Aerator Pump

[Thornback]

My Bass Tracker has a rocker switch (manual or timed) to activate the Aerator pump to add or fill the live well. Well after 11 years I turned on the pump but there was no water discharging into the live well. I kept thinking I would put a garden hose on the suction hole to squirt water to the pump and see if I could get it working again. Then I read some where to run the pump while backing the boat up. I did that last time out and the pump started filling the live well. I guess backing the boat primes the pump or helps flush out any trash.

[Oldfart9999]

My Bass Tracker has a rocker switch (manual or timed) to activate the Aerator pump to add or fill the live well. Well after 11 years I turned on the pump but there was no water discharging into the live well. I kept thinking I would put a garden hose on the suction hole to squirt water to the pump and see if I could get it working again. Then I read some where to run the pump while backing the boat up. I did that last time out and the pump started filling the live well. I guess backing the boat primes the pump or helps flush out any trash.

I don't think a pump needs to be primed. If there wasn't a blockage you may just be buying yourself some before replacing it.
Rodney

[Thornback]

Thanks for the reply, OF. I agree the pump shouldn't need priming so I'll hold out hope there was a small amount of detritus in the suction side and the pump will last the rest of my life.

[Mike Cork]

Great tip! Another one of those things that can save a day on the water. Takes a second to do versus tearing into the bilge area while on the water

Here in Louisiana it's very common for vegetation to clog the screens protecting the water inlet, a little reverse thrust and your back in business 

[Lipripper]

My Bass Tracker has a rocker switch (manual or timed) to activate the Aerator pump to add or fill the live well. Well after 11 years I turned on the pump but there was no water discharging into the live well. I kept thinking I would put a garden hose on the suction hole to squirt water to the pump and see if I could get it working again. Then I read some where to run the pump while backing the boat up. I did that last time out and the pump started filling the live well. I guess backing the boat primes the pump or helps flush out any trash.

My friends Newer Tracker (2014) does the same thing from time to time and that's what we do to get it to work also.

[Princeton_Man]

Mine have been getting gummed up. The two on the intakes are Attwood T500s. When I went to replace the cartridges last Fall, I discovered they were both full of gunk. After flushing and cleaning, only one pump needed to be replaced.

I used to run the livewells just about every time out on the water. I used to even put a few keepers in them from time to time, then release before leaving. Just to make sure everything worked as it should. I think running them helped keep them from getting gummed up.

[Oldfart9999]

If you don't have them they make screens you screw on the intake, they work well at keeping the smooge out and are easy to clean.
Rodney

[Princeton_Man]

If you don't have them they make screens you screw on the intake, they work well at keeping the smooge out and are easy to clean.
Rodney

I have the intake screens. The gunk that was built up in my mine could only be described as sludge.