Whale water pump pulses ever couple of minutes (1 Viewer)

[Bluemanc100]

Hi folks,

I’ve googled this to death and can’t find any root cause on the motorhome.

The Whale pump (Blue with a White damper / picture below) under the bed pulses for a split second every few minutes. I’ve checked for leaks everywhere and can’t see any nor do I believe there is any air in the system. i’ve emptied some water so it isn’t over-filled.

Up in Scotland the issue didn’t appear but now we are in Wales it started doing it yesterday when we arrived and filled up. The pitch is slightly sloping but I’ve levelled so there should be no gravitational issue should there??

The weather is noticeably cooler here but we’ve been away in the van in the cold last year and nothing.

I can’t see any sort of pressure switch or pressure relief valve (Elddis 155) so I assume they are inside the pump. I cleaned the filter yesterday as there were lots of black plastic shavings in it which I assume would be from when the van was built??

I used a water tank cap with a Hoselok fitting for the first time in Scotland and really pressurised the tank as it didn’t vent off when full but we didn’t really have this issue after that event.

The only thing I haven’t checked (I could try today) is the electrical connection for the pump but there is no issue with the pump working when taps are opened so I don’t see how this can be the root cause.

Any tips before I consider changing the damper /
I’d appreciate it if anybody has some suggestions or thoughts?

 

[autorouter]

If it's not a very small leak from the pipes or fittings somewhere, it could be a small backflow leak inside the pump. A split in the diaphragm, or dirt stopping the non-return valves from fully sealing perhaps.

 

[Landy Andy]

Classic signs of a slight leak. If you turn you pump off for a few hours, when turning it on does the pump then run?

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[Riverbankannie]

Can you really examine all your pipe runs, our leak was only visible when we took off the fridge vents to see the shower pipe work.
As Landy Andy said try leaving pump off overnight and see if it runs at all when you first turn it back on.

 

[Richard n Ann]

We've got the same pump, there is a microswitch inside that acts as a pressure switch, it's easy to strip down and you'll see how it works. Got some pictures somewhere

Firstly though check the boiler drain down valve, ours drips out under the van and causes the same symptom.

Edit pic...
The microswitch has got a white lever in front of it that gets pushed by a rubber bellow in front of it which expands with pressure and switches the motor off.

 

[WillH]

If it's not a slight leak it may be a tiny piece of the plastic shavings you found has got under the diaphragm .

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[Bluemanc100]

If it's not a slight leak it may be a tiny piece of the plastic shavings you found has got under the diaphragm .

I was just thinking that so I’ll strip it down when we get home...

 

[Bluemanc100]

Can you really examine all your pipe runs, our leak was only visible when we took off the fridge vents to see the shower pipe work.
As Landy Andy said try leaving pump off overnight and see if it runs at all when you first turn it back on.

The pump does run when switched back on (thanks for the replies) but only for a split second.. just like it does every minute or so if left on

 

[Stonemags76]

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[Stonemags76]

Is that any help?

 

[Bluemanc100]

If it's not a slight leak it may be a tiny piece of the plastic shavings you found has got under the diaphragm .

And you are the winner!! Stripped the pump and found a tiny piece of the black plastic in one of the rubber valves plus some solidified tank cleaner that I used when we were in Scotland

Stripped and cleaned the rubber diaphragm and valves and now she’s working (touches wood)

Thanks to everybody for the advice!!

 

[Bluemanc100]

Is that any help?

Thanks for posting that... all good now

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[Richard n Ann]

And you are the winner!! Stripped the pump and found a tiny piece of the black plastic in one of the rubber valves plus some solidified tank cleaner that I used when we were in Scotland

Stripped and cleaned the rubber diaphragm and valves and now she’s working (touches wood)

Thanks to everybody for the advice!!

Should have a filter on the inlet, check that is OK

 

[Bluemanc100]

Should have a filter on the inlet, check that is OK

The filter was full of the black plastic bits too but this one must have got through or it was there on assembly and eventually found its way into the rubber valve..

All good now

 

[Winger]

I’ve never known a swinger trainer, is it good fun

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[Bluemanc100]

View attachment 423264

I’ve never known a swinger trainer, is it good fun

Brought that Momentus swing trainer back from Florida some years back... it’s heavy (though they sold a heavier one) so it is good for building muscle memory.

My golf is a little inconsistent since I started playing again and after getting my shoulder smashed when the maniac deliberately knocked me off the pushbike...

a “Swinger Trainer” would be wasted on me... No pampas grass near us

 

[Ingwe]

We had a period when the pump when off for a couple of seconds every 20 minutes or so. It annoyed the hell out of it. I checked for leaks, air locks, everything everyone suggested to no avail. Then I changed the filter after decalcifying the fresh water tank and I found the filter hadn't been screwed on properly. It had engaged but there was a slight cross thread. After putting it right, the annoying starts stopped. Hope you track the fault down.

 

[Ingwe]

View attachment 423264

I’ve never known a swinger trainer, is it good fun

Makes you dog tired.

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[Bluemanc100]

We had a period when the pump when off for a couple of seconds every 20 minutes or so. It annoyed the hell out of it. I checked for leaks, air locks, everything everyone suggested to no avail. Then I changed the filter after decalcifying the fresh water tank and I found the filter hadn't been screwed on properly. It had engaged but there was a slight cross thread. After putting it right, the annoying starts stopped. Hope you track the fault down.

There was a minute piece of plastic in one of the silicon valves inside the pump, removed it and gave the working parts a thorough clean and its working fine now

 

[pappajohn]

Strange the filter should be full of black bits when the pipes are blue and elbows are white. The only black bits are on the pump itself.... On the down stream of the filter.

 

[Landy Andy]

What colour is the water tank though.

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