Frank Langer
1984 Ericson 30+, Nanaimo, BC
Hi,
My Jabsco bilge pump sounded very sluggish and then stopped working. Not being familiar with the pump, nor very handy, I took it apart carefully, starting at the top. I found the two copper brushes held in place by springs (very annoying to get them back in place later!), then the main wiring/armature, I think, and at the bottom, accessible via four screws, the impeller. Everything looked slightly corroded, so I cleaned it all up and put it together again, attaching the hoses in the same way as before. Also, the 15 amp fuse had blown, so I replaced it.
The pump works nicely now, except that it blows bubbles rather than suck the water. I'm not sure why it's doing this as the hoses are attached in the same manner as before, and I think I put the pump together in the same way as before--there only seemed to be one way.
I am guessing that for some reason the motor is turning the opposite way from before, so the impeller pulls air from outside and blows it into the bilge creating bubbles.
How do I correct this? I am considering cutting out the splices on the wires going into the pump and reversing them in the hopes that the motor will turn the opposite/correct way, but I don't know if this will solve it. I would appreciate any explanation for why this has happened and any advice on how to fix it.
Thanks,
Frank
My Jabsco bilge pump sounded very sluggish and then stopped working. Not being familiar with the pump, nor very handy, I took it apart carefully, starting at the top. I found the two copper brushes held in place by springs (very annoying to get them back in place later!), then the main wiring/armature, I think, and at the bottom, accessible via four screws, the impeller. Everything looked slightly corroded, so I cleaned it all up and put it together again, attaching the hoses in the same way as before. Also, the 15 amp fuse had blown, so I replaced it.
The pump works nicely now, except that it blows bubbles rather than suck the water. I'm not sure why it's doing this as the hoses are attached in the same manner as before, and I think I put the pump together in the same way as before--there only seemed to be one way.
I am guessing that for some reason the motor is turning the opposite way from before, so the impeller pulls air from outside and blows it into the bilge creating bubbles.
How do I correct this? I am considering cutting out the splices on the wires going into the pump and reversing them in the hopes that the motor will turn the opposite/correct way, but I don't know if this will solve it. I would appreciate any explanation for why this has happened and any advice on how to fix it.
Thanks,
Frank