Livewell pump problem

[zachp]

My livewell pump is only working half the time...It seems like right after I charge my batteries it works fine but then after running for about 30 minutes either on recirculate or aerator it quits. After that it might work later and it might not...One thing to note is when I am charging my batteries the pump always works. It's hooked up to my main battery and everything else that is hooked up to that battery seems to work fine. I would switch batteries to check it but I won't be home for another week and a half and I didn't have the time to do it before I left. Just seeing if I can get some info on the problem before I go out and buy a new battery.

[Wayne Ek]

Is it heating up and throwing a breaker? I've had a couple of pumps that had debris (sand,gravel,line) in them that ran for 15 to 20 minutes than the breaker would go.

[zachp]

It isn't heating up, i've felt the pump while it is running and it never gets hot and hasn't ever blown a fuse. There are times when it will barely pump any water at all and then I shut it off and try it again a half hour later and it works perfectly. Then another half hour and it won't work at all...very sporadic.

[Fredd]

I had a pump that was hooked up backward and spinning the wrong way so it just pittered water into the livewell. It was installed at the factory with the wires reversed.

[mr walleye]

sounds like it has something caught in it (gravel, a clump of weed, fish scales) try cleaning it and see if that helps, also check the pipes for clogs

[Northlander]

Ya I would check it out and clean it and the lines out. If it continues check the timer. I had one that would work every once in a while. I put a new one in and made sure all connections were tight and now its working fine.

I used to get a lot of leaves, sticks etc. in my pump. I put a screen on the back of the boat at the intake and I have had no problems since. Cost me about $5 I think.

[john.wells]

sure sounds like a poor electrical connection to me; maybe a rotted wire somewhere, a corroded or loose connection, or possible internal corrosion in the pump itself. I would try to first check the terminals, and if they are all fine at every step (battery, breaker/fuse, pump) then I would potentially consider running a new set of jumper wires from the battery to the pump and see what goes on. Fuses can also become internally corroded, as well as their holders. This stuff can be frustrating, but be patient and determine what is right. Systematically root out the problem by starting with the failed component (pump) and work your way back. A test light is a valuable yet inexpensive tool for this process.

[zachp]

Corroded wiring or something similar could be the problem. The first day it happened I got home and pulled the wires off and reattached them and it worked good for half the next day then it happened again...I pulled the wires off again and cleaned off the posts and reattached and I got a trickle but that was all I could get. When I get home i'll clean up the posts and connections real good and try it again.

The first time I ran it this spring there was some gunk in the lines but nothing major. I have a screen on the intake and it didn't look like it was clogged with anything either. It seems more like something electrical.

Thanks for all the help guys.

Zach

[Cliff Wagenbach]

You could also have a piece of fishing line wrapped around the impeller shaft. I get that all the time on my pumps!

Cliff

[TonkaBass]

Sounds to me like you need to buy new batteries.

I had the same thing happen to a "T", and cleaned my pumps noticing there was fishing line tangled in them. I thought this was for sure the case, but it wasn't. If the pumps get clogged it will be a "locked rotor" and blow the fuse.

I bet 99% its your battery.