Irrigation Pump Does Not Prime

Vicinalvictor · Jun 4, 2021

Not sure what the problem is, bought a new diaphragm for it, but maybe I am trying to install it wrong, I
don't know....Any help would be much appreciated.
What it is

coonie minnie · Jun 4, 2021

Those can be difficult to use. If you have any kind of vaccuum leak, you can't pump fast enough by hand with one of those. Make sure any gaskets on the suction pipe are tight, and that your foot valve at the bottom of the pipe is holding...

Farmboy 81 · Jun 4, 2021

You could possibly have a slight air leak around the impeller shaft. If you place several plastic grocery bags over where the intake pipe connects to the pump and work the primer pump, does it pop the bags or do you hear an air leak ? I tried for awhile to use the hand pumps but they are expensive to keep up and some locations you just cannot pump fast enough by hand to fill a 5 inch line on account of the steep banks to pull water up from. I put a inline flapper valve at the end of the suction line at strainer basket. Where the primer pump connects to main pump, put a quick connect to be able to connect a nurse tank to it with a gas pump to fill all of it. Works excellent.. What would take me 4 men sometimes 30 mins to prime it now can be done solo in 30 seconds. The pump can be leaking badly and still prime this way easily. Be glad to get you some pics if you like.

coonie minnie · Jun 4, 2021

I do similar... those hand pumps are hard work! I've got one pump with a 10 inch suction line, you don't want to hand prime that!

Farmboy 81 · Jun 4, 2021

No sir...me nor anyone that helps me could hold out to prime a 10 inch by hand here. The nurse tank trick sure cuts out a lot of profanity !!!! I used a buddy's 8 inch engine pump one time that had a good electric primer that wouldn't prime it...had to get the nurse tank on it to get it going.

Vicinalvictor · Jun 5, 2021

I put a check valve at the end of the suction pipe in the water, it holds water as it should. The problem has to be with the hand pump, or do away with it and prime it with water and a nurse tank.

Russ from MN · Jun 5, 2021

I built a dredge pump about 30 years ago, I uses engine vacuum to suck the air out of the pump, then put it in gear. I ran a 4 inch pump with a Plymouth slant 6, left the clutch and transmission, ran it in 2nd gear.

Vicinalvictor · Jun 5, 2021

Foot valve is holding water as it should. The problem has to be with the hand pump and the diaphragm I replaced.

Farmboy 81 · Jun 5, 2021

Have someone pour water down the rod that goes from hand pump handle to diaphragm while pumping handle. Be prepared to get wet. When the handle gets hard to mash down on, hold it there and have helper start the pump to see if it'll catch. Could be check valve in bottom of primer pump leaking also.

Vicinalvictor · Jun 5, 2021

*****UPDATE*****Pump is working as it should. Problem was the diaphragm installed wrong in the hand pump. Had a friend come and help me figure what was wrong. Thanks everyone for the replies! It's no easy task working on this stuff alone.

fixerupper · Jun 5, 2021

Sometimes it takes a fresh set of eyes. Glad you got it going.

Farmboy 81 · Jun 5, 2021

Glad you got it going. They can sure be a pain sometimes.

Irrigation Pump Does Not Prime

Vicinalvictor

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coonie minnie

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Farmboy 81

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coonie minnie

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Farmboy 81

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Vicinalvictor

Well-known Member

Russ from MN

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Vicinalvictor

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Farmboy 81

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Vicinalvictor

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fixerupper

Well-known Member

Farmboy 81

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