Livewell Filling/Aeration Issue

[.Bennett]

When I purchased my boat the previous owner said the livewell pump had gone out and need replacing. So I bought one and put it in, using the same wiring and plumping. So now when I turn it on, you can hear the pump running (unlike before) but it doesn't fill up the tank.

I've tried getting it to fill with the motor running and off and it won't work. I've made sure the plug in the tank was out as well. I can't really check the tubing too well because it runs under the floor (livewell is in front of the console, pump is on the transom). Any tricks/guess for trouble-shooting it?

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Livewell Filling/Aeration Issue

When I purchased my boat the previous owner said the livewell pump had gone out and need replacing. So I bought one and put it in, using the same wiring and plumping. So now when I turn it on, you can hear the pump running (unlike before) but it doesn't fill up the tank.

I've tried getting it to fill with the motor running and off and it won't work. I've made sure the plug in the tank was out as well. I can't really check the tubing too well because it runs under the floor (livewell is in front of the console, pump is on the transom). Any tricks/guess for trouble-shooting it?

Your motor running has no effect on the livewell pump-
Sounds to me like a hose is either plugged up or broke-
If broke you should have water in the bilge area-

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Livewell Filling/Aeration Issue

The intake to the pump is below the water line isn't it? If not it won't work. Those are not lift pumps.

 

[.Bennett]

Re: Livewell Filling/Aeration Issue

The intake to the pump is below the water line isn't it? If not it won't work. Those are not lift pumps.

Yes, definitely.

And as far as the hose goes, I plan to check it next time I'm in the water. I'm just gonna take it off before I go and see if it'll pump water into the bilge area (I've got an inspection port I can watch the pump thru).

How does one go about replacing that hose (under-floor)? Tips/tricks for running it?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Livewell Filling/Aeration Issue

You probably can't replace the hose as it very likely is clamped at a couple points, or secured by the floatation foam under the floor. I doubt there is anything wrong with the hose. When I asked if the pump inlet was below the water line, I meant the actual pump inlet, not the point where water enters the inlet hose at the stern of the boat. The spray head in the live well may be clogged as well. In fact, some of them are adjustable and it may be tightened to the point where it is turned off.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Livewell Filling/Aeration Issue

Yes, definitely.

And as far as the hose goes, I plan to check it next time I'm in the water. I'm just gonna take it off before I go and see if it'll pump water into the bilge area (I've got an inspection port I can watch the pump thru).

How does one go about replacing that hose (under-floor)? Tips/tricks for running it?

If the intake pipe is threaded (part outside of transum) you might hook a garden hose to it & turn it on A LITTLE - I did that once on a boat i just bought & the pump did'nt work
Turned water & power to it on--got irritated--smacked it--started working

 

[raven7]

Re: Livewell Filling/Aeration Issue

Just a thought... Is the pump turning in the right direction?

 

[David Stone]

Re: Livewell Filling/Aeration Issue

You might have an airlock in the hose. I had that problem. If the intake is below the waterline, put the motor in slow reverse which will gently force water into the hose running into the pump, assuming the pump is not connected directly to a through hull opening. If you hear a change in the sound of the pump keep easing backward until water begins to flow into the livewell. Once the airlock is cleared you shouldn't have any additional problems, assuming the hose is clear from the pump to the livewell.

Worth a try!

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Livewell Filling/Aeration Issue

You might have an airlock in the hose. I had that problem. If the intake is below the waterline, put the motor in slow reverse which will gently force water into the hose running into the pump, assuming the pump is not connected directly to a through hull opening. If you hear a change in the sound of the pump keep easing backward until water begins to flow into the livewell. Once the airlock is cleared you shouldn't have any additional problems, assuming the hose is clear from the pump to the livewell.

Worth a try!

I wish my OB motor ran quite enough to hear my livewell pump from the driver seat let alone a change in the sound of the pump

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: Livewell Filling/Aeration Issue

Just a thought... Is the pump turning in the right direction?

I was thinking this too. If you can hear it running you might want to reverse the polarity of the wires and make sure it is spinning in the right direction. I have a bilge pump that I use as a hand-held for my rowboat that I use if it fills up with rain water and this year it didn't work. ran fine, just didn't pump water. Turned out my father connected it backwards to the llittle battery and it was running bass-ackwards.

 

[.Bennett]

Re: Livewell Filling/Aeration Issue

You probably can't replace the hose as it very likely is clamped at a couple points, or secured by the floatation foam under the floor. I doubt there is anything wrong with the hose. When I asked if the pump inlet was below the water line, I meant the actual pump inlet, not the point where water enters the inlet hose at the stern of the boat. The spray head in the live well may be clogged as well. In fact, some of them are adjustable and it may be tightened to the point where it is turned off.

I have a thru-hull inlet and it sits below the water-line by 4 inches, minimum. Is that what you're asking?

And by making sure its running the correct direction, how do I check that? I hooked up the wires exactly how the previous pump was hooked up (and worked fine).

 

[j_martin]

Re: Livewell Filling/Aeration Issue

I have a thru-hull inlet and it sits below the water-line by 4 inches, minimum. Is that what you're asking?

And by making sure its running the correct direction, how do I check that? I hooked up the wires exactly how the previous pump was hooked up (and worked fine).

I thought you said it didn't work when you got it.

Try swapping the wires and see what happens. maybe that's what the PO did.

John

 

[j_martin]

Re: Livewell Filling/Aeration Issue

I have a thru-hull inlet and it sits below the water-line by 4 inches, minimum. Is that what you're asking?

And by making sure its running the correct direction, how do I check that? I hooked up the wires exactly how the previous pump was hooked up (and worked fine).

I thought you said it didn't work when you got it.

Try swapping the wires and see what happens. maybe that's what the PO did.

A garden hose nozzle against the inlet will check for blockage whether the pump runs or not.

John

 

[.Bennett]

Re: Livewell Filling/Aeration Issue

I thought you said it didn't work when you got it.

Try swapping the wires and see what happens. maybe that's what the PO did.

A garden hose nozzle against the inlet will check for blockage whether the pump runs or not.

John

Well the PO said it ran fine is what I meant. He's a friend so I have no reason to doubt him. I'll try the hose trick this weekend. Thanks!

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: Livewell Filling/Aeration Issue

I have a thru-hull inlet and it sits below the water-line by 4 inches, minimum. Is that what you're asking?

And by making sure its running the correct direction, how do I check that? I hooked up the wires exactly how the previous pump was hooked up (and worked fine).

A DC motor will run with the wires hooked up either way---just in opposite rotation.

I would try this: Take the pump out, get 2 buckets, one with water, one without. Attach a length of hose up to the inlet side of the pump, hook pump up to a battery, then submerge the hose into the bucket with water and see if it pumps. If it doesn't, reverse the wires and try again. If it still doesn't then the pump you bought is bad. If it does pump, then either the pump you have was wired incorrectly or there is the blockage the other posters were talking about. Either way make sure you keep track of which wire is the (+) when it does finally pump and then make sure that you hook it up that way in the boat.

 

[Kamdyn]

Re: Livewell Filling/Aeration Issue

I had the same problem and the spray head was turned off in the live well just as Silvertip mentioned, My motor was sucking water from the lake but it wasnt filling the livewell. I was puzzled for a minute so I turned the spray head to the left and bam water start filling the livewell. Goodluck