The main (lower) bilge pump on my R-27 apparently has died. The fuse is blown, and a new fuse also blows immediately. I'm prepared to replace the pump (looks tough to reach, but that is not unusual for a Ranger model), but I'd like to discover the cause of the failure. I have noticed from time to time that the pump appears to air lock. That is my guess diagnosis because the pump turns on properly but does not actually pump any water. Forcing some water flow, either by running a hose into the bilge or by pumping out the bilge with a manual pump often restores operation. It also seems to me that the pump works more reliably when underway than when sitting at the dock. Could engine vibrations break up the air lock? In any case, I wonder if the failure sequence was: the pump turned on at the dock, did not pump water, and ran until it burned out.
Has anyone else experienced this behavior? Any other diagnoses of the problem? Any thoughts on whether a burned out pump would turn into a short circuit that blew the fuses?
Thanks for counsel,
John H
Has anyone else experienced this behavior? Any other diagnoses of the problem? Any thoughts on whether a burned out pump would turn into a short circuit that blew the fuses?
Thanks for counsel,
John H