water pump pulsates

Y

yorangerjim

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 29, 2018
Messages
114
Fluid Motion Model
C-28
Hull Identification Number
FMLT2736J819
Non-Fluid Motion Model
Ranger 27 northwest edition
Vessel Name
R & R
Good Day.
I just filled my water tank 1st time got all of the air out and checked all the fixtures works fine however after using it off and on all day the pump started pulsates I checked my water level 1/2 full any Ideas
Thanks Jim
 
yes it was a steady stream you could hear the pump going no big deal now it goes on then almost off the repeats it.

Jim
 
Hmmmm, strange.... every RT boat I've owned had a fresh water pump that pulsed and could at times be very noisy if the PEX pipes vibrated against bulkhead and/or against the hot/cold lines.
 
Installing a accumulator tank will eliminate that issue.
This is a Shurflo Pre-Pressurized Accumulator. Just one of many.
https://cdn10.bigcommerce.com/s-6rtev5o ... 80.jpg?c=2

Installing a Whole house water filter will also reduce the water pump pulsations. It is not as effective as the Accumulator but does help and filters the water from the tank also. We have a Dupont whole house installed in our boat. We use our tank water for drinking.
Picture of whole house installed.




 
The pump operates on a pressure switch. If backpressure is low it will run continuously. If any restriction causes pressure to rise high enough it will switch off then back on as the pressure bleeds off. If it was running continuously before and the pulsation just started then something changed in the system. This same thing happens on our boat when the screens on the faucets get dirty. You might check them.

Simply pinching back on a faucet when the system is clean will cause the same behavior(i.e.make the pump pulse on/off).
 
A Dupont whole house filter solved the problem for us. When we started to notice a "water hammer" again, we checked the filter and put in a new cartridge. It should be done every 6 months. We bought a calendar.
 
I switched out the factory-installed fresh water pump for the Johnson 5 gpm variable flow pump. It eliminated the annoying pulsation noise, and is economical for space... simply switched out one pump for another. There is still some pump noise which I suspect is unavoidable but is still a great improvement. The idea of adding a water filter to the system is intriguing from not only filtering your water but also (possibly) reducing noise.

Bob & Kim
The Doghouse 2
 
yogolferjim":1fhbv3lv said:
Good Day.
I just filled my water tank 1st time got all of the air out and checked all the fixtures works fine however after using it off and on all day the pump started pulsates I checked my water level 1/2 full any Ideas
Thanks Jim
Click to expand...

Is your boat new? Many times there are shavings and small debris that will restrict flow through the various screens in the water system for over a year. Check the main screen at the pump then the various screens at the faucets. Does it happen only while using one faucet? If so, then that may be the one with the clogged screens. I am not sure if they still use it, but the galley sing has/had a small inline check valve where the faucet head line connects to the faucet body. Remove that check valve.
 
On our R27, we installed a small accumulator along side the hot water heater. It totally stopped the pulsation. The hardest thing on the life of an electrical motor and switches is the turn-on and turn-off currents and associated voltage spikes. With the accumulator, the pump runs for a few seconds recharging the accumulator and providing flow to a faucet before cycling off for a few seconds. Without the accumulator, the pump motor is cycling on and off several times per second. As delivered, when the galley faucet was on the spray setting, some of the water would land outside the sink. With the accumulator and with a head sink sprayer (which is shorter and aims straight down) in the galley, all the water goes into the center of the sink. You can get a head-type sprayer from Richard in Parts and it is inexpensive.

Barry Thompson
 
Thanks everyone for the info

Jim 😀
 
You may want to check the filter screen on the inlet side of the pump. I have had the same problem and have now cleaned plastic debris from this screen 3 times this past year. It appears that the tank supplier never cleaned the tank of shavings when the tank was drilled for hose connections. It has been a major headache. If you pm me your e mail I can send your photos of what it might be. (don't know how to attach photos here)

Al
Ranger 25SC
True Blue
 
Aadudley":3q93pxvq said:
(don't know how to attach photos here)

Al
Ranger 25SC
True Blue
Click to expand...

Getting a User Photo Album for your Ranger Tug is easy but it requires submitting a request from within the site structure.

1. Sign on to the site. You’re probably signed on if you’re reading this.

2. Select the User Control Panel link from the upper left corner of any page. Note: On the home page, this link is in your user menu in the upper right.

3. Click the Usergroups tab, then select the radio button next to the User Albums group.
Scroll down, choose "Join selected" in the drop-down menu, and click the Submit button.

Once you do this, an email is automatically sent to the administrator (me). That message will trigger my ability to approve your request, and you'll receive an email indicating your membership in the User Albums group has been activated.

Once you have an album with pictures you'll use the g2Img tag to include one in your post. Alternatively, you can use the Img tag to add images which are hosted on a publicly accessible source on the Web. You'll find instructions in the FAQ under Formatting and Topic Types.

I'll watch for the message, and look forward to seeing your pictures.

Cheers,

Bruce
 
Seeking a final answer for managing freshwater pulsation issues on my new R29. Choices seem to be:

1. Replace factory Jabsco 3.5 gpm, 10A, constant speed pump with a variable speed one. Others on Tugnuts have recommended Johnson Pumps 10-13329-103 Master 5.0 GPM Variable Flow Demand Pump, about $180 on Amazon. Evidently an easy direct replacement since also 40 psi and requires 15A fused circuit.

2. Install an accumulator. Ranger staff recommend Johnson Pumps 09-46839-01 Accumulator, about $140 on Amazon. Plenty of room next to existing water pump.

3. Both

Appreciate anyone’s insight
 
Dcsqatar":2yb492dt said:
Seeking a final answer for managing freshwater pulsation issues on my new R29. Choices seem to be:

1. Replace factory Jabsco 3.5 gpm, 10A, constant speed pump with a variable speed one. Others on Tugnuts have recommended Johnson Pumps 10-13329-103 Master 5.0 GPM Variable Flow Demand Pump, about $180 on Amazon. Evidently an easy direct replacement since also 40 psi and requires 15A fused circuit.

2. Install an accumulator. Ranger staff recommend Johnson Pumps 09-46839-01 Accumulator, about $140 on Amazon. Plenty of room next to existing water pump.

3. Both

Appreciate anyone’s insight
Click to expand...

I would add the option to check and secure the hoses near the pump. If the pulsating is loud enough for you to be considering replacing it it must be more than just the pump noise. The hoses must be banging against something.

Curt
 
Below is from a post I made a few days ago o n another thread. This fully eliminated my pulsation but you could have another issue. Also - there are several youtube videos that explain the issue and possible remedies. But it is not usually the pump as much as an unequal pressure on the input vs output sides.

I can hear the plastic pipe rattleing againt the sides of the boat so that is something I will try and remedy this weekend using pipe insulation.

Old thread but have some thoughts..
Went on a 3 night trip. Tied up in marina. Everyime wife turned on water i cringed due to hammering noise of pump off and on. I knew it was pressure issue. When we got back i took off the inlet filter at the pump. Bunch of plastic filings from when installed. Removed them and rinsed screen filter.
Pressure doubled and no pulsating. Very pleased. Next i will cover as many pipes as i can because they do vibrate. The pump vibration is transferred to plastic pipes and travel all the way across boat to head.
I am sure it will help.
Posted a picture in my album
 
We had the hammering as well. Installed an accumulator but didn't help much. Switched out to a Aqua King II premium by Shurflo. Problem solved.
 
We have the pulsating to.

Not sure if I never noticed because I was fixated on the sound... but all the lights pulsate to match the pumping. Are others experiencing that as well or is it new for me?

Thanks
 
Just went through the "water pump pulsates" scenario in a 2009 RT 25. Pump started pulsating occasionally, then got so bad it was firing about once per second. Determined no leaks. Concluded pressure was leaking back through the check discs in the pump. After disassembly, problem turned out to be the previously cited plastic debris in the pump valves. Have a Johnson 4.0 GPM five chamber pump(10-13406-101, replaced by the same number, suffix -103). This is a really good pump, but does not work when check valves are fouled with plastic shavings. How, after all these years, the pump suddenly ingested this debris is a mystery. Maybe from flush in spring. Anyway, Johnson lists a pump head kit, but I could not find one. Disassembled the pump and cleaned all the check discs with a pair of tweezers, pulling out about 15 pieces of plastic shavings that obviously came from the tank. This is not hard to do when the pump is dismounted. Keep track of which screw goes where. With quick connect water lines and lots of wire, all you have to do is remove the heater core, disconnect and dismount it, and pull it out on the floor. Then, take off the pressure switch and pump head to remove junk. Oh, and this boat DID NOT HAVE A STRAINER OR FILTER on the pump inlet side. OOPS. (See installation instructions for pump.) I have heard this has been corrected on later models.
Pump works perfect now. Installed a Stainless inlet screen with clear bowl in the inlet line near the pump so should not happen again. Total cost about $18.00 (for strainer). Suggest you test the check valve on the pump outlet (shore water back-flow check). this is not a great check valve, and may be leaking.
 
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