Leaking Water Pump?

[Dawn Michelle]

Hope everyone is having a good holiday?!

Developed a leak on the shur flo - coming out of a screw - I took that out and cleaned it, but didn't seem to solve the problem.  I'm guessing I need to open it up that there is a seal in there that has been compromised?  Anyone done this and have some wisdom to impart?  

Frustrated and discouraged these days - spent way too much money letting the fixit shop reseal the front window and all the places I should have but didn't :-)  And the shoe moulding is just a four letter word.  I don't have the skills to try to deal with carpentry in odd shapes and corners and with vertical trim.  It's been a weekend of four letter words.  Fortunately it's dark flooring and the light is low in the camper...and Martha Stewart isn't coming camping with me, but there are just places it's just stupid.  Also I don't remember the kitchen cabinet verticals being so badly warped - evidence of a bad leak - but I can't find one (but I can't tell either - until I get the water pump fixed - okay at least that lead me to discover that issue so that's a bonus) I can't tell if I've got one (so far nothing I can find).  It's a mystery issue and those really freak me out.  I did pull up all the plastic over the carpet because I'm assuming it ran under the plastic and got trapped there. The wood still felt a little damp.  

So that is my tale of woe!  I've postponed my trip to Denver two weeks til end of month and now I'm wondering if that is pie in the sky, too!!  I stopped having fun this weekend - LOL.

[Russell E Johnson]

When our ShurFlo pump stopped moving water I put in a new pump, $100 (2014). The reason I did this is because it was really noisy when it ran and I figured that the motor was going bad. If yours is relatively quiet then taking the pump end off and replacing the diaphragm, check valve, and inlet filter will cost about $30. The pressure switch will add a little if it is needed. If either the upper or lower housing need replacing then the cost will be a bit higher, $50. Still better than a new pump which is running $80-$150. 

[Daniel Long]

Did the same swap due to the old pump (which still had the salvage yard price tag!) going bad and not worth fixing. Glad to have the new ShurFlo in there. I think mine was about $85 on Amazon. Pretty easy to change out with a flat head screwdriver and a wrench for the bolts that held it down to the floor.

[Dawn Michelle]

Thanks guys - I took it apart this afternoon and couldn't see anything obviously messed up in the areas I could access.  I did a little research first and discovered I had a late 80s / early 90s model they don't make any more.  Amazed that it really looked so good inside.  

I just tried a little cleaning, put it back together, switched screws in case it was something that simple and leaking even worse in the same spot, so I decided to just go ahead and order a new one to save some pain two months from now when I'm on the road - lol.  

I'm going to keep this one though - maybe try some plumbers epoxy weld on the screw head?  Didn't work on my toilet leak but this wouldn't be high pressure?  Course once I've done it, I've done it.  It could be a pinch hit back up.

I read the new shurflos aren't made as well.  Maybe I'll run into another, same model, and can switch out the parts one day.  Motor is still good.  Well it was until this afternoon when I left to run to the store and turned off the water valve but forgot to turn off the switch and it ran for a good fifteen minutes and got good and warm before I got home to switch it off (hadn't edumacated my mother where the switch was - oops).

Ultimately with a gift card spent about $75 and can return it if I didn't order quite the right model (google says it is).

[Russell E Johnson]

Well arighty if Google says so it must be true. ROFL

[Dawn Michelle]

Well, okay BUT I have found a "consensus" from researching on Google often serves me better than the manufacturer who has steered me in the wrong direction more than once :-) The thetford fiasco and the ventline people have left me with a sour taste for the so called experts. 

That said, you guys always beat Google hands down :-)  

[Lakota Wolf]

Nows ya hasta rememberz, when ya seal sumpin up so it dont's leaks no more,, ya really hasta get that sealant goo in thar really really good,, snot it up with plenty,, to much is never nuf,, really use it leberally,

The more goober, the better, then let it set to dry, When its all dry,, peel of as much paper towel paper as ya can, that you had set it on to dry. Aint no ones gonna see it anywho,, right? Well, iffin ya think its all cured and dry,, ya hasta add another goot snotting of silicone to the outside of it,, slather it on real thick,, remember  to much is never nuff,, make sure ya gets in all them nooks and craneys really good,, dont want to take a chance on it leaking somewhere in there.. then set down to dry again, on a paper towel, so it dont stick to the table its sitting on.. When its all dried real good,, hook a garden hose to it to test it first and if its starts to leak again,, kink the garden hose a little till the leaks stops but water keeps a flowing,, and then make a mental note as to how much ya has to kink the supply hose inside, so it dont leak in there. But in my humbo opinyunz,, I would just buy a new one and not worry bouts the old one.

[Dawn Michelle]

Always love your advice - as my grandmother said - I bet you can make the eagles scream by pinching so hard :-)  And right now I need more of that then less.  New pump is on its way - but I just hate it cause the pump motor is still good and like I said looked amazingly good inside despite it's age.  

I wish I had spent more time at my grandparent's knees learning how to fix and make do - both my mother's and father's knew the value of that and they knew how to do it too.  Or I wish I lived nearer to you Lakota :-)  Of course I also believe they made stuff better back then.  Today is the day of planned obsolescence.

[Lakota Wolf]

On a serious note,, Things where built to last back in the days gone by, and if they did fail,, a little tinkering got them up and going again. And as time went by, the manufacturer realized,, wait a minute,, they are lasting to long and we have a warehouse full of these,, what do we do to get people to buy all this stock? Well, they figured,, lets make them to last 2 or so years and then fail, and the average consumer will just think,, oh well its broke, lets go BUY a new one, and consumerism was born. Now to make them fail sooner, they hired Bubba who only did things half arsed to do the product casting. It didnt have to be perfect cuz Bubba could just eyeball it and say its good. If it didnt look just right, a lil spit and polish and a sticker on the box saying On sale, discounted item. Have to love a good sale,,right?  I keep the old motors like that and have a couple shur flo pumps from rummaging thru scrap yards and have tinkered and got them going again, and luckily got them working without leaking,, and they are my emergency back up to get thru a pinch.

Several have leaked where the bolt on covers attach to each other,, the casting gets warped or fracture cracks,, and getting creative I have made thicker gaskets and a good sealant and they held. Ive even swapped the electric motors on same type, as long as the water impeller was in good shape. Sometimes its rewarding to get something thrown away and making good use of it with a little time and patience. And other times ya just accept fate and buy new,, (usually with that impressive 90 day warrantee).

A wise man once said,, to find a water leak, look down. (lol)