Return to the home page...

Go Back   Moyer Marine Atomic 4 Community - Home of the Afourians > Discussion Topics > Cooling System

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1   IP: 174.193.5.41
Old 05-22-2019, 01:00 PM
edwardc's Avatar
edwardc edwardc is offline
Afourian MVP
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Laurel, MD
Posts: 2,509
Thanks: 153
Thanked 595 Times in 388 Posts
Premature Pump Failure?

Last December, near the start of our trip down the ICW, I noticed the weep hole on the coolant flange pump was showing some moisture. Not wanting to rebuild it onboard, I ordered a whole new pump and installed it after Christmas.

Fast forward to May. After our recent HX failure, I've been keeping an eagle eye on the temperature. When I noticed it starting to creep up from its usual rock-steady 180, I started checking. I found the coolant level was down by over half a gallon!! A quick check turned up the culprit. The 5-month old flange pump was leaking from the weep hole at a rate of 2 drops per second!! I nursed the system to our next anchorage, adding another half gallon of coolant over the next four hours.

Once anchored, I got to work. I got out the old pump. I didn't have a flange pump rebuild kit onboard ( why would I need one with a new pump?), so I filched the seals from a pedestal pump rebuild kit and got the old pump working.

But why did the new pump fail so soon? I have it intact for a post-mortem when I get back, but I'm at a loss. At less than 5 months and about 300 hrs on it, it shouldn't have failed at all, let alone as abruptly as it did.
__________________
@(^.^)@ Ed
1977 Pearson P-323 "Dolce Vita"
with rebuilt Atomic-4

Reply With Quote
  #2   IP: 138.207.175.58
Old 05-22-2019, 02:11 PM
Administrator's Avatar
Administrator Administrator is offline
MMI Webmaster
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Chestertown, MD (Langford Creek)
Posts: 2,198
Thanks: 1,335
Thanked 365 Times in 182 Posts
Give Don a call, Ed. I think he would probably like to see it.

If the pump is still within the warranty coverage, don't hesitate to mention it.

Bill
Reply With Quote
  #3   IP: 174.194.130.114
Old 05-22-2019, 09:02 PM
edwardc's Avatar
edwardc edwardc is offline
Afourian MVP
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Laurel, MD
Posts: 2,509
Thanks: 153
Thanked 595 Times in 388 Posts
Thanks Bill. I've gotten in touch with Don, and am going to send him the pump for analysis.

I'm wondering if there isn't some sort of reaction between the rubber in the seals and the type of antifreeze used. I'm not using anything exotic. Just prestone automotive, mixed 50/50.
__________________
@(^.^)@ Ed
1977 Pearson P-323 "Dolce Vita"
with rebuilt Atomic-4

Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Fuel pump failure suspected. barrett bonden Fuel System 1 06-22-2011 09:00 PM
How much fuel should a fuel pump pump if a fuel pump does pump fuel? Baltimore Sailor Fuel System 6 12-02-2009 09:22 PM
Facet fuel pump notes rigspelt Fuel System 3 01-03-2009 01:31 PM
Raw Water pump failure in FWC system Tom Witzel Cooling System 0 07-25-2006 11:21 AM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:58 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.


Universal® is a registered trademark of Westerbeke Corporation

Copyright © 2004-2024 Moyer Marine Inc.

All Rights Reserved