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Topic: Quick fix for our failed water pump accumulator (Read 629 times) previous topic - next topic

Quick fix for our failed water pump accumulator

Our water pump has a Shurflo 182-200 accumulator, and a piezo-sounder in the kitchen to let us know when our Shurflo 4008 water pump motor is running.

Last week, noticed faucet low-water-flows caused pump to quickly turn off-on-off-on, as if the accumulator was not working.  And removing the air pressure valve stem cap proved it so, as water came out the valve stem.

Just before I pressed the online purchase button to buy a replacement accumulator, I had an idea to take apart our failed accumulator.

Eight easy to remove screws showed this is a 3-piece assembly with two plastic halves and large bowl-shaped rubber diaphragm pushed into the water-half.  The rubber part was quite cruddy on the water-surface and that plastic half was slippery on the inner surface.  Using brushes and dish soap cleaned up all the parts.

Not noticing any visible leak holes in the rubber figured out the likely failure of the accumulator to accumulate.

Over time, air pressure disapated, causing water pressure to highly distort the natural cupping of the rubber diaphragm, enough to pull the rubber edge seal out of its home in the plastic halves, allowing water to flow to the air-side.

Carefully putting the cleaned-up rubber diaphragm back into the plastic slots designed to seal the two halves, and screwing it back together gave us back a fully functioning accumulator. 

Air pressure of about 30 psi is holding very well and no more quick pump motor cycling with low water flows.

We now see a new need to regularly bring out our bicycle pump to maintain the accumulator air pressure.

Re: Quick fix for our failed water pump accumulator

Reply #1 –
Barry,

Correct pressure for an accumulator is CUT-IN PSI minus 2 PSI.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Quick fix for our failed water pump accumulator

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Barry & Cindy –
Carefully putting the cleaned-up rubber diaphragm back into the plastic slots designed to seal the two halves, and screwing it back together gave us back a fully functioning accumulator. 
Excellent job of trouble shooting.  Illustrates the obvious advantage of this particular tank over the common welded steel 1-piece tanks.

If we ever need a new tank, will (try to) keep this post in mind.  Getting harder to do that...stuff keeps falling out (of mind) and getting lost.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Quick fix for our failed water pump accumulator

Reply #3 –
Quote
likely failure of the accumulator to accumulate.

Nicely put, Barry!
jor
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: Quick fix for our failed water pump accumulator

Reply #4 –
Water pump accumulator is now working.      But with a different ending. . .

Original likely failure of the accumulator to accumulate turned out to be a rubber bladder pin hole.

So Amazon traded our $35.60 for a new Shurflo 182-200 accumulator, and at 35 psi, our pump now stays off much longer.
 

Re: Quick fix for our failed water pump accumulator

Reply #5 –
That is what I added to mine when the original failed..