Water Puppy pump

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John Nuttall

Water Puppy pump

Post by John Nuttall »

I have a Water Puppy impeller type pump on board my CD31 that drains the sump. It stopped pumping, so I took off the impeller cover to look for a possible clog ( the filter is clean ). When the cover is off it runs like a champ. Put the cover back on and it does not run. I am thinking of the following possibilities: some kind of lubrication need in the impeller chamber, or has to o-ring compressed to the point that the cover plate is loading the side of the impeller, or is the impeller just old and waterlogged and swollen ??
Any suggestions????

John
CD31 Aimless
Oriental, NC



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Tom Coons

Re: Water Puppy pump

Post by Tom Coons »

John Nuttall wrote: I have a Water Puppy impeller type pump on board my CD31 that drains the sump. It stopped pumping, so I took off the impeller cover to look for a possible clog ( the filter is clean ). When the cover is off it runs like a champ. Put the cover back on and it does not run. I am thinking of the following possibilities: some kind of lubrication need in the impeller chamber, or has to o-ring compressed to the point that the cover plate is loading the side of the impeller, or is the impeller just old and waterlogged and swollen ??
Any suggestions????
I used to sell Water Puppies in my chandlery years ago. When they sat on the shelf brand new for awhile they wouldn't run and people kept bringing them back. I finally figured out that the rubber impellar sort of glued itself to the back of the housing and if I would take the cover off and give the impellar a spin when I sold it, people would have no problems with them. The impellar housing doesn't come lubricated when new, but it couldn't hurt.

This isn't exactly your problem but one can certainly put enough pressure on the impellar to freeze it. As I recall there was a thin paper gasket under the cover and not an o ring. So I'm not sure what oring you're referring to, but you don't want to tighten the cover too tightly, and if it sits for awhile the impellar may freeze up. It doesn't hurt to grease it up with waterproof grease, but I doubt if that's your problem. I'd try a new impellar first because it would be good to have a pare anyway. If that doesn't do it, I'd go to the auto supply store and get some thicker gasket material and make a thicker gasket if it only stops when you got the cover cranked down. Either that or put the impellar on the old grinder or sandpaper and skin a little off each side until it runs. It sounds like it has to be something with the cover. Maybe it got dented in sometime just a tad.

I have a CD 31 also and I think the water puppy is marginal for the lift that is involved. I kept burning up fuses and finally disconnected it in favor of a manual pump.

BTW you aren't John Poole of the Sailing School in Oriental are you? Or John who runs the restaurant? I had my CD 31 "Heiress" in Oriental ten years ago on the way to the Bahamas and knew Alan Arnfast, Warren Winchester, Tommy Suggs, and some others in Oriental. Great little sailing town.
John Nuttall wrote: John
CD31 Aimless
Oriental, NC


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Ryan Turner

Oriental

Post by Ryan Turner »

Oriental is a great sailing town! It shouldn't be missed if you're in the area.



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John Nuttall

"puppy advise"

Post by John Nuttall »

Hi Tom,
Thanks for the response. You gave me some advise about 31's last fall, if you'll recall.
To answer your question about Oriental. I am not that John. But some of the folks you mentioned are still there. As a matter of fact, my 31 is Tom Suggs' old boat, Whiskey Jack. Actually Patricia S. bought it new in '84 from Sailcraft , the then current CD Dealer, for whom Tom worked. Small world isn't it ?
The comments in the other post from Ryan Turner, a fellow Dorian, dockmate, and sailing buddy are on-the-mark. If anyone transiting the area does not stop to spend some time in Oriental, THEIR NUTS!
I am sure Ryan would join me in extending an offer of a grog or two at M&M's on us for any Dorians passing through !!!!!!!!!
About the impeller, I got a response off board, from a very knowledgable fellow who pointed out that the regular neoprene impellers are prone to swelling/breakdown when oils from soaps contact them. He recommended, and I found for sale special order at West Marine, impellers made from nitrile. It is better suited to the job.
Thanks, and try to come back to Oriantal sometime!!!
John Nuttall
CD31 #28 "Aimless"
Oriental, NC



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Ryan Turner

The grog's on us!

Post by Ryan Turner »

I'd love to buy a round or two of grog for any Cape Dory sailors cruising through Oriental. John and I will show you the town (it won't take long) and then show you our boats (it's the price of the free grog). Just drop a line or cruise by slip E56 at Whittaker Creek Yacht Harbor.



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