Jon March
Member
I know modern Jabsco pumps are superior, but I do prefer the look and hose outlet/inlet rearward-"aim" of the original Wilcox-Crittenden marine bilge pumps. But heres what I learned:
1) make sure the impeller housing isnt heat deformed from being previously run dry.....and use a new impeller (avail thru depcopump.com)....and lube it annually with waterproof lube like Super Lube
2) When you mount it, keep the motor UP, and the inlet/outlet at the bottom....you want the water to run back into the impeller from the outlet on the rear, so it keeps the impeller primed
3) Heres what I did: i ran a fresh 18ga ground wire thru the driver sidewall to the dash, and connected it to a countdown bath-fan timer under the dash. When turned, it connects ground to trigger the rear pump relay, and when the timer runs out, it releases, so the motor doesnt run forever if you get talking/distracted.
.....Then I used the (now available) thick wire that powered 12v to the firewall pump, to run a much lower current Sea-flow marine pump on floor near tranny. It has a built in float switch that turns on automatically....and it also has a lead to turn it on manually.
So re-use se the thick 12v wire (from the illuminated dash pull switch) for THAT secondary pump!
Now you have a backup pump....and no longer will you be pulling high-current thru your connectors, or heat up / short out your long harness.
Redundnancy on the sea
1) make sure the impeller housing isnt heat deformed from being previously run dry.....and use a new impeller (avail thru depcopump.com)....and lube it annually with waterproof lube like Super Lube
2) When you mount it, keep the motor UP, and the inlet/outlet at the bottom....you want the water to run back into the impeller from the outlet on the rear, so it keeps the impeller primed
3) Heres what I did: i ran a fresh 18ga ground wire thru the driver sidewall to the dash, and connected it to a countdown bath-fan timer under the dash. When turned, it connects ground to trigger the rear pump relay, and when the timer runs out, it releases, so the motor doesnt run forever if you get talking/distracted.
.....Then I used the (now available) thick wire that powered 12v to the firewall pump, to run a much lower current Sea-flow marine pump on floor near tranny. It has a built in float switch that turns on automatically....and it also has a lead to turn it on manually.
So re-use se the thick 12v wire (from the illuminated dash pull switch) for THAT secondary pump!
Now you have a backup pump....and no longer will you be pulling high-current thru your connectors, or heat up / short out your long harness.
Redundnancy on the sea
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