After hauling my my boat from the water, I noticed an unusual amount of water I the bilge. How can I check if the automatic bilge pump is working on dry land? Is it OK to fill the bilge with water and see if it works? If it is not working, what can be the fault? Thanks!
Bilge pump
- Thread starter cappucho
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lot depends on the style of pump you have. If you have a pump that is driven by a float arm you can just lift the float to see if the pump is working. If it does not work then it could be the pump, the float or the wiring. If you pump does not have a float switch you could add water and check to see if the pump does not work with water added can just pull the sterm plug and drain the water and then check the pump wiring and finally the pump itself. Pretty easy replacement if you can easily get at it.
Lt.Mike
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After you've checked the float switch for operation, check to see if the pump operates from the panel. If it won't kick on at all check and clean the ground connection. If it operates from the panel but not by he float, check and clean the connection from the float to the battery.
Corrosion in wiring connections cause 99% of these issues and cost next to nothing beyond labor to repair. If corrosion is the culprit you ma find that it has crept under the wires jacket turning the wire black. Cutting it back until you find clean wire will be required and splicing in new wire is the cure.
Good luck with it.
Mike.
Corrosion in wiring connections cause 99% of these issues and cost next to nothing beyond labor to repair. If corrosion is the culprit you ma find that it has crept under the wires jacket turning the wire black. Cutting it back until you find clean wire will be required and splicing in new wire is the cure.
Good luck with it.
Mike.