Whale pump Woo's

[SplendiferousII]

I recently purchased a secondhand inline whale pump off ebay. It turned up as described in good nick. I fitted it in place of the existing (burnt out) pump and turned it on via the microswitched tap. It spins and makes all the right noises but no water comes out of the tap. I changes polarity (swapped the wires over) and have even changed the direction of the pump in the pipe line still nothing.

Thinking it must be a priming issue, I sucked on the tap whilst the pump was spinning, I can get some water through but it wont work on its own.

Any idea's? am I missing a non return valve or something? The tank is an under van unit.

This is an only school whale pump not a pressure switch pump.

[1664]

It's probably that the plastic spindle attached to the pump motor that 'pushes' the water has detached. The motor will run and the rotor will spin but because the spindle has come adrift it doesn't move. Happens to washing machines etc. Doubt the seller knew either unless he immersed it in water. Nowt you can really do about it either I'm afraid

[High Peaker]

If the pump turns out to be all right, it may be a priming issue.
You can buy a small in-line non-return valve from caravan shops, which you fit in the pipe as close to the water source as possible (i.e. the end that goes in the tank), to stop the pipe emptying back into the tank. Once it is primed (pipe filled with water), it should self-start each time.

[SplendiferousII]

I stripped the pump this afternoon and its a centrifugal pump not a displacment pump as per the one I removed. Very simple design but it is not designed to pull from the tank.

Anyone want a pump of this type then please shout. It is a Whale GP7501.