water pump and generator problem 1978 clipper

[supermanjma]

Hey I am a new clipper owner and live in it with my fiance. All was well until one morning the water pump ran weakly and stoped cutting off even when water was off. The same morning the water level and battery level read dial stop reading. We then tried to start the generator and it started but cut off shortly. We realized with all of this the battery was being drained. We have charged the marine battery and its working until we try and use the pump again and it drains again. Still can't start generator, have cleaned battery wires well and checked attachtment- still read switch not working. Could it be a short? When we hook up charged battery water pump will run but weakly and read switch has never worked since. If you have any advice please send it, maybe we need an electrical manual for the clipper.  thanks-Juliet and Todd  :?:  :roll:
supermanjma@hotmail.com

[Robert P. Anderson]

Sounds like you have a problem with the pump that will need replacing.
Connect the Clipper up to a outside water source and make sure you don't have a leak in your water pipes.
The pump may be running free because of a leak.
Check the oil level in the generator. They have a switch that will not let them start or run unles the oil level is full.
Good luck

[AndyIlles]

Hiyya guys.... welcome to Clipper Land...  

I think you may have several disrelated problems.  

As to the genny... since it starts and then shuts down, in addition to Bob's suggestion about low oil, I'd suspect a clogged filter or leaky fuel pump.  I wouldn't bother messing with the genny pump... just pick up an electric pump (+/- $30 at any auto parts shop) and hook it up right at the outlet nipple on the tank... wire it through a switch run from onna the 12v fuses in the settee panel, so it's only on when you wanna run the genny.

As to the indicator guages failing... check for a bad ground... same for the water pump.  

As to the water pump specifically, in addition to the electric connections, dumb question first... sure you have water in the tank?  A pump that won't shut off usually indicates there's no water getting to the pump's inlet side.  There's a filter on the pick-up inside the tank that could be clogged.... mine was and I had the same problem.  The water tank's under the front dinette seat.  A gallon of Clorox in there for a day or so would get rid of any clogging scum, but it could also be mineral deposits.. mine had both, so it's best to take it out to clean it.

All of my electric problems so far, both 12 and 110v,  turned out to just be poor connections... 25 years is a long time.

Good luck.

Andy - HungarianDude@AOL.com -- 561-317-2282

[bigray]

So Andy are you saying to just leave the origial pump in place and disconnect the wires and connect them to the new pump that should be installed close to the gas tank?

[AndyIlles]

Yup... that's what I'd do.  I didn't realize the pump on the genny is electric... that'd make the wiring a WHOLE lot simpler.  In any event, it's usually best to bypass any engine pump if it's not difficult to do, but fuel will go right through unless it's clogged (unlikely) if you leave it in.  There are metal nipples for the genny and main engine on the gas-guage sender plate on the tank, with rubber lines connected.  I'd fabricate a strap attachment for the new pump and attach it at onna the tank-strap bolts.

If you wanna call, feel free any time -- 561-317-2282 -  if you hear chattering teeth at first... that'd be me...  :lol:

[bigray]

Yeap, the pump is electric. I thought it would be manual as well.

When I went to the generac site they don't list the model that I have (6897-4) because of its age. I looked at Model 0661-5 and it has a fuel pump that look just like mine.

Got a tip from a dealer to jump the pump wiring to make sure that is the problem before you replace the pump. There may be something else preventing the pump from getting fire. I'm going to make sure that my pump is faulty and replace it if I need to.

Given the pump was mounted on the genny originally, I'm going mount my pump inside the genny compartment if I have to change it. Less wiring in my opinion.

This is the link to Download Generac User Manuals

http://www.guardiangenerators.com/products/RV_manuals.asp

[Robert P. Anderson]

IF YOU HAVE A M-35 GENERAC UNIT THE FUEL PUMP IS MECHANICAL.
THE OTHER SAFETY IS THAT YOU MUST HAVE MORE THAN 25% FUEL IN THE MAIN TANK , THE FUEL PICKUP IN THE MAIN TANK FOR THE GENERATOR IS RAISED UP FROM THE BOTTOM SO THAT YOUR GENERATOR WILL NOT RUN YOU OUT OF FUEL BEFORE YOU CAN GET TO A GAS STATION
BOB :roll: