Johnson bilge pump runs continuously rt31s 2017

[MechGuy]

I noticed something that sounded like a small electrical motor running in my engine compartment and realized it was the aft bilge pump. There was no water in the bilge so I found this strange. I found that I could shut it off by flipping the dc breaker on then back off. I threw some water in the aft bilge to check its operation after I was able to get it shut off and the bilge pump pumped it out and shut off like it should. Went down to the boat today and the pump is running again for no apparent reason. I pulled the cartridge out and checked for debris but it didn’t look too bad. I cleaned around the float sensor which was a bit dirty and pumped the bilge dry. We’ll see if anything I did helps. Anyone experience this issue with their Johnson pump?

My inboard shaft packing is dripping more than it should, a couple drips a minute while not running, so most likely it runs the pump when I’m gone from the boat from time to time. Apparently it doesn’t shut off sometimes.

 

[Red Raven]

Yes, if the Johnson pump electronic sensor gets dirty or greasy if can cause it to run with no water in the bilge. Cleaning the sensor has always worked for me. You can slide the sensor straight up out of its bracket to clean it easier.

Curt

 

[MechGuy]

Yes, if the Johnson pump electronic sensor gets dirty or greasy if can cause it to run with no water in the bilge. Cleaning the sensor has always worked for me. You can slide the sensor straight up out of its bracket to clean it easier.

Curt

Okay thanks for the tip on getting the sensor out. I was wondering how to remove it.

 

[Thollis2]

I agree with Curt’s advice to clean the sensor area of the switch. My R25SC leaks a little engine coolant due to bad hose clamps. And that coolant liquid in the bilge will occasionally muck up that sensor and cause the pump to run. It’s more of an occasional irritant now than a repair problem that I have to take care of. But I know I have to replace those hose clamps and stop the coolant leak eventually.

 

[MechGuy]

I was able to slide the switch up and out and it was very mucky at the bottom. I cleaned it up and so far it it's working normally. Thanks for all the help.