Does anyone have first hand experience with "Warranty exchanging" a failed or failing SHUREFLO 5.7 Extreme for the newer and more reliable SHUREFLO 4048?
It seems like SHURFLO would be anxious to end the multitude of failures...................somewhat gracefully...............somehow.
My fifth SHUREFLO 5.7 Extreme has started going into a repeating ON/OFF cycle pattern (every three or four minutes) that has me waiting for yet another failure. For the previous four failures, see Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=11779.msg62830#msg62830)
Whenever the pump starts exhibiting this behavior, the inlet filter bowl is absolutely clean, cycling the 5.7 flow from "full off" to "open-ended outlet flow" has no effect (no foreign material swept free), the adjustment screw has no effect and no type of inlet lineup from a shore water source seems to have any effect on stopping the cycling (ranging from negative to positive pump suction head).
Turning the pump off overnight is the only thing that I have discovered that will return the pump to normal operation (I assume that the pump electronics are "overheating", even though the body of the pump doesn't seem to be overly warm. Once back to normal, the pump may act normally in daily use for a month or much more before it starts the cycling again. See below for what I think is happening:
The SHUREFLO 5.7 has an outlet pressure design flaw and I fully suspect that the loss of the air bubble (long term absorption) in the Atwood hot water heater is the root cause of the SHUREFLO 5.7 failures in U270's. The 5.7 pump design includes no internal relief valve and the normal FT design includes no pressure relief from pump outlet to inlet The outlet side of the pump is pressure protected only by the hot water tank pressure relief valve. I have been able to relate at least a couple of my failures to instances where I probably did not have any bubble left in the heater (it had been quite some time since I had last drained and flushed the heater). Under these unrecognized circumstances, I have turned off all sources of heat to the hot water heater, allowed it to cool to ambient, and then reinstated electric or propane heat and I theorize that, with a solid system (no hot water heater bubble), the heat-up of the water heater generates very high pressures that are only relieved by the hot water heater relief valve. The relief valve set pressure is probably grossly imprecise and because it only takes a few drops of water to fully relieve what may be a significant overpressure, it may not be readily apparent that the relief valve has opened and reset. I believe that the high pressure condition is what irreparably damages the 5.7. If one has an Atwood and cleans and flushes their Atwood frequently (the byproduct of which is re-establishing a bubble), or if one leaves a functional pressure maintenance tank in service, or if one goes through very few hot/cold/hot Atwood cycles (always being plugged in with electric element activated) or propane always in service or engine heating in service), then one will have fewer problems with a 5.7.
The SHUREFLO 4048 contains internal pressure relief that is purely mechanical and is therefore inherently better suited to the Atwood Hot Water Heater type application. I think that my theory also explains why those FT's with Aqua Hot systems have better reliability histories with the 5.7 than do those of us with Atwood Hot Water Heaters.
Anyway, that's my theory.
Does anyone have a way of politely convincing SHUREFLO that they could end our endless warranty applications by simply exchanging our 5.7's for 4048's?
Just a thought,
Neal
I took mine to their offices in Cypress CA. and they were more than willing to give me the new one.
I think a call to them would produce some good results. 800-854-3218
Barry,
Did they exchange a SHUREFLO 5.7 for a SHUREFLO 4048?
I have used SHUREFLO's 800 # before and they always directed me back to where I purchased the 5.7 (Camping World). I've even written them and sent them copies of the history and they still send me back to CW for a "hands on" verification of the details, before they will authorize the warranty exchange. They WILL put a warranty 5.7 in the shipping stream, but I have to wait until I have shipped them the failed 5.7 pump, they have inspected it, and then they will ship the replacement,
all at my expense. They have not been amenable to exchanging a 5.7 for a 4048 -- at least when I last asked, but that was several months ago -- hence my question on whether anyone has been able to exchange a 5.7 for a 4048.
Neal
I had walked into Camping World at 3 locations and they exchanged the 5.7 over the counter each time. I live near the factory in Cypress and I brought one over to them and they offered to give me a 4048 in exchange. This was several years ago.
Thanks Barry,
When we get home to NH, I'm going to try SHUREFLO again.
I'll keep you posted.
Neal
Here is Shurflo's new location and phone number: Good luck.
SHURflo
3545 Harbor Gateway South
Suite 103
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Customer Service Hours:
5:00am-3:30pm PST
Phone:800-854-3218 or
714-371-1550
Fax: 714-371-1731
Email: customer_service@shurflo.com
Thanks, Barry
Neal
Reading this post has me feeling not so confident about my new 5.7 installation. I did remove my tank but thought I might add one if I notice problems with expansion. I have a Aqua-hot so we will see what happens.
Neal, The only luck I have had with Shur Flo is thru their IN location.
SHURflo East
52748 Park Six Court
Elkhart, IN 46514
Phone: 800-854-3218
Fax: 574-264-2169
Email: customer_service@shurflo.com
All product returns received at this location only.
When I have called they ask for date of mfg on the pump and ask me to pull the sticker off and send it to them, they then send me a new pump. I have a second pump now and at some point will go to the newer model. I am lazy in that with the 5.7 I have already modified the plumbing and it is a drop in operation.
Gary B
I don't have any issues with my 5.7 Shureflo pumps . Have enjoyed both on my last 2 Foretravels . Now , talk about the 5.7 and doing heavy dirty work ---i use them on my farm spraying units . They pump some nasty spray mixes that will just about take the hide off your hands etc .Have used several other name brands and they all failed rather quickly .Have a 5.7 on another tank that will pump used motor oil . All others failed on this test . Brad Metzger
If a Shurflo 5.7 has a problem, it is in the circuit board located on the bottom of the pump. The programming on the board is there to slow the pump speed for low water flows. It uses pulse-width-modulation (PWM) to reduce the pump motor RPMs.
When the board fails, the pump motor is still fine and the pressure switch on the end of the pump is fine, so if one has a problematic 5.7, the pump still can be used as a strong fixed speed pump. Just move the input positive red wire that goes to the circuit board, to the pressure switch and from the pressure switch to the motor lead at the front of the pump.
I don't recommend using the modified pump for RV water supply, but it can be used to pump water from a bucket into the water tank or like Brad uses it for spraying, or other fixed speed use.
Accumulator tank is not needed when using the Shurflo 5.7.
I went through about 6 of these until 2009 when I spoke with this guy.
Ron Franklin, Jr.
Service Lead Eastern United States
mailto:ron.franklin@pentair.com
SHURflo
52748 Park Six Court
Elkhart, IN 46514
TEL (800) 854-3218 x5002
FAX (574) 264-2169
He was a pleasure to deal with. He took the serial number and sent me a 4048 in it's place. Told me to cut the wires off and throw the old one out.
The 4048 has been working fine ever since and we full time.
Jim
That's interesting, I went through 4 of them in '07. Great pumps when they work. None of ours lasted, changed to Aquatec.
We've had our 5.7 for three years. No problems.
Howdy Brett,
Just curious, do you still have your accumulator tank installed??
TTYL, Dave A
Dave,
No, I removed the accumulator tank when I installed the 5.7.
Is the 4048 current production? I went to the Shurflo site and did not see it there under "RV products". I currently have a Aquajet 5503 that starts to pulsate after a few seconds of operation. This was a replacement installed by MOT back in 2007/8 when I had the same problem with a previous pump. The Aquajet is better but not much. I just thought that was what to expect from RV water systems. Is that so?
I believe I got the number wrong. It is the Shurflo Revolution 4008. You can see it here.
Amazon.com: SHURflo 4008-101-E65 3.0 Revolution Water Pump: Automotive (http://www.amazon.com/SHURflo-4008-101-E65-Revolution-Water-Pump/dp/B002XM5G70)
Jim
Hi All,
There is a 4048-153-E75 pump available. It is listed in the 4048 Series fresh water pump. Which pump are you using?
Raymond
Shurflo's latest is the 4048 which came on the market this year. Over a year ago Shurflo came out with 4008.
Both 4008 & 4048 work the same with the non-electronic internal bypass to reduce pulsing at slow water flows.
The 4048 is rated at a higher water flow rating, although both worked pretty much the same in our coach
I see that Shurflo does not have a link to the 4048, but a Google on 4048 has lots of hits.
I just talked with ShurFlo Technical support in CA. They confirmed that the 4048-153-E75 is the most current production replacing the 5900 series. The 4048 has not made it to the current ShurFlo website at this time. Internet SALE
$189.99 SAVE $30.00 at CW.
Hi All,
Yesterday, on E Bay, you could buy the 4048-153-E75 for $110.00.
Raymond
My wife was having trouble with the Splendide washer not filling. It would fill a little than stop. Water pressure from the sinks seemed to be working fine. I checked the Shurflo 5.7 water pump and it was extremely hot to the touch but appeared to be running as water from the sinks was flowing. I have experienced this several times in the past. This one I had it warranty exchanged for the 5th time in 2010 at Camping World in Albuquerque. Since I was at Lazydaze with a Camping World I took it over and warranty exchanged it again with a new 3 year warranty. They go by the serial number and since there is no paperwork when they exchange it, it starts the 3 years over again. They had one left and I took it because I did not have the fittings I needed to re-plumb for the 4048 which they were willing to give me as the replacement. Popped it in, wife happy to finished laundry and I am happy that she is happy. Dinner will be on time. Life is good ... until the next issue ::)
Barry, that is valuable information (more karma). I am guessing you bought that pump from Camping World originally.
My experience with that pump was not good. But I got the warranty replacements directly from Shurflo and they do not start the clock over. Their warranty is from the date of original purchase.
I changed to Aquatec which I bought from the RV Filter Store. I wonder if Rick will provide warranty replacements like CW? Hope I don't have to find out.
It came with the coach originally. It was changed 2 times from Foretravels original 3 year warranty. Again from Shurflow in Cypress CA. They said all they needed was the date code on the pump. Again at Camping World in Albuquerque, I forgot about also replacing it at Shurflow distributor at Quartzsite RV Tent and now at Tucson. All they ever look at is the date code to verify it is under warranty. Everytime I exchange it their is no paperwork. 8) I have never bought a pump in 10 years.
I just had a 4008 fail after only 60 days of service, with an accumulator pump. Shurflo sent an email that all I had to do was to send in the label on the existing failed pump and they will send a new one to me so there will be no shipping charges and no hassle for me. That seems like very good customer service but I haven't received the new pump yet. It's only been three days since I mailed the old pump's label to Cost Mesa.