trash pump not priming

[vinylguy]

I bought a new trush pump with a 3 inch outlet and have only used it a dozen or so times. It has worked fine untill today when I really needed it. It does not seem to take a prime. What could be some possible reasons why it stopped working. I am not very mechanicaly inclined so it could be something very simple. any sugestion would be helpful.

[Harry Chickpea]

Tell us what you are doing to prime it please.

[rancher1913]

make sure the suction line does not have any "leaks" that air can be pulled in from. it will never prime if it is sucking air. all else fails use a wet/dry vacuum on the outlet side and it will pull the water through the pump to get it started, have to do that around here with the garden pump because its about wore out.

[littlebitfarm]

We hold the suction line up in the air and pour it full of water and then cover the end with a hand. Usually takes right off.

Kathie

[Darren]

Originally Posted by littlebitfarm

We hold the suction line up in the air and pour it full of water and then cover the end with a hand. Usually takes right off.

Kathie

Some of those have a small plug on top of the pump housing that you can remove to fill it with water.

[Harry Chickpea]

Originally Posted by littlebitfarm

We hold the suction line up in the air and pour it full of water and then cover the end with a hand. Usually takes right off.

Kathie

Hmmm ... should work. This will take two people - Try filling that line with water, place your hand over the end, place it into the water and hold your hand over the end, then have the other person start the pump and quickly remove your hand once it starts.

I've a tractor supply pump that has had a little wear between the impeller and casing. It sorta works ok, but has to be babied at first.

[jwal10]

How high are you pulling water, a trash pump in good shape won't lift more than 16 feet. Check the impeller and see if it has broken some vanes. Running dry will wear the tolerances out quick and makes them harder to prime, always fill with water before you start pump. As said any pinhole in the suction will let the pump suck air....NO PRIME....James

[Bearfootfarm]

If you're trying to lift water very high, you may need to add a foot valve to the intake

[Alice In TX/MO]

What's a trash pump?

[jwal10]

http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CG4Q8wIwAQ#

[Alice In TX/MO]

Oh, we have one of those. Never heard it called a trash pump.

[vinylguy]

I am pumping the water from only a couple of feet so that really is not an issue. I pulled the intake hose out and the screenwas covered in moss. I have a sick feeling that it could not get any water to come through and it basicly ran dry for a while. If I pull the houseing of the pump off, what If any thing should I see to determine if that is my problem?

[Bearfootfarm]

I have a sick feeling that it could not get any water to come through and it basicly ran dry for a while.

It probably hasn't hurt anything

[ryanthomas]

I would just clean that screen and try it out. I doubt it actually ran completely dry.

[fishhead]

Did you lose the rubber gasket on the intake line where it fastens to the pump? That's easy to do and easy to overlook.

[vinylguy]

I cleaned the screen and it made no difference, and I checked and the gasket is still there. I did notice a metal to metal type of sound when I would shut the pump off.

[bajiay]

husband wants to know what brand it is, is it a screw or bladder piston?

[jwal10]

My guess is the ceramic seal on the shaft is shot and letting air in the volute and it won't prime. Bought a brand new name brand pump and it wouldn't prime, changed the seal all was good....James