Weird water pump failure - no pressure and motor just hiccups. Any idea what is wrong?

[John E Davies]

This pump has worked flawlessly for five seasons, it was good just a month ago when I serviced the water system. Now suddenly it won't make any pressure, it just sort of stutters and lurches.Could this be a pressure sensor failure? 

Video - SHURflo 4008-101-A65 water pump hiccups

I am ready to order a new one - $59 Prime, I guess I got my use out of it. Thanks for any comments.

https://www.amazon.com/SHURflo-Revolution-Water-Pump-4008-101-A65/dp/B010TKMK4O

This is a really weird week for me, I am losing water pumps. The hot water recirculation pump in my house started chirping like a lost baby bird two days ago, and I ordered a new pump for that system.....

John Davies

Spokane WA

[1Lessworker]

Hello John,

You could bypass the pressure sensor to rule that out, but having a extra pump on hand is always a good idea, even if you find out the pressure sw. is the problem.

Good luck, and let us know the outcome.

Harold

[VBistro]

Water pump failures seem to be a thing this weekend….

[GarryandKristi]

Other thoughts .....

cavitation - is the suction side fully primed? Maybe could tell by water in the filter bowl.  Have you tried connecting city water and running it for a short period?  Although the pump should be self -priming I think. 

Could be a bad diaphragm.  Although the sound on the video sure sounds like an electrical (switch) issue. When ours primes it sounds a bit like a rumble. 

[John E Davies]

22 minutes ago, GarryandKristi said:

Other thoughts .....

cavitation - is the suction side fully primed? Maybe could tell by water in the filter bowl.  Have you tried connecting city water and running it for a short period?  Although the pump should be self -priming I think. 

Could be a bad diaphragm.  Although the sound on the video sure sounds like an electrical (switch) issue. When ours primes it sounds a bit like a rumble. 

It is not cavitation, the system is full of water and all the air is bled out.

John Davies

Spokane WA

[Geronimo John]

I'm thinking the sound is that of a electrical contact.  Maybe just a loose connection.

Is the pressure switch a simple in line type on the pump?

 

[John E Davies]

I installed a new one, I will open up the old one some time to see what was going on.

John Davies
Spokane WA

[John E Davies]

I got tired of the old pump cluttering up my bench.

I am not sure why the unit was stuttering, the motor shaft did seem to have some rough spots on it when I rotated it by hand, but it sure looked nice inside and the bearings were smooth. I was surprised to see how clean the pump section was, I do periodically flush with vinegar and my residential water is chlorinated city water. I tested the pressure switch with an ohm meter and it was fine, so I bagged that to keep as a spare, I put all that nice stainless hardware into their proper storage bins 😀 and tossed the rest of the parts. There is a lot of copper on that armature, I suppose I could have cut and removed it to recycle. I was actually impressed with the build quality for a cheap RV part, it seems to be well engineered..

John Davies

Spokane WA