Destroyed Shureflo Blaster Teardown

[Flynny]

We bought a 2004 Wellcraft Sportsman 180 in November that has a live-well and the pump is a Shureflo ProBlaster. The seller told us the live well pump was not working and those were part of the conditions; I figured it would probably be a simple fix.

The first thing I did was check the fuse, and sure enough it was a 10-amp (not the recommended time delay 15 amp) and it was blown. So I replaced it with a regular 15 amp fuse from Radioshack because I could not find a time delay 15 amp blade fuse anywhere. As soon as I flicked the switch, the fuse blew. I checked the fuse terminals and they were clean so I inspected the pump. It's dirty, but I can't see any corroded wires or anything like that. The guys at West Marine say the motor is most likely blown and I should just replace it, which is what the previous owner was planning on doing.

Before I scrape my knuckles off working through the tiny stern hatch near the O/B, is there anything else I should try? I did try a second 15 amp fuse and that one blew as well after a few seconds. I just thought of this, if the pump was jammed, would that cause the fuse to blow quickly like that?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

I just thought of this, if the pump was jammed, would that cause the fuse to blow quickly like that?

Ayuh,... So take it out, 'n clean it up, 'n bench test it....
If it's junk,... replace it...

 

[NYBo]

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

Are you able to see all the wiring past the fuse to determine if there is a short?

 

[Flynny]

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

Are you able to see all the wiring past the fuse to determine if there is a short?

Unfortunately I'm not. It's lost in the gunnel. In the spring, I'm going to disconnect the wires from the pump to make sure the wires are ok and the problem really is the pump.

For now, I can't do anything more. I didn't realize how much our cover restricts access to that hatch.

 

[Flynny]

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

Unfortunately I'm not. It's lost in the gunnel. In the spring, I'm going to disconnect the wires from the pump to make sure the wires are ok and the problem really is the pump.

For now, I can't do anything more. I didn't realize how much our cover restricts access to that hatch.

Just kidding. I couldn't help myself from diving into it and finishing it once and for all. I peeled the cover back enough to work, propped the engine to one side and got to work. I'm gonna go into detail for the entertainment and possible information for people.

The first two mounting screws closest to the hatch came out without a ridiculous amount effort with a ratcheting screwdriver. The two on the other-side were a different story. They did require a ridiculous amount of effort and time. Because of the way I had to put my arm in, and with the fuel/water separator right behind the bottom screw, I had to go one click at a time on the ratchet to get them out. I nearly stripped the bottom screw. The hard part was getting the screwdriver into the recessed screw and keeping it there without be able to see the screw, you try that. After about 3 hours, the pump was finally loose. :facepalm: Horrible place to install the pump, seriously Well Craft? If it was even 3 inches to the left, it would have made a world of difference. Or they could have put it in one of the battery boxes, the port one only has the battery in it and has plenty of space.

After that, it was just a matter of unscrewing the plastic wing nuts to disconnect the hoses and snipping the wires.

I brought the pump down to my workbench and put it in the vise. I grabbed a battery and then I learned how to weld. lol It was indeed the pump that was shorted, as soon as I touched the leads to the battery, there was a firework show and the negative wire started to fuse itself to the battery. Scarey stuff.

So I set about disassembling the pump. Every screw except for three came out easy. They were machine screws that held the majority of the pump together. Two of those three I had to take out with an impact driver (yeah, serious). The third was completely fused and got stripped. I figured the pump wasn't worth saving at this point so I got out my Milwaukee rotary tool and sawed the damn thing in half. After lots of burning plastic and smoke and sparks, I got the pump cover off and got into the internals (I had to wear a mask, the smoke was awful).

I got down to the last assembly and there was water inside, underneath the rubber/silicone membrane, probably not where it should be. So I took out the two last remaining screws to expose the motor. And lo and behold, there was water in the motor, a few ounces of it. Most likely salt water. The rotor coils were rusted and the small PCB inside was destroyed. No wonder it didn't work. Sorry I don't have pictures from the process, but here's some pictures of the aftermath.

 

[Flynny]

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

Close up of damage to the windings and PCB. Sorry for the bad image quality, it's from my phone.

I think those screws tell the story.

So, a sealed failed somewhere and formed a probably very slow leak. Add salt water and time, and you have a destroyed motor. Wonder if it's still under warranty.

 

[SteveMcD]

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

Any hope of moving the pump 3" to the left?

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

I feel your pain. You are not the Lone Ranger on this leaking seal issue, nor are you the first to do a tear down to confirm it. Here are my thoughts. First, you said you have a live well that was being fed by this ProBlaster. If that was the sole use for the pump, the boat was rigged with the wrong type of pump, since the ProBlaster is a washdown pump. If all you need is a live well pump, you should install a Rule pump (there are several styles) which can and will survive in a below waterline mounting location such as yours. Many, and I repeat many, years ago, my ShurFlo pressurized washdown pumps could survive below waterline mounting locations. That has not been the case for a few years. As a slow learner, I had to prove this to myself, going through more pumps than I care to admit. These ProBlaster pumps do not have sufficient seals to permit below waterline mounting locations. It took ShurFlo a long time to modify their instructions to reflect this. My fix has been to move my ProBlaster washdown pump to an ABOVE WATERLINE mounting location, where it survives just fine.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

These ProBlaster pumps do not have sufficient seals to permit below waterline mounting locations. It took ShurFlo a long time to modify their instructions to reflect this. My fix has been to move my ProBlaster washdown pump to an ABOVE WATERLINE mounting location, where it survives just fine.

I agree. My Blaster is mounted above deck in a "sealed" location and plumbed to the scoop type intake on the bottom of the hull. The exisiting pump was installed in 2003

 

[Flynny]

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

I feel your pain. You are not the Lone Ranger on this leaking seal issue, nor are you the first to do a tear down to confirm it. Here are my thoughts. First, you said you have a live well that was being fed by this ProBlaster. If that was the sole use for the pump, the boat was rigged with the wrong type of pump, since the ProBlaster is a washdown pump. If all you need is a live well pump, you should install a Rule pump (there are several styles) which can and will survive in a below waterline mounting location such as yours. Many, and I repeat many, years ago, my ShurFlo pressurized washdown pumps could survive below waterline mounting locations. That has not been the case for a few years. As a slow learner, I had to prove this to myself, going through more pumps than I care to admit. These ProBlaster pumps do not have sufficient seals to permit below waterline mounting locations. It took ShurFlo a long time to modify their instructions to reflect this. My fix has been to move my ProBlaster washdown pump to an ABOVE WATERLINE mounting location, where it survives just fine.

I agree. My Blaster is mounted above deck in a "sealed" location and plumbed to the scoop type intake on the bottom of the hull. The existing pump was installed in 2003

Very interesting. The previous owner did leave this boat moored all season for the past two years in salt water, so there's the problem. But...the pipe from the seacock forms a loop up before it goes into the pump, like an upside down trap. But water would sit in the pump anyways unless you ran it with the seacock valve closed to push the remaining water out...

It just makes more sense to install the new pump in the port battery box, that should be above the waterline and it'll be much easier to access it if I ever need to work on it again. I will just have to run longer wires to it and extend the hose from the live-well, which shouldn't be problematic. The only problem I can think of is the distance to the water will be increased, will that cause a problem for priming the pump at all?

And I think Fireman answered why they put such a powerful pump for the livewell in my other topic, Pez Vela.

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

Choose the correct pump for your application. If you want to hose down your boat with enough pressure to do the job, you need a pressurized washdown pump. If you want to fill a livewell, you need a bait pump. If you want to pump out your bilge, you need a bilge pump. Once you get that figured out, you may select the right size. Trying to get one pump to perform double duty is not ideal. If all you're trying to do is fill a livewell, stick a Rule bait pump in the original location.

 

[Outsider]

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

If you want to hose down your boat with enough pressure to do the job, you need a pressurized washdown pump. If you want to fill a livewell, you need a bait pump.

I used a Shurflo Blaster to accomplish both with my last boat, worked very well. My current boat has a Shurflo Baitmaster, good washdown and great continuous duty baitwell pump. Don't know how many hours it'll last, though, only up to about 650 now.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

Don't know how many hours it'll last, though, only up to about 650 now.

I would hope it would last longer that. 650 hours is less than a month.

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

Re: Shureflo ProBlaster problem

I used a Shurflo Blaster to accomplish both with my last boat, worked very well.

Thanks for letting us know about that dual purpose pump. That's a Shurflo product I wasn't aware of, and I have not seen it in action. Judging by its specs, it is a compromise however. It is for above waterline mounting locations only. It has a flow rate of 4.0 GPM (240 GPH) which will be O.K. for relatively small live wells (bait tanks). Compare that flow rate with the Rule bait pumps with flow rates of 500 GPH, 800 GPH and 1100 GPH. Choosing the right pump depends upon what you need, and I can see how that ShurFlo pump could be a good choice for some boats.