Foretravel Owners' Forum

Hello everybody,

I'm having a water pump issue and it goes like this.  The water pump works most of the time just fine, but sometimes it will have low pressure or it will not work at all.  What I have found is sometimes the pump will be running while no valves of faucets are open and nothing is leaking.  When this happens the pump starts to get hot. I'm thinking that it gets to a point that it's too hot and shuts down. I checked this last night, when it stopped working I went out to check the pump and it was very hot to the touch, not burning hot, but hot.  The easy fix is to turn the pump off and on as needed, and that's what we've been doing, but shouldn't it be able to be on all the time without issue? 

I did a search and found some talk about a pressure switch having a problem.  Where is this switch on my 2004 U320 and is there an easy way to trouble shoot it?  I have a VOM and some electronic skills that's (some skills) as in only a little.  Before I take it somewhere and tell an RV service tech that the pump is having an intermittent problem I thought I'd check here for advice.

Thank you     

With a 7 year old pump, I'd plan to replace it ASAP.  Then consider having the old one rebuilt to keep as a spare.

The pressure switch is normally incorporated into the housing of the pump.

David, Water pumps are a PITA. If this is a 5.7 Shurflo what you are describing is failure of the pressure switch.  Next you will have water leaking from the head.
I carry a spare pump as a lot of others do, some don't like the shurflo 5.7 and others love them. I would get another pump soon and keep old one as a spare if you can figure out what is wrong.
If a Shurflo it should have a three year warranty, call shurflo.
Good luck
Gary B

Thanks for the help.  I'll find out which pump I have an get a new one before we go out again.  I think this is going to save me a lot of headache.  I'll let you know how it goes.

My 2000 320 originally had a Flo jet. I replaced it in 05 with a 5.7Shur flo extreme series  In 06, Shur flo changed to a different type of head that has a totally different pressure sensor on it , because of diaphragm and pressure sensor failures..My 05 unit just started to leak and after tear down I found the DC motor full of water. The pump operated like normal but leaked on the back side of the diaphragm. Shur flo has no repairs for the pumps prior to 06. Honywell made the heads and may have parts but I don't feel like putting money into a poorly designed part , so I ordered a new unit this morning. I would suggest that you do research before ordering parts. Gary O

We had this problem this past summer and the issue was leak through on our auto fill valve.  We turned the manual control down all the way when not filling the tank and that kept the pump from cycling until we could replace the valve.  The replacement valve was around $200 so we saved the old one for Steve to disassemble and try to repair. 

We had to replace our water pump in 2010 - it too overheated when left on while boondocking (leave the water pump on when not needed.)  We replaced it with the same OEM unit, an AquaJet RV 5.3 since 8 years is pretty good for a water pump. 

Michelle

Michelle,
Where is the manual control for the auto fill valve?  I was kind of thinking that this could be the problem.  I had a tech out working on my inverter (whole nother story) and he said that he thought that what you describe might be the problem.  So I want to check that too.  But I believe I still need a new pump.

By the way my pump is a SHURflo Extreme 5.7 5900. I was thinking I would buy the same to replace it.  If someone thinks there is a better pump for my coach I'm all ears.  Or eyes as the case may be.

Dave,

Look towards the back of the pump bay behind the pump.  It's a black device



The "cross-handle" at the top is the manual control.  It turns just like a faucet handle.  Darned thing is basically a 12V sprinkler control valve, but sprinkler systems all seem to be 24V now so it's not a "big box store" item.  See Steve's post with the OEM info from ours here:  Part Number Collection (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=11472.msg71580#msg71580)


Lots of different experiences here on the board.  We like the AquaJet, but it's pricey.  It's variable speed works well for our non-accumulator water system.  Barry and Cindy have had great success with the SHURflo Revolution 4008 (I believe that's the model). 

Michelle

David, If you have the extreme 5.7, replace it with the same type. Any other type would create plumbing changes.

Gary O

Michelle, that is some great info.  Thank you.  I am at my coach now and I turn on the pump and it's cycling with every thing shut.  I then close the auto fill valve (which is just where your picture shows) and it continues to cycle.  I think you just save me some green money and it was easy.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  A new pump it is. 

Gary,
Yup, I'll order it right away. They seem to be easy to find.

David,
If "Plug and Play: is your goal. Gary is absolutely correct.
If high reliability and low maintenance in the future is your goal, change your plumbing, if necessary, and get out of the ShurFlo 5.7 headaches.
Search ForeForums for ShurFlo problems:  Example" Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=11779.msg62830#msg62830)
Google the internet for "ShurFlo 5.7 problems"  and you get untold tales of grief.
Based on our own good sources (Barry and Cindy, Steve and Michelle), the ShurFlo Revolution 4008 and the AquaJet RV 5.3 are much more reliable.
FWIW
Neal

Shurflo has a newer model water pump. It is Revolution 4008. Lower rating, but we have all the water we need.

The previous model 5.7 was electronic controlled and slowed down for low water flows. But sometimes it does not work very well.

The new model 4008 has no electronics and handles low water flow with an clever internal bypass that has a lower setting than the shutoff switch. The 4008 works great and has no problems that I am aware of. The plumbing connections are different, but similar in that the IN hose screws on one side and the OUT hose screws on the other side. All water pumps work better if there is a flexible in & out house to reduce vibrations and sound.

Thanks everyone for the help. 

I went the easy route and replaced the old one with the same model.  It wasn't too expensive and I was able to do it myself in less than half an hour.  It seems to be working well now, it's a little noisier than the old one, but not by much.  I can live with it.  This was another thing that came up on our trip home form FT of Texas, had we been able to stay longer they would have done it for me at their expense.  I'm sure.....