I tried to winterize my Marine Air unit today and couldn't get the pump to pump in the anti freeze. I ran the unit first and it pimped fine. I shut off the intake eater valve, took off the pump intake hose and used a funnel to pour in the znyi freeze. The pump would not pump it through the unit. Then I out the hose back on the pump, opp opened the water galvr and now it won't pump in lake water. Very frustrated. It must be lack of otome. Suggestions?
lose suction on Marine Air March pump
- Thread starter PatSea
- Start date
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2002
- RO Number
- 9099
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- 1,089
Use a shop vac to pull the antifreeze thru the unit.
There is nothing wrong with your pump. They aren't self priming, so they won't pump antifreeze the way you tried to do it. Now the pump has lost it's prime and won't pump seawater. The easiest way to do this is to re-connect everything, go to the side hull discharge, make sure the seacock is open, and pump antifreeze thru backward. You're done when you see antifreeze come out the bottom of the hull thru the water pick up. You might have to re-prime your pump in the spring to get it working again. This method is easiest because you don't run the pump or disconnect anything.
I found the cause of the problem. A small piece of the magnet in the pump assembly had broken off, jamming the pump. I removed the broken piece, reassembled the pump and it pumped fine,although with a little vibration. Got the system winterized. Will I need a whole new pump, or can I buy the magnet only?
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2003
- RO Number
- 12212
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Are you sure it s a piece of magnet? I ve seen the hard plastic impeller loose a piece but never th magnet,
In any case you order just the impeller / magnet assembly, not even the whole pump assembly, there is also a small plastic shaft and a plastic washer in there.
At least on the 1000gph version
In any case you order just the impeller / magnet assembly, not even the whole pump assembly, there is also a small plastic shaft and a plastic washer in there.
At least on the 1000gph version
Pascal, yes no doubt its a piece of the magnet broken off. The shaft, washer, and impellor are all OK. Where can I order the magnet/impellor assembly?
Its very strange that the pump was working properly moments before I took the hose off to pour in the anti freeze.
Its very strange that the pump was working properly moments before I took the hose off to pour in the anti freeze.
FWIW - When winterizing these A/C pumps I just open the intake hose to pump and vacuum out all the water from each discharge through hull (3 in my case) while plugging the other two till you only get air. Then just leave the drain plug out at the base of the A/C pump and yo are set for the winter. Works well these past 20+ years here in NY.
Hope this helps
Hope this helps
I Don't doubt that removing the water from the lines through vacuuming or blowing out the water works fine. I just feel better knowing that the lines are full of pink pop. It takes all of 10 minutes and 1/2 Fallon of anti freeze.
Capt. Bill1
Active member
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
- RO Number
- 2017
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- 6,127
Google Depco Pump. You order the entire wet end assembly.
"I Don't doubt that removing the water from the lines through vacuuming or blowing out the water works fine. I just feel better knowing that the lines are full of pink pop. It takes all of 10 minutes and 1/2 Fallon of anti freeze."
You should always do what makes you sleep well at night. But for kicks take the half gallon container of pink stuff and leave it nearby and handy outside and check it on the coldest morning or your winter. You will likely be surprised as to how little it resembles a fluid - try and make sure no other water was left in the system to dilute the pick stuff. Not easily done on a multi unit manifold but can still be small problems with a single pump and line.
Hope this helps
You should always do what makes you sleep well at night. But for kicks take the half gallon container of pink stuff and leave it nearby and handy outside and check it on the coldest morning or your winter. You will likely be surprised as to how little it resembles a fluid - try and make sure no other water was left in the system to dilute the pick stuff. Not easily done on a multi unit manifold but can still be small problems with a single pump and line.
Hope this helps
I've looked at a gallon if the pink anti freeze left out in the bitter cold winter, and yes its far from a liquid. I'm not a chemist but my understanding is that it doesn't change to the solid state and expand until it reaches -50.
At any rate most of the boats around my area (lake Erie) use the -50 pink anti freeze with no problems of burst plumbing.
At any rate most of the boats around my area (lake Erie) use the -50 pink anti freeze with no problems of burst plumbing.
I think the easiest way to winterize the AC is to do it in the water just before you come out. That way it's already primed, just close the seacock and pour pink into the strainer until it comes out the thru hull. It's harmless and avoid the priming issue.