How does the refrigerator water pump work? F28

[charvatg]

I've got a DC refrigerator on my F28. It works well. But, there's also this funny hand water pump on the sink in the galley that is presumably connected to the fridge so we can pump water from melting ice bags in the fridge.

This is how i assume it works and how i've seen it work before...

I pumped out some rancid water from the fridge, clearly nobody has done so in years. After this, i drained several ice bags worth of water into the fridge on a week long voyage.

Strange thing is i tried pumping this water and it will not come out of the pump. Any ideas?

Greg

[rafontaine1]

I had a similar hand pump on my previous boat. The pump check valve would get debris from the ice box in it and prevent it from doing its job. Hence the pump wouldn't pump fluid from the ice box. Suggest you take pump apart and clean it. Otherwise it could be blockage in the ice box drain line again from debris that was in ice box.
Good Luck

Rich Fontaine
s/v Liberte. F36
Portsmouth RI
Presently in East Greenwich on mooring

[GeoffSchultz]

I have a 40/40, so I don't know that we have the same pump, but I have to attach a hose to the output of the pump and suck on it to get it to prime. Once water is flowing, it works fine. Very poor pump design.

-- Geoff

[monroe]

I needed to take the pump apart and lubricate the "leather" with a little olive oil. It then would seal and draw water. Works pretty well IMHO.

Doug

[monroe]

The olive oil trick only lasted a few months. The o-rings and packing had hardened. The Service kit is Whale part number AK0618, West Marine part number 2508844. Runs about $12 US. Easy to install. There is one o-ring that you will need a dental pick to get out (and destroy the ring in the process), but the new one installs easy, and the kit has two of them. Works great now.

Doug
s/v Spartan, Freedom 39 DS #27.
Currently in San Francisco Bay