:42:55 pm
I had that, it was an airlock
Title: Re: pump,running but not pumping/help?
Post by: cottonbud10 on January 11, 2010, 06:42:28 pm
if i got the right thread ,the same thing was happening to me ,,in the end a friend said it could be the battery,,, he put a {new } one on and everything has been fine
Title: Re: pump,running but not pumping/help?
Post by: russ_clark on January 11, 2010, 07:27:33 pm
Steve
Have you made sure there is water to the inlet.
You have to prime the pump
i.e. feed water to inlet you will then hear
the pumps tone change when its primed
It will then draw water from your hose.
Does that make sense ???
Does to me ;D
Title: Re: pump,running but not pumping/help?
Post by: dai on January 11, 2010, 07:32:05 pm
I had the same problem with my back pack today. I got the big trolley out to do the job, later this afternoon I tried it again and it worked fine.
there must have been a bit of ice blocking something.
Title: Re: pump,running but not pumping/help?
Post by: ccmids on January 11, 2010, 07:54:04 pm
air lock
Title: Re: pump,running but not pumping/help?
Post by: noelg22 on January 11, 2010, 08:01:21 pm
Make sure the strainer is clean, as I had the same problem and after checking everything I realised that one evening I had ran the water through my DI vessel the wrong way, flushing resin into the tank, it was only after checking everyting I realised that the strainer needed cleaning out as it was blocked with resin and the pump had not been pumping any water.
Title: Re: pump,running but not pumping/help?
Post by: stevieg on January 11, 2010, 08:54:20 pm
Thanks for all of the replies.
There is no ice as it had been working ok in the morning,(the temperature is fine where we are)
i took it apart when i got home to check if any residue was in the works ,but as i use a strainer there wasnt any.I tried priming the pump as i have done in the past by sucking water up the hoses,again to no effect!!! My varistream gives a read out of the battery condition and is reading over 12 volts.I also have 2 seperate systems so tried the other battery and still no good .As you can see i have tried just about everything but am at a loss .The other thing to note is that when i took it apart the spindle that drives everything was whirring away nicely!!!    Any other ideas appreciated.Ps the strainer is also spotless!!1
Title: Re: pump,running but not pumping/help?
Post by: rg1 on January 11, 2010, 09:13:59 pm
Thanks for all of the replies.
There is no ice as it had been working ok in the morning,(the temperature is fine where we are)
i took it apart when i got home to check if any residue was in the works ,but as i use a strainer there wasnt any.I tried priming the pump as i have done in the past by sucking water up the hoses,again to no effect!!! My varistream gives a read out of the battery condition and is reading over 12 volts.I also have 2 seperate systems so tried the other battery and still no good .As you can see i have tried just about everything but am at a loss .The other thing to note is that when i took it apart the spindle that drives everything was whirring away nicely!!!    Any other ideas appreciated.Ps the strainer is also spotless!!1

The Diaphragm maybe leaking.
Title: Re: pump,running but not pumping/help?
Post by: stevieg on January 11, 2010, 09:19:59 pm
Rg1 could you elaborate?? Have you had that problem and if so how did you fix it??
Title: Re: pump,running but not pumping/help?
Post by: rg1 on January 11, 2010, 09:27:26 pm
Rg1 could you elaborate?? Have you had that problem and if so how did you fix it??

It acts like a suction cap inside the cylinder allowing the pump to draw water, so if its leaking then the pump will be sucking air as well as water.

The only fix is a replacement..

 http://www.purefreedom.co.uk/store_pumpspares.html
Title: Re: pump,running but not pumping/help?
Post by: easycleaner on January 11, 2010, 09:30:08 pm
Hi, all of the above could stop the pump working, also if you get a little dirt in the valve it will run but not pump.
Mart.
Title: Re: pump,running but not pumping/help?
Post by: s.hughes on January 11, 2010, 10:19:57 pm
Have you tried switching the controller on & off quite a few times?
Title: Re: pump,running but not pumping/help?
Post by: Ian_Giles on January 12, 2010, 12:00:18 am
Bypass your electronic flow controllers, have everything wide open to maximum flow, use a short length of hose on the output side of your pump and try again...

Also easier to suck the water through the pump that way.

If it still doesn't work then the diaphram is knackered and it's time to replace your pump!
I've had various types of flow problems with my pump over the years, but have never failed to get it working.

Ian
Title: Re: pump,running but not pumping/help?
Post by: stevieg on January 12, 2010, 05:52:52 pm
Success!!! In the end the problem was a lack of suction caused by a hoselock fitting that was on the inlet side. I have had it set up so that i can easily disconnect the pump without taking  the fixed barb hoses off if i need to(i have been doing this during the freeze)Obviously in doing this i have disturbed things and thus the problem. I now have a continuous length of hose from the tank to the pump and all is now well,so i will leave things as they are.
Thanks to all.